The Seven Minutes (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Seven Minutes is 1971 drama film directed and produced by Russ Meyer. The film was based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Irving Wallace.
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Plot
After a teenager who purchased the erotic novel The Seven Minutes is charged for rape, an eager prosecutor who is against pornography (and preparing for an upcoming election) uses the scandal to declare the book as obscene and brings charges against the bookstore. The subsequent trial soon creates a heated debate about the issue of pornography vs. free speech. The young defense lawyer must also solve the mystery of the novel's true author.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Wayne Maunder | Mike Barrett |
| Marianne McAndrew | Maggie Russell |
| Philip Carey | Elmo Duncan |
| Jay C. Flippen | Luther Yerkes |
| Edy Williams | Faye Osborn |
| Lyle Bettger | Frank Griffith |
| Yvonne De Carlo | Constance Cumberland |
| Jackie Gayle | Norman Quandt |
| Ron Randell | Merle Reid |
| Charles Drake | Sargent Kellogg |
| John Carradine | Sean O'Flanagan |
| Harold J. Stone | Judge Upshaw |
| James Inglehart | Clay Rutherford |
| Tom Selleck | Phil Sanford |
| Olan Soule | Harvey Underwood |
| Charles Napier | Norman Quandt |
| Wolfman Jack | Himself |
Production notes
This was Meyer's second, and last, mainstream production for FOX. The film began production soon after the success of Meyer's highest grossing film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.<ref name=filmref>Russ Meyer at filmreference.com</ref>
As with many of his movies, Meyers used several of the same actors in his previous productions including then-wife Edy Williams, Charles Napier, Henry Rowland, and James Inglehart.
Established actress Yvonne De Carlo makes an appearance along with veteran character actor Olan Soule. A young Tom Selleck also had a role in the film, and DJ Wolfman Jack made a cameo appearance.
Reception
The Seven Minutes received a lukewarm reception from both audiences and critics and was Meyer's first commