Larry! Jimmy!
- That's very good. How much is it? - Two dollars.
There's one. There's two.
It's locked. He's in there again.
Pa! What are you doing? Open the door!
You better not be doing what I think you're doing.
I make that for peddling, not for you to drink.
Larry! Jimmy! Get over to the house! Supper's ready!
- Why did you hit him? - He was drinking my profits.
You can't be so ornery. People will think you're crazy.
I'm trying to make an honest buck.
20 YEARS LATER CINCINNATI, OHIO
- Larry. - I'll call you back, Mama.
Give a big, big hand to Ilanis from Ottawa. Tennessee.
Thank you. I know a lot of you feel the way I do.
We deliver the finest ladies in southern Ohio.
And now, please give a warm. warm welcome -
- to Kimberly and Melissa from Paris and London... Kentucky.
- How are we doing? - Bad.
- What do you mean? - We're broke.
These giveaways are killing us. The limousine, the smorgasbord...
- All your buddies drink for free. - Don't bring my friends into this.
Hey, ladies. You put forth some hard work.
I'll be by in an hour, and I'll bring the ping-pong balls.
I'll see you in two hours.
I liked the way you blew that candle out tonight.
If we could let people know what great lays these girls are, -
- we'd have something.
- You can't advertise that. - I know you can't.
What kind of business is this?
I run the Hustler Go-Go clubs. I'm sure you've heard of them.
- No. - That's why I need a newsletter.
We could run eight to ten pages per issue.
- With nothing but nudie pictures? - Yeah.
- On this nice, smooth paper. - That's called slick.
I could get in trouble with the law printing these.
You have to have a text. Like Playboy does.
Thank you for coming to my place. We welcome Christians in here. too!
- What do you think? - How much did it cost?
Forget money for one second. What do you think?
That depends on how much it cost.
The first Hustler newsletter. For the man on the go. News...
It's a magazine. How will you pay for that?
Don't interrupt me when I'm talking.
Let's hear it for Camille. -
- and welcome to the stage Calamity Jane from Moscow, Texas.
Who is that?
That's the new girl. She got the moves, don't she?
She ain't bad.
- She ain't legal, either. - Yes. she is. I saw her ID.
My dog could get an ID... from my goat.
When she gets done up there, send her up to my office.
What... What's your name?
Jane.
- We have a policy in this club. - Yeah? Okay. And...?
I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not... of age.
It could cost me my liquor license. I could have to close up shop.
I'll tell you something.
See this? See that? That? I am this far. -
- one second. one millimeter from being legal.
I'll have to ask you to come back when that centimeter is up.
That would be tomorrow morning.
I like the way you dance. Don't get me wrong.
- What's that? - Something I got from down home.
You're a classy guy. I've heard about you.
- This is moonshine, right? - It's just from potatoes.
- What'll it do to me? - It's fine. Natural.
- Step away from the desk. - That's like fire!
- Sorry I made a mess. - It's okay.
Can I ask you a question?
I heard that you slept with all the girls in your clubs.
Is that true or not?
It ain't entirely untrue.
I'm just curious why you haven't taken a stab at me.
- I just met you five minutes ago. - I think it was six. Tick. tick...
One more time.
Come on. Althea. even Superman has his limits.
That's the problem with you men. Your batteries run out.
Women's batteries never run out. We can go on and on.
Then go fuck a woman.
- I do fuck women. - Excuse me?
You are not the only one to have had every woman in this club.
- After one night she's moving in? - This girl, she had it rough...
- Are you that guy in the sex paper? - Could be.
- How do I subscribe? - Where did you see the newsletter?
Found it in a gas station bathroom. It came in handy.
I'm glad we helped you out, but it ain't for subscription.
Who wants some chips?
- Look at her tits. They're nice. - Yeah, but they don't look real.
I don't understand this magazine. Fuzzy pictures, strange articles.
- Do you guys read Playboy? - Yeah.
Did you... Excuse me, baby.
Did you enjoy the article on how to hook up your stereo system?
I think I missed that one.
Did you follow their advice on how to make a perfect martini?
Who is this magazine made for, anyway?
It's like if you don't make over $20,000 a year, you don't jerk off.
Millions of guys buy it, but nobody reads it. Playboy is mocking you.
- How many pages do we have? - 105.
That's no good. 106 is good, 104, that's good...
It's got to be an even number. A paper has two sides.
No. A page has four. Four. You fold it and put in the staple.
- It's not even an even number... - We'll ask Larry.
- What's he doing? - Hold the flower in your left hand.
No. not that one. Your other left hand.
