On DVD: Heavy Petting

Directed by Obie Benz

Featuring appearances by David Byrne, Spalding Gray, William Burroughs, Sandra Bernhard

Leave it to the good folks at Docurama to fulfill another cinematic addiction I have: old military and school education “scare” films. These films are the basis for the documentary film Heavy Petting, recently released in a two disc DVD edition.

The Movie

Heavy Petting explores the sexual ethics, morals and opinions of people growing up in the fifties. It also explores how these might have been shaped by popular culture and music and the exposure to school sex education “scare films”.

Benz interviews everyone from Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, to comedian Sandra Bernhard, and writers William S. Burroughs, Spalding Gray and Allen Ginsberg.

Yes, you read that right: William S. Burroughs, writer of Naked Lunch. Also reminecsing about fumbling in the back seat are activist Abbie Hoffman, actor Francis Fisher, Zoe Tamerlaine, John Oates of the group Hall and Oates, performance artist Laurie Anderson, actors Judith Malina, Ann Magnuson and Josh Mostel and many more.

Benz combines these refreshingly honest stories and memories from the participants with clips from some hysterical sexual education films from the forties and fifties.

The recollections that this group shares might have you reminiscing of your own awkward attempts at romance. I just wish my school would have had these great old scare films to attempt to scare us away from the evils of young lust.

The only disappointment I had in the film was just how quiet William S. Burroughs is during his segments. He sat with Allen Ginsberg, who is very charismatic and extremely outgoing and talkative. Perhaps, this made Burroughs uncomfortable and he would have been more open if interviewed separately. But, when Burroughs does speak, he has some interesting insights.

So, all things considered, I would recommend Heavy Petting, and not just for the documentary film on the first disc. But, on the second disc, there are 10 hilarious sex ed, anti-porn and venereal disease films in their entirety that were used as clips in the documentary film. This is worth the purchase price alone. 

I think you will enjoy Heavy Petting and see if it doesn’t bring back your own memories of the back seat of your parent’s Buick.

7.5/10

The Video

Heavy Petting is presented in the original full frame aspect ratio. The film is definitely not big budget, but looks just fine for a documentary film.

7/10

The Audio

Heavy Petting is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. The dialogue is crystal clear throughout. Some of the audio in the vintage school scare films is a bit low, but I could hear everything fine.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

The two disc presentation of Heavy Petting is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork appropriate for the film presented.

A plethora of bonus features away your discovery on this release. First up, there is a The Making of Heavy Petting featurette, which is an interview with Obie Benz on the idea and production for this film. There are also extended sexual confessions with several of the participants in this film.

On the second disc are ten hilarious scare films from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that you won’t want to miss. All of these films are presented uncut and in their entirety. The films offered are As Boys Grow, Molly Grows Up, Dance, Little Children, The Innocent Party, In Defense of the Nation, Easy to Get, Know for Sure, Perversion for Profit, Printed Poison and Social Sex Attitudes in Adolescence. There is also a short introduction for the films with the director Obie Benz.

Trust me, every single one of these films is worth your time.

All things considered, a great assortment of bonus features to accompany the film.

9/10

Overall (Not An Average) 8/10

Suzie Lackey

Review

The Movie 7.5/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 9/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10