Under the Counter: Britain's Trade in Hardcore Pornographic 8mm Films

In the UK, the sale of hardcore pornography was illegal until 2000, but an alternative economy produced and distributed such material "under the counter" of Sohos bookshops and via mail-order. Entrepreneurs circumvented obscenity laws to satisfy the demand for uncensored adult films and profit from their enterprise, with the corrupt Obscene Publications Squad permitting them to trade. By the late 1960s, Britain had developed an international reputation for producing 'rollers, short films distributed on 8mm, which were smuggled out of Britain for sale in Western Europe. Following an exposé by the tabloid press, a crackdown on police corruption, and several high-profile obscenity trials, the trade was all but decimated, with pornography smuggled in from Europe dominating the market. Under the Counter is the first book to investigate Britains trade in illicit pornographic 8mm film, drawing on extensive archival research to tell the story of Britains trade in 8mm hardcore pornographic films and its regulation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

Prior to 2000, the sale of hardcore pornography in Britain was a criminal offense. Despite this, a thriving alternative economy emerged, producing and distributing such material "under the counter" in Sohos bookshops and through mail-order. British entrepreneurs capitalized on the demand for uncensored adult films, navigating obscenity laws with the corrupt Obscene Publications Squad permitting their trade.

By the late 1960s, Britain had established itself as a global hub for the production of "rollers," short films distributed on 8mm, which were smuggled out of the country for sale in Western Europe. Following an exposé by the tabloid press, a crackdown on police corruption, and several high-profile obscenity trials, the trade was all but decimated, with pornography smuggled in from Europe dominating the market.

Under the Counter is the first book of its kind to explore Britain's trade in illicit pornographic 8mm film. Drawing on extensive archival research, including legal records, police files, media reportage, and interviews with those involved in the business, Under the Counter tells the story of Britain's trade in 8mm hardcore pornographic films and its regulation, incorporating ideas from cultural studies, political economy, history, and criminology.

Under the Counter is a scholarly monograph that will appeal to researchers across a wide range of disciplines. It will be particularly valuable to students at undergraduate, Masters, and PhD levels, as well as those interested in the study of pornography, sexual cultures, illicit media enterprise, and entrepreneurship. The book will also be of interest to film production and distribution scholars, particularly within a British context.

Dimension: 244 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789386646
Edition number: New ed