Peter De Rome: Grandfather Of Gay Porn and Trouser Bar: Armed with only an 8mm movie camera, Peter de Rome was an eccentric English gentleman who spent the 1960s politely asking young men to remove their clothes and ‘perform’ on camera. Peter’s story spans eight decades both in the USA and UK and this documentary looks at his experiences from World War II to Stonewall and beyond. His work was daring yet iconic, his charm simple yet irresistible and his persuasive abilities simply unmatchable.

This will be accompanied by a controversial short erotic fantasy with a screenplay that was recently found in the late Peter de Rome’s collection.

“[Peter de Rome] managed to capture not just sex but titillation, fun and beauty in his gay pornos. Though he denies being an activist, de Rome made his films in New York at a time when homosexuality was illegal. That he managed to show men having sex, and make it domestic, unaggressive, and loving, is progressive even by today’s standards.” Leah Green, The Guardian

Trouser Bar: Set in a ’70s gentlemen’s outfitters, the film is a softcore ode to the fetishistic love of corduroy, leather and tight trousers. With professional erotic performers, gifted amateurs and cameos from Barry Cryer and Julian Clarey, this is an aesthetically rich tribute to a moment in queer male erotic filmmaking that should not be forgotten.

“The fantasy of Trouser Bar is a delightful time capsule of a film and an important one that has a tightness to it that forces you to use your imagination, to be titillated by the unknown and the unexpected.” The New Current

Peter De Rome: Grandfather Of Gay Porn and Trouser Bar (18)
Director: Ethan Reid. UK 2014. 97 mins.
Director: Kristen Bjorn. UK 2016. 20 mins.
Thursday 4th August, 9.00pm
Duke’s at Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton BN1 1UN

To book tickets click here
A £1 donation from every ticket purchased will be given to The Rainbow Fund.