Debbie Does Dallas
Theatrical poster
Directed byJim Clark
Written byMaria Minestra
Produced byJim Clark
Starring
CinematographyBilly Budd
Edited byHals Liptus
Music byGerald Sampler
Production
company
School Day Films
Distributed byVCX[1]
Release date
  • November 19, 1978 (1978-11-19)[1]
Running time
84 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Debbie Does Dallas is a 1978 American pornographic film produced and directed by Jim Clark, and starring Bambi Woods.[2] The plot focuses on a team of cheerleaders attempting to earn enough money to send the title character to Dallas, Texas to try out for the famous "Texas Cowgirls" cheerleading squad.[3] The fictional name "Texas Cowgirls" was seen as an allusion to the real-life Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.[2][3] Woods had previously tried out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in real life, but was cut during auditions.[2]

The film was highly successful, selling 50,000 copies on videotape, making it the most successful pornographic video release in its time.[4] It is regarded as one of the most important releases during the so-called "Golden Age of Porn" (1969–1984),[5] and remains one of the best-known pornographic films.[6] The film is in the public domain following a US court ruling in 1987 that declared its copyright to be lost.[7]

The enormous success spawned a number of sequels and spin-offs,[8] and a 2002 Off Broadway musical of the same name.

Plot

Debbie Benton, captain of her high school cheerleading squad, has been accepted to try out for the Texas Cowgirls.[9] Her parents disapprove and refuse to pay her fare to Texas. In a bid to help Debbie, her squadmates Lisa, Roberta, Tammy, Pat and Annie decide to accompany her to Texas. With two weeks to raise the money, they swear off sexual activity with their boyfriends and form a company, called Teen Services.

Tammy takes a job in the local record store run by Nick. Debbie gets a job at a sports store run by Mr. Greenfeld. Roberta convinces Mr. Hardwick to give her a job at the candle store with Mrs. Hardwick. Rikki and Annie agree to wash Mr. Bradly's car.

The football team is annoyed by a lack of sex. Roberta's boyfriend Rick and his teammates join Roberta and Pat in the showers, where they have group sex. While working for Mr. Greenfeld at the sports store, Debbie is talked into allowing Mr. Greenfeld to see her breasts for $10 and fondle her breasts for another $10. Then, he sucks them for an additional $20.

Realizing they will not be able to raise enough money by legitimate means, Debbie convinces the other girls to engage in sexual activities for more money. They agree, but only if it is on their terms.

After Roberta is caught masturbating around Mrs. Hardwick, Roberta engages in sexual activity with Mr. and Mrs. Hardwick, earning extra money. Rikki and Annie go to see Mr. Bradly, to wash his car. Mr. Bradly is not home, but they wash his car anyway. When Mr. Bradly returns home, he asks them in to dry off their wet clothes. They undress for him for $10 each. He performs cunnilingus on them, they each fellate him and then he has anal sex with Annie.

At the library, Donna flirts with Mr. Biddle, the librarian. Visiting her at work, her boyfriend Tim tries to have sex with her. She fellates him but is caught by Mr. Biddle. Donna allows him to spank her to prevent him from telling her parents. Hamilton and his friend Ashly are in the tennis club sauna after a tennis game, and Hamilton convinces Lisa to fellate him while Ashly penetrates her.

At the record store, Tammy has been avoiding Tony's advances; she calls Lisa, who joins them at the record store. Lisa offers Tony "anything" and she begins to fellate him, and then Tammy joins in, and he ejaculates on Tammy's breasts.

In the final scene, Debbie arrives at Mr. Greenfeld's store after hours, in a Texas Cowgirls uniform as he requested. Greenfeld, dressed as Joe Namath, reveals his dream of being the quarterback who made love to the head cheerleader, and she obliges. She fellates him, and he penetrates her vagina with his finger and performs cunnilingus on her. Then they engage in vaginal sex, first in the missionary position, then doggy style, and then with Debbie on top. They finish in the missionary position with Mr. Greenfeld pulling out right before ejaculating.

Cast

A screencap of Bambi Woods from Debbie Does Dallas
Bambi Woods, who portrayed Debbie
  • Bambi Woods as Debbie Benton
  • Richard Balla as Mr. Greenfeld
  • Christie Ford (as Misty Winter) as Roberta
  • Robyn Byrd as Mrs. Hardwick
  • Eric Edwards as Mr. Hardwick
  • Rikki O'Neal (as Sherri Tart) as Rikki
  • Jenny Cole as Annie
  • David Pierce (as David Suton) as Mr. Bradly
  • Merle Michaels (as Merril Townsend) as Donna
  • Jake Teague as Mr. Biddle
  • Herschel Savage as Tim
  • Georgette Sanders as Lisa
  • Peter Lerman as Hamilton
  • Ben Pierce as Ashly
  • Arcadia Lake as Tammy
  • Tony Mansfield as Nick
  • David Morris as Rick
  • Kasey Rodgers as Pat
  • Debbie Lewis as Girl in Shower
  • Steve Marshall as Boy in Shower
  • Graham Silcock as "The other boy in the shower"

Production

The movie was produced and directed by Jim Clark.[1] Some scenes were shot at the Brooklyn College athletic field, and the Pratt Institute library in Brooklyn, New York,[1] without the administration's knowledge or approval.[10] There is an unfounded internet rumor that certain scenes were shot at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, including the library scene.[11] However, that was found to be unlikely after an investigation with alumni, and the president of the Debbie Does Dallas production company said such a claim "was purely inconclusive".[11]

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform on the flight deck for the crew of USS Harry S Truman
The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader uniform

Trademark

New York's Pussycat Theater was enjoined in 1979 from showing the film by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders under the Lanham Act, arguing that their uniforms were mimicked by the film's producers and used in advertising, infringing on their trademarks.[3] The theater argued that uniforms are strictly functional items, but in affirming the lower court's decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found that "[i]t is well established that, if the design of an item is nonfunctional and has acquired secondary meaning, the design may become a trademark even if the item itself is functional."[3] The decision has been criticized on free speech grounds, but the Seventh Circuit has cited it for the proposition that "confusion about sponsorship or approval, even when the mark does not mislead consumers about the source of the goods," may be sufficient to state a claim under Lanham Act 43(a).[12]

When the film opened in October 1978, it was exhibited without a copyright notice. In 1979, rights-holder M & A Associates entered into an exclusive worldwide video distribution deal with VCX, whereby VCX agreed to pay M & A an advance and make royalty payments on each sale. Upon receiving a print of the film, VCX president Norman Arno contacted M & A president Arthur Weisberg to request copyright protection. Arno also retained the services of attorneys John Lappen and Peter Berger to combat unauthorized copying of the film. Before litigation could commence, VCX was required to add copyright notices to all copies of the film and file registration with the United States Copyright Office; however, VCX could not protect the rights by just adding a notice to the video cassette, since one also needed to be added to the theatrical prints. In 1981, Berger informed Weisberg of the need to add a copyright notice to the prints that had been sent to various theaters, but Weisberg refused. Both Lappen and Berger concluded the copyright had been lost, and in 1982, VCX terminated their contract with M & A and ceased making royalty payments, but continued to distribute the film. In 1987 M & A brought a case against VCX in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for breach of contract. VCX argued that the contract was void due to M & A's failure to comply with the Copyright Act of 1976. The court found in favor of VCX, and the judge ruled that "Weisberg's actions had thrust the film irretrievably into the [United States] public domain."[13][14]

Obscenity

In 1983, a court case in New York – United States v. Various Articles of Obscene Merchandise – found the film not to be obscene.[15]

The 1986 publication of the Meese Report contained graphic descriptions of the film's sex scenes and uncensored excerpts of dialogue, which may have contributed to the report becoming a best-seller.[16]

Legacy

Debbie Does Dallas inspired numerous sequels, remakes and spin-offs in the decades since its release. The Internet Adult Film Database lists twelve further installments in the franchise from 1978 until 2007.[17] In the 2013 book Pornography and Seriality: The Culture of Producing Pleasure, journalist David Slayden was quoted as saying, "No other pornographic film has been remade more often than Debbie Does Dallas."[18] The filmography list includes:

  • Debbie Does Dallas (1978)
  • Debbie Does Dallas Part II (1981)[19]
  • Debbie Does Dallas III [the Final Chapter] (1985)[20]
  • Debbie Does Dallas IV (1988)
  • Debbie Does Dallas V (1988)
  • Debbie Does Dallas Again (1993)
  • Debbie Does Dallas 20th Anniversary Edition (1994)
  • Debbie Does Dallas: The Next Generation (1998)
  • Debbie Does Dallas '99 (1998)
  • Debbie Does Dallas: The Revenge (2003)
  • Debbie Does Dallas: East Vs West (2004)
  • Debbie Does Dallas ... Again (2007)

Spin-offs include:[18]

  • Debbie Duz Dishes (1986)
  • Debbie Does 'Em All (1986)
  • Debbie Does Wall Street (1991)
  • Debbie Loves Dallas (2007)
Stage musical

In 2001, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical was created by Susan L. Schwartz for the New York International Fringe Festival.[21] In 2002, it went off-Broadway.[22] Unlike the original film, the musical did not contain any actual sex or nudity,[22] sparking disappointment among audiences, as false hype had been made and the producers did nothing to dismiss it. Since, the show has been performed globally, often with racier direction and more explicit choreography. The story, dialogue and characters are fairly faithful, with musical numbers standing in for sex scenes or added for comic effect. As recent as 2015, it continues to be performed.[23]

Documentary

In 2005, a documentary called Debbie Does Dallas Uncovered was produced and shown on British television.

Remasters and re-releases

In 2006, VCX employed Media Blasters to digitally re-master from the original 35mm film into a "Definitive Collectors Edition" 2-Disc set on DVD.

On April 11, 2007, Vivid Entertainment Group began including the original feature alongside a new release, Debbie Does Dallas ... Again in DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. It has also been remade with contemporary porn actors.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 John B. Manbeck; Robert Singer (2002). The Brooklyn film: essays in the history of filmmaking. McFarland. p. 193. ISBN 0-7864-1405-7.
  2. 1 2 3 Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 114. ISBN 0-7407-5118-2.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Miller, Jeffrey (2002). Ardor in the Court!: Sex and the Law. ECW Press. p. 152. ISBN 1-55022-528-6.
  4. ↑ Harless, James D (1985). Mass communication: An introductory survey. Dubuque, IA: W. C. Brown Co. Publishers. p. 355. ISBN 978-0697001245.
  5. ↑ Sam Stall; Lou Harry; Julia Spalding (2004). The encyclopedia of guilty pleasures: 1001 things you hate to love. Quirk Books. p. 182. ISBN 1-931686-54-8.
  6. ↑ Linda Williams (1999). Hard core: power, pleasure, and the "frenzy of the visible". University of California Press. p. 170. ISBN 0-520-21943-0.
  7. ↑ "A Tidy End to 'Deep Throat' Ownership Fight". Courthouse News Service. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  8. ↑ "The Problematics: 'Debbie Does Dallas' and The Birth of a Porn Legend | Decider". Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  9. ↑ Kelly, Christopher (2008-07-01). "Porn Yesterday". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  10. ↑ "Debbie Does Dallas - The Bambi Woods Interview: Part One". YesButNoButYes. Archived from the original on 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  11. 1 2 "Debbie Did Not Do Stony Brook". Stony Brook Press. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  12. ↑ See Tony Farmany, 12 J. Contemp. Legal Issues 275 "TRADEMARK LITIGATION: DILUTION: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders v. Pussycat Cinema", citing The American Legion v. Matthew, 144 F.3d 498 (7th Cir. 1998)
  13. ↑ Gardner, Eriq (October 26, 2011). "How a Nasty Legal Fight Over 'Deep Throat,' 'Debbie Does Dallas' Was Settled". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ M & A Associates v. VCX, 657 F.Supp. 454, conclusions: 27 (United States District Court April 8, 1987) ("Although Arno asked Weisberg for copyright protection of the film in early 1979, Weisberg first became aware of the legal significance of the omission of the copyright notice from the film in January of 1981. Weisberg thus received "notice" of the defect at that latter date. See M. Kramer Mfg. Co. v. Andrews, 783 F.2d 421, 443 & n. 21 (4th Cir. 1986). Weisberg's failure to take reasonable [657 F.Supp. 463] efforts resulted in the film being irretrievably injected into the public domain "several months" later.").
  15. ↑ Jeremy Harris Lipschultz (2008). Broadcast and internet indecency: defining free speech. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8058-5910-2.
  16. ↑ Christian Lerat (1989). La Cour suprême des États-Unis, pouvoirs et évolution historique. Presses Univ de Bordeaux. p. 241. ISBN 2-86781-067-1.
  17. ↑ "Search: Debbie Does Dallas". iafd.com. IAFD. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  18. 1 2 Schaschek, Sarah (2013). Pornography and seriality : the culture of producing pleasure (First ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137359384.
  19. ↑ "Blu Review – Debbie Does Dallas Part II (Vinegar Syndrome)". Horror Society. 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  20. ↑ Debbie Does Dallas Part III: The Final Chapter (1985) | MUBI, retrieved 2023-10-30
  21. ↑ William A. Everett; Paul R. Laird (2008). The Cambridge Companion to the Musical. Cambridge University Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-521-86238-7.
  22. 1 2 Natalie Guice Adams; Pamela Bettis (2003). Cheerleader!: an American icon. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 70,72. ISBN 1-4039-6184-0.
  23. ↑ Davies, Bree (March 4, 2015). "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical". WestWord. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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