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A portrait of unsung Hollywood legend Scotty Bowers, whose bestselling memoir chronicled his decades spent as sexual procurer to the stars.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most honest, exciting, and scandalous documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. It is naughty, explicit and surprisingly funny but not only that, it is genuine and very raw.
This film is about the true story of Scotty Bowers, an ordinary many who ended up in Hollywood after returning from the Marine Corps after World War 2. Shortly after getting a job at a gas station, Scotty was offered $20 for sexual favors by famous Actor Walter Pidgeon. When word got around about his encounter, he started intimately seeing many male stars and soon thereafter, he started setting up closeted gay and lesbian people in show business. Anyone famous wanting same-sex encounters knew of Scotty and where to find him.
There are so many reasons this documentary is enjoyable, but what stood out for me, is Scotty’s fun-loving unapologetic attitude towards his lifestyle. An important thing to remember is that in that era, homosexuality was hidden and considered a mental illness and in some places, you could get arrested for even displaying the slightest interest in the same sex. If you watch as many movies as I do, you are sold the idea that homosexuality didn’t exist or it was rare; especially in Hollywood where image is everything.
There are some people that suggest that Scotty is a horrible person for entertaining this lifestyle and encouraging what they called prostitution. He defends himself fully stating that he was only helping people. He wrote a book called ‘Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars,’ which by the way, I just ordered and can’t wait to read! In this book, he is said to name names and details of all the acts. Who doesn’t secretly love a good tell all?
You definitely need to see this documentary. Prepare to see sexually explicit acts, prepare to laugh a lot and be wowed by all the details that went on in Hollywood but have never been told like this.
In theaters Friday, July 27th
