Filthy Gorgeous: The Bob Guccione Story is a fascinating story of Bob Guccione’s life. A visionary, public-relations master, recluse and self-destructive optimist who went from the pinnacle of power, worth hundreds of millions of dollars to personal debt in the tens of millions of dollars. Whatever he may have been called, his story is nothing short of spectacular.

Guccione played a starring role in one of the most contentious social and sexual revolutions in modern history through his publication of Penthouse. An unlikely catalyst of the 1960’s counter culture, Guccione used his art and candid views on sexuality and politics to create scandal, spark debate, and implement change, all the while leading a relatively quiet and reclusive lifestyle. Penthouse was a formative magazine, dedicated to freedom of speech with an emphasis on controversial journalism and advancing the dialogue of sexuality with greater explicitness in a magazine than ever before. However a series of decisions led to the fall and eventual bankruptcy of Penthouse, with Guccione losing his fortune and dying shortly after. The film explores his rise and fall and its greater impact on American culture through rare home videos, exclusive interviews with Guccione and revealing conversations with his family, past lovers, and close confidants.

Produced, Written and Directed by Barry Avrich, Filthy Gorgeous: The Bob Guccione Story is a Melbar Entertainment Group production in association with EPIX, Astral’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central, with funding from Rogers Telefund, CAVCO and the OMDC.

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