We're not running a flower shop. We're selling the girl.
Stop futzing around with the pillows and the flowers and shoot the girl.
Let's go for that leg thing. Recline a little.
Open up them legs a bit. A little wider.
Just another touch wider. Not quite that wide.
Wait. That's exactly what we want. That's perfect.
A woman's vagina has as much personality as her face.
- You can't show the genitalia. - Why not?
Rudy's right. Legally, you can't show the vagina.
Rudy, are you a religious man?
Do you believe God created man?
And that God created woman?
Then God created her vagina. Who are you to defy God?
Where is she?
Althea! Hey, baby.
Happy birthday. I have a heart... from my heart.
Oh, Larry, that's beautiful.
- What's wrong? - The distributer called.
- We only had a 25% sell-through. - Will someone translate that?
It means that they're sending back 150,000 copies.
- Did you think you'd pull it off? - At least he has balls.
- What he needs is brains. - Einstein is speaking...
So one more issue and we're wiped out?
You said yourself it's not so bad to be poor.
You go be poor.
I believe you're the one who got us into this debt.
Do you think because it's your birthday you can be a bitch?
Yeah. and I think I'm 50 feet tall and that you have a needle dick.
Don't ever hit me like that again. Don't talk to me like that.
I'll go back and eat dog food. And take this.
I don't own this anymore. Throw it out in the street.
A guy from Italy claims he has naked pictures of Jackie O.
Are you the photographer? What have you got?
- Is this Mr. Flynt? - Yeah.
I was watching that damn island for four months. One day, -
- the cabana door opens and out comes Jackie O. with nothing on.
- Are you sure it's Jackie O? - Yeah.
- What do you see? - Everything. And she's a good one.
- This ain't no Mamie Eisenhower. - Oh, my God. First pussy.
Everyone's talking about local boy done good, Larry Flynt, -
- whose Hustler Magazine has reached sales figures of two million copies.
Move your ass!
Ohio governor Jim Rhodes was spotted at a news stand -
- buying a copy of the infamous Jackie O. issue.
The governor had this response:
I've been a historical buff about First Ladies for a long time.
- What if it were Martha Washington? - She's a bit before my time.
A teacher educates our children and they become model citizens.
The clergyman preaches and we find spirituality.
My bank gives loans and homes get built.
But now. there's a new. darker influence in Cincinnati.
Mr. Leis, if you will.
I'm going to ask that you review this material very carefully.
It's important that you know that I did not buy these at a smut store.
These were not purchased at a dirty book shop.
I bought this in a neighborhood grocery store, -
- in full view of our children.
You cannot hide from this. Decent people are being corrupted.
Just look what happened to our fine governor.
As members of the Citizens for Decent Literature. we cannot relent.
We must prevent the destruction of the soul of our country.
- Larry... Take off your pants. - What?
- Take off your pants. - Why?
Because I never fucked a millionaire before.
Look at that.
Happy birthday, America!
- This is Larry's house? - It must be.
My son! It's so big!
- Who are all these people? - These are my friends, Ma.
- You have so many friends. - Lots of money, lots of friends.
Hey, Arlo!
Do you know how many rooms I have? 24. You know who else has 24 rooms?
- The President? - Hugh Hefner.
- This is the best room. - This is the best room. he said.
- The maid is cleaning up in there. - The maid is cleaning up in there.
My folks are here. Go to the jacuzzi and I'll be there later.
Your folks are here?
What in the world is that?
- Larry! - The party is just beginning.
She's nice... and she's frigid.
Let's see what we can do about that.
Larry...
Do you ever think about getting married?
Nothing can ruin a relationship like marriage.
As soon as you put on that ring, you have an ownership situation.
Prior to that, it's friendly. You're kind to each other.
As much as I love you, I want a variety of different vagina.
- What did we just do? - That's what I mean.
- I'm not talking about monogamy. - You're not?
Of course not! How could you misunderstand me?
I don't want to get married and stop the way we live.
- Nothing would change. - Why now?
Because you're the only man I want to be with.
I want this ring to tell me that you love me above all other women.
- Do you want a ceremony? - I want to go to a church...
Pay the preacher going in, get a check from the lawyer going out.
You are my life. You're my life. I'm here...
You're my life, too. Right now. I can't speak for the future.
I can.
- Let me say something. - Forget I brought it up.
Listen to me. Listen to what I'm saying.
- Would you marry me? - It's not funny.
I'm not joking. Would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Larry Flynt?
You're not fucking with me? Do you mean it?
No, I'm just kidding.
I'm serious.
- She's got a dick! - You taped this on. It's not real.
- Who would want to see that? - I do. It's genius.
It's like when people slow down at a car crash. We're breaking taboos.
How about "The Wizard of Oz"?
Dorothy is lying there in Kansas, -
- and there's the Tin Man and the Scarecrow and...
- Who's the other one? - The Lion.
They're all gang-banging her. And there's Toto, maybe, even.
- Some things are sacred. - Shut up.
That's the best idea I ever heard.
Where can I find Larry Flynt?
- The Tin Man can have a tin penis. - No, he's got to have a funnel.
Larry Claxton Flynt?
Stand up, please.
You're under arrest for obscenity and engaging in organized crime.
Sit down. Shut up. You have the right to remain silent.
You have the right to an attorney.
Mr. Flynt? Are you Larry Flynt?
- Who are you? - Alan Isaacman. I'm your lawyer.
The bail is taken care of. but we should talk about the case.
- Who hired you? - Your wife hired me.
- Are you doing her? - Am I what?
Just kidding. Call me when you get out of law school.
I graduated from Harvard Law School. Three years as a public defender.
Obviously, you can get any lawyer you want, but let me say something.
You're pretty far out there, even for guys who do this stuff.
I'm interested in your case. Your problem is what I know best.
- Do you specialize in porn? - No.
I don't especially like what you do. I specialize in civil liberties.
I don't understand why they've singled me out.
The most troubling thing is the organized crime charge.
Larry's not in the mob.
Do you have any connections at all to organized crime?
- Absolutely not. - I have to ask.
By the way, call me Larry.
It's a completely bullshit charge, but we have to take it seriously -
- because you could be looking at 7 to 25 years.
All I'm guilty of is bad taste.
My cousin shot a preacher. He got six months for it.
- A preacher? What denomination? - Baptist.
- We need to discuss this seriously. - I am serious. I'm taking notes.
HAMILTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE CINCINNATI. OHIO 1977
Before we begin, I must apologize for the unpleasantness of this task.
What you're about to see will take your breath away.
Hustler Magazine depicts men and women, posed together, -
- in a lewd and shameful manner.
Hustler depicts women and women, posed together, -
- in a lewd and shameful manner.
Hustler depicts Santa Claus posed in a lewd and shameful manner.
What's he talking about?
Jesus Christ, Larry.
The defense introduces into evidence 27 other men's magazines.
- Penthouse, Playboy... - Objection!
- Sustained. - Sustained?
Wait a second. Your Honor...
These magazines contain material identical to Hustler Magazine.
If they are legal and Hustler isn't, this is selective prosecution.
- No. - Did you say no?
They are irrelevant to this case.
They very clearly demonstrate the community standard...
The jury is representative of community standards.
- I won't admit them. - You won't admit them.
Mr. Flynt, please turn to page 77.
Describe to the jury what is on page 77.
It's a picture of Santa Claus.
- What's he doing? - He's talking to Mrs. Claus.
He's holding what appears to be a large, erect penis.
Read the caption under the cartoon.
"This is what I've got to ho. ho. ho about."
Did the founding fathers expect this when they wrote the 1st Amendment?
No, and they didn't expect magazines like Playboy or even People.
I saw a few four-letter words in there.
- Can't a community set standards? - No. That's disguised censorship.
This country belongs to me, too. You don't have to read Hustler.
I don't. But what about the children who see it at the store?
Look...
If a kid gets caught drinking beer, we don't ban Budweiser.
You've heard a lot today. I won't go back over it all again.
But you have to go in that room and make some decisions.
There's one thing I want to make clear before you do.
I'm not trying to convince you to like what Larry Flynt does.
I don't like what he does.
But what I do like. -
- is that I live in a country where we can make that decision ourselves.
I like that I can pick up Hustler Magazine and read it, -
- or throw it in the garbage can if I want.
Or I can exercise my opinion and not buy it. I like having that right.
So should you. You really should. Because we live in a free country.
We forget what that means, so listen to it again:
We live in a free country. But there is a price for that freedom.
We have to tolerate things we don't like.
Go in that room and think whatever you want about Hustler.
But ask yourselves if you want to decide for the rest of us.
The freedom that all of us enjoy is in your hands.
If we throw up walls against what some of us think is obscene. -
- walls may be thrown up in all kinds of places we never expected.
And we can't see anything or do anything.
And that's not freedom.
That is not freedom. So, be careful. Thank you.
- Have you reached a verdict? - Yes. we have.
Hand the verdict to the bailiff.
Will the defendant please rise?
Madam Clerk. read the verdict.
"We, the jury, find the defendant, Larry Claxton Flynt, guilty."
Do you have anything to say before I sentence you?
Your Honor, you've not made...
...one intelligent decision yet. I don't expect one now.
I sentence you to 25 years.
- We request bail. - Bail denied. Take him away.
- This is standard procedure. - All I do is publish a magazine!
Mrs. Flynt! Were you surprised at the verdict?
Not at all. We had a stupid judge. We had an uptight prosecutor.
- Are you ashamed he's locked up? - I'm not ashamed of Larry.
He stands up for what he believes. I'm unhappy he's going to jail.
You can call this a circus. or a witch hunt, but you can't...
Hi, baby.
You are so beautiful.
- How are you? - I miss you.
Do you have any girlfriends in here?
- You have calluses on your hands? - I fantasize about you all day.
Our bed is so empty.
- What can I do to get you out? - Isaacman says this won't hold up.
What if Alan's wrong? What if you don't get out till the year 2000, -
- and I'm fat and you don't love me anymore?
You'll never be fat and ugly. I promise you.
- I love you. - I love you.
CINCINNATI CONVENTION CENTER FIVE MONTHS LATER
Please, please, please.
And now. "Americans for a Free Press" welcome to Cincinnati. -
- direct from jail, cleared 100% by the appellate court...
This is great. "Americans for a Free Press" invited us.
"Americans for a Free Press" is me. Who do you think is paying?
...that freedom fighter, Larry C. Flynt!
Thank you. I have a thought for you.
Murder is illegal. Yet, if you take a picture of the act of murder, -
- they'll put you on the cover of Newsweek.
And yet, sex is legal. Everybody is doing it, or wants to be doing it.
If you take a picture of the act of sex, or of a woman's naked body, -
- they'll put you in jail.
I have a message for all you good, moral, Christians who complain -
- that vaginas are obscene. Complain to the manufacturer!
Jesus told us not to judge, but I know you will. So judge sanely.
What do you consider obscene? This?
Perhaps that's obscene to you. Maybe this is obscene to you.
But what is more obscene? This? Or this?
This? Or this?
Politicians say that sexually explicit material corrupts youth, -
- and yet they lie, cheat and start unholy wars.
They're sheep in a herd.
The real obscenity comes from raising our youth to believe -
- that sex is bad and dirty, -
- and that it's heroic to spill guts and blood in the name of humanity.
With all the taboos attached to sex. it's no wonder we have problems, -
- that we're angry and violent. But ask yourselves the question:
What is more obscene? Sex or war?
She's a killer.
Larry...
- Hi. Althea. - Hi. Arlo.
- Did you want something? - Yes... I've got bad news.
A Georgia prosecutor has arrested newsdealers for selling Hustler.
Retailers are getting nervous and taking issues off the stands.
Fuel the jet.
Wait. Tell the Georgia media that the cavalry is on the way.
Mr. Flynt, why are you here?
News vendors are being threatened. If that's not censorship, what is?
- What's your plan? - Just watch.
Come on in. Stand over there.
Don't crowd. Let the cameras through.
I'm going to pay this gentleman $1,000.
I'm renting the "Puff and Read" for the next 24 hours. -
- and anybody who would like to purchase a copy of Hustler...
- Could I please buy a copy? - Yes. Here is the Hustler...
- That's it. You're under arrest. - Only in America, huh?
How far are you willing to go?
Many people support Hustler, but none will support you.
Why do I have to go to jail to protect your freedom?
BRING JFK'S KILLERS TO JUSTICE $1.000.000 REWARD
- That's good. - We're gonna pay a million bucks?
If it catches the killer. I think it's worth it.
- Moving on. Asshole of the month. - Jerry Falwell.
- You always say Jerry Falwell. - He's always an asshole.
- How about Anita Bryant? - I say Gerald Ford.
I say Larry Flynt.
- Everybody thinks I'm an asshole. - That's true.
Is it?
- You have a phone call. - How about asshole of the decade?
She says she's the President's sister, Ruth Carter or something.
- Ruth Carter Stapleton? - She's a woman of God.
What does she want with you?
What are you afraid of? Pick up the phone.
Put her through. This is Larry Flynt.
- Praise the Lord. I found you. - What can I help you with?
We have a mutual friend, a producer. He suggested we get together.
He thought we'd hit it off.
I don't understand. You're an evangelist, I'm a smut peddler.
I don't believe in labels. We could teach each other a lot.
- Are you free for dinner tomorrow? - I have a hectic schedule.
Do you know what's nice about people like you and me?
We can do anything we want.
- Do you go to church, Larry? - Yeah...
Particularly on the big holidays: Christmas. Easter. New Year's Eve.
New Year's Eve?
No church on New Year's Eve. Okay, we've proven I'm a liar.
It's only a ritual. I believe in the teachings of Jesus.
She loves that man.
Would you call yourself a faith-healer?
Goodness. no. I do spiritual healing.
I don't mend bones. I mend troubled souls.
That's a relief. I thought you were one of those tent revival fakes -
- that used to scare the kids with snakes and wicked this and that.
Hellfire? Damnation? That sort of thing?
That kind of talk is almost unforgivable.
Then we have something in common.
- We have something else in common. - What's that?
We're both trying to release people from sexual repression.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Stapleton.
- Your brother... Mr. President. - Jimmy. Jimmy will be fine.
Do you think he ever read my publication?
Remember the Playboy interview, where he admitted to feeling lust?
- I was proud of that. - I'm sure you were.
But Oral Roberts and Billy Graham took out after him in public.
So I don't think he's a big fan of adult magazines.
But I'm more ambivalent about what you do.
Because I think that sexuality is a God-given gift.
When I counsel women in bad marriages, I don't quote the Bible.
I say, "Get some make-up. Make yourself beautiful."
- "Jesus wants you to be beautiful." - You're something...
What was your childhood like?
Sometimes, things happen to us when we're very young -
- that can hurt for many years after.
- Why? - Because I had an epiphany.
A what? Where did you learn that word?
Is she crooking you so hard she's teaching you English?
- I think it was an acid flashback. - Don't belittle it like that!
Do you really think I wanted Jesus to tap me on the shoulder?
I get laid six times a day. I have limousines, a jet, lots of money...
I had an epiphany. I had an epiphany once.
My daddy shot my entire family and I had to identify the bodies.
I was sent to an orphanage full of good Christian nuns -
- who shoved my face into their pussies.
- For eight goddamned years! - I am sorry for you, but...
Be sorry for yourself! You'll need that for the pawnshop!
We're gonna be so damned broke you'll need that!
Come on. It's okay. Just get behind me on this.
That's all I'm asking. I feel like it's me against the world.
- Say you ain't gonna do this. - I'm doing it!
You ain't gonna do it!
Now I'm baptized, too? Fuck you!
Do you accept Jesus Christ as your savior, and reject Satan?
I do.
In obedience to the will of God. and upon your confession, -
- we baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
There will be no more photo spreads of women alone.
From now on, sex will be presented naturally, with a man in the photo.
A Genesis pictorial, with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Next month. I'd like to have pretty girls -
- floating on big glass crucifixes. Marjoe Gortner could shoot that.
I plead with you not to do this. This company will be worth nothing.
Are there horns growing out of my head? We are living in Roman times.
It is time to feed the lions to the Christians.
This is a joke. You're doing this to help our circulation.
Arlo...
I love you, brother, but please don't ever doubt my sincerity.
This is making people sick. They're puking in the news-stands.
I wanted to illustrate that I no longer exploit the female body.
You failed miserably. Nobody wants religion and porn mixed together.
Ruth says...
Get her to buy two million magazines because no one else will do it.
I won't pretend to understand what you go through, -
- what this spiritual thing is to you, but I've always supported you.
You're taking this too far. It's like you're losing your mind.
My mind is fine. God is working through me.
I could move mountains with God's help.
I could make that wall come down with sheer willpower.
- Do it. Just do it. - Do it?
He'll be thrilled about this. Larry? It's Alan.
I'm here with the eminently reasonable District Attorney.
- He wants to cut us a plea bargain. - Because I found God?
Don't argue with me on this. Just say yes.
- I pulled a lot of strings. - Is he there with you?
Tell that miserable bastard to go fuck himself. We're going to trial.
Oh, and praise the Lord.
GWINNETT COUNTY COURTHOUSE LAWRENCEVILLE. GEORGIA 1978
Mr. Flynt, how can you, a good Christian, defend this filth.
I don't have to.
Some people might think what I do is wrong, but it's not illegal.
It may not be smart to drink too much, but it's not illegal.
Abortion may be morally repugnant, -
- but right now, it's not illegal. We can change the laws, -
- but our right to decide for ourselves cannot be restricted.
George Orwell said that if liberty means anything, -
- it means the right to tell people what they don't want to hear.
America is the world's strongest country because it is the freest.
If it loses sight of its heritage, and the principles involved, -
- we will no longer be free.
That was a bang-up job you did.
- Did you pray before going in? - No comment.
Is your wife jealous of Ruth?
Stand back! Stand back!