The Beginnings in the United States
The history of pornography on film started in the United States. The very first examples of explicit short films go back to the earliest days of cinema itself.
Even then, filmmakers quickly realized the commercial potential of these images, but for decades, laws around the world strictly banned the production and distribution of pornographic material. For years, wealthy individuals secretly financed pornographic films, which circulated only among select groups of rich collectors and enthusiasts. These “forbidden” films were shown privately in salons and mansions—often to audiences made up of both men and women from the highest social circles. Back then, there were no tricks or filters: what you saw on screen was simply what happened on set.
The Early Years: Europe and America
By the early 1900s, pornographic films—focused mainly on explicit close-ups—were already being made not only in the US, but also in Italy, Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden. These early films, though few in number, set the tone for decades to come.
In America, the porn business quickly attracted organized crime. For a long time, the authorities managed to keep the phenomenon under control—at least on the surface. But as time passed, the market became more lucrative, and outlaws offered high payouts to anyone willing to participate, especially to actresses who were often luxury escorts, well known in certain powerful circles.
The Hippie Movement and the Golden Era
A major shift came in the 1960s and 70s, driven by the hippie movement and a new climate of sexual liberation. In California, especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco, a group of rebels—including the Mitchell brothers, Jim and Artie—helped to transform porn from a shadowy underground business into a recognized industry.
The Mitchells were friends with public figures like Ted Kennedy and Candida Royalle (herself a pioneering porn star and producer), and with Larry Flynt, the famous editor and filmmaker.
The California authorities realized that the Los Angeles film industry now saw pornography not only as a commercial opportunity, but as something cultural and political as well. In 1970, California legalized the production and distribution of pornographic films.
From then on, Los Angeles became—and remains—the world’s most organized hub for adult movies, VHS tapes, DVDs, and digital products. The technical quality of these films has even been praised by mainstream directors.
Key Films and Turning Points
The first medium-length porn film to be legally distributed in the United States was Mona, shot in 1970 by Bill Osco and Howard Ziehm. The profits from Mona went on to fund the cult movie Flesh Gordon.
In 1972, Deep Throat starring Linda Lovelace was released. It remains one of the most well-known and talked-about porn films ever made. Some critics say the best porn film of all time is The Opening of Misty Beethoven (also known as Misty Beethoven), a 1976 film by Radley Metzger, partly filmed in Rome.
The Situation in Italy
It’s hard to say which was the first Italian porn film made for cinema release. In Italy, there was a common practice in the early 1970s: directors would shoot “soft” versions for Italian audiences, then add explicit scenes for foreign markets. Sometimes even the actors themselves didn’t know what the final version would look like.
A famous case is Emanuelle in America by Joe D’Amato (real name Aristide Massaccesi), which included a notorious explicit scene with Marina Lotar.
One of the first openly hardcore films released in Italian cinemas was Sesso Nero (1979), also by Joe D’Amato. This wasn’t as surprising as it might seem, since many mainstream actors and filmmakers at that time worked in both “normal” and hard cinema.
In these movies, you’d sometimes find well-known character actors playing non-sexual roles, often unaware that explicit scenes would be added later.
Another contender for Italy’s first real porn film is I porno amori di Eva by Giorgio Mille, which contained only a few explicit scenes. What made things even more complicated was the local variation: to avoid seizures by the authorities, films were sometimes screened with more or fewer explicit scenes depending on where they were shown.
Up until 1978, erotic (Ultimo tango a Parigi, L’impero dei sensi) and pornographic movies were screened in normal cinemas. This meant that innocent people sometimes walked into films not knowing what they were about to see—and afterwards would complain to the authorities, accusing the films of public indecency.
The Birth of “Red Light” Cinemas in Italy
In 1978, the first “red light” cinema in Italy opened at Parco Lambro in Milan. These theaters clearly advertised that they were showing films forbidden to minors. This was the solution that the authorities and censors accepted: if you wanted to watch porn, you knew exactly what you were getting.
For about a decade—before the spread of VHS tapes and then DVDs—these adult cinemas thrived, giving new life to “second-run” movie theaters that might otherwise have gone out of business as private television took over.
The Spread of Porn and Live Shows
Alongside the rise of red light cinemas, live adult shows also became more popular.
The first pornographic stage show aimed at the general public in Italy was Curve deliziose in 1986, starring me, Moana Pozzi, and Malù-Ramba.
A New Industry
By the late seventies and early eighties, pornographic films and live shows had become a real industry. Producers, directors, and actors began to approach their work more professionally, often blending elements of mainstream cinema—plots, sets, costumes, and music—with explicit scenes. The best films from this era are remembered not just for their sexual content, but for their storytelling and production value.
As the legal climate relaxed, and with new technology making distribution easier, the audience for pornography exploded. Porn was no longer a secret world for a few rich collectors—it became accessible to anyone.
The Impact and the Legacy
Looking back, it’s clear that pornography has always been a mirror for society—showing not only our desires but also our fears, taboos, and changing attitudes.
What started as a hidden and forbidden world became a legitimate genre, with its own stars, styles, and masterpieces.
Whether you love it or hate it, porn’s history is a real part of the history of cinema, and it still shapes both art and society today.
