David F Friedman 🎬 The Exploitation, Nudie and Grindhouse King

This week we highlighted the films of exploitation producer extraordinaire David F Friedman, in the first of two Theme Weeks. But he was more than just a ‘producer’ as he was also a screenwriter, who also acted and directed some films, while putting his very own stamp on most of his films; degradation, spanking and whipping of women were recurring themes.

Friedman was above all a consummated showman, who learned from the great Kroger Babb and cut his teeth at Paramount before going on to work with directors such as Lee Frost (see previous Theme Week), Herschell Gordon Lewis and Byron Mabe. There was no genre he didn’t tackle (always with nudity), no trend he didn’t see as a celluloid opportunity and no matter the quality of the actual film he could spin a good trailer and poster out of it.

The Theme Week on Cultpix are his earlier films, some of which are new and some that were on here since earlier. We have not even included all of his films on the site, as he was very prolific and we want to highlight them in turn.

"The Drick Doll House" (1967) - Oh, you beautiful 'dolls'. 

The Prime Time(1958) - Friedman's debut films had all the hallmarks of the things that would characterise his exploitation oeuvre (spanking!) and showed how much he had learned from film maker showman Kroger Babb. It mixes juvenile delinquents, rock and roll and adult sleaze, into a seamlessly seedy story.

The Prime Time(1958) - Friedman's debut films had all the hallmarks of the things that would characterise his exploitation oeuvre (spanking!) and showed how much he had learned from film maker showman Kroger Babb. It mixes juvenile delinquents, rock and roll and adult sleaze, into a seamlessly seedy story.

The Defilers(1965) - Friedman "brought his own personal quirks, or fetishes or things he would be passionate about, whether it be carnivals, spanking or whipping to his films," say Lisa Petrucci. So too in this film about two juvenile delinquents who date and degrade women. Friedman invented the term 'roughie', of which this is one of the first examples, but The Defilers is arguably also his best film alongside She Freak.

The Notorious Daughter of Fanny Hill(1966) - A period piece, for which Dave probably borrowed costumes from one of the major studios. One of only two films Friedman’s 'discovery' Stacey Walker starred in. Kissy Hill is the daughter of the legendary eighteenth-century courtesan Fanny and a a sexual hedonist, who caters to royal kink.

"The notorious Daughter of Fanny Hill" (1966) - Did some body ask for a whipping?

The Brick Dollhouse(1967) - Showing the variety of Friedman’s film’s genres this one is a crime story, but with flashbacks where everyone is nude. A sexsational whodunit, set in late '60s suburbia, with lots of luscious dolls with big hair, big boobs, and great eye makeup.

Space Thing ( 1968) - "The worst sci fi film ever made," Friedman himself said. "It makes Plan 9 seem like Citizen Kane." Judge for yourselves. It’s Buck Rogers for adults as Col James Granilla, an alien in human disguise, visits the flying saucer of Captain Mother and her all-girl crew in the year 2069. He seeks to learn all about their "intimate ways." Features whip-wielding lesbians.

She Freak(1967) - Possibly Friedman’s best film and definitely the one closest to his heart, with its carnival setting. The dazzling new 4K restoration by AGFA, "just makes your eyes happy," says Lisa Petrucci. Probably also Friedman's most mainstream film, as well as being a blatant remake of Todd Brownings “Freaks” (1932).

Thar She Blows! (1968) - A provocative title, to say the least, but it is David F Friedman coming up with a new theme for showing people getting naked: Boat Sex. Deeply unhinged and living aboard his boat, crazy Captain Bob Frigate has a problem with sex. He Hates it. But he has a good reason: during an attempted robbery he was castrated by a hook!

Thar She Blows! (1968) - A provocative title, to say the least, but it is David F Friedman coming up with a new theme for showing people getting naked: Boat Sex. Deeply unhinged and living aboard his boat, crazy Captain Bob Frigate has a problem with sex. He Hates it. But he has a good reason: during an attempted robbery he was castrated by a hook!

The Head Mistress(1968) - Dave going back to historical nudies. Dave liked to bring a bit of 'fanciness' to his films, this one based on The Decameron. The curriculum seems to consist entirely of nude picnics and lesbianism in a 17th century school for wealthy young ladies.

"The Head Mistress" (1968) featuring David F Friedman's customary spanking and whipping. 

Brand of Shame (1968) - One of 4-5 films Dave made in 1968 and not one of Lisa's favourite films - despite featuring the original Django Nudo! A madam and her gang of lovely prostitutes offer the heroes and bad guys service with a smile in this sensuous sagebrush saga.

The Lustful Turk(1968) - At the time it was the most expensive adult film ever made! Features spanking (of course) and pirates! It’s the kinky adventures of Emily, a blue-blooded English lass. She sets sail for India with her comely handmaiden, Eliza. While at sea, they are girlnapped by Algerian pirates, and end up in a Turkish harem, submitted to all kinds of degradation.

That's Sexploitation (2013) - Directed by Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case) it tells the story of US exploitation cinema from the 1920s to the 1960s. It was the last thing Something Weird did with Dave and also the last film of Mike Vraney before his cancer diagnosis.

There is also the Swedish TV special Ronnys Rullar with David F. Friedman and Mike Vraney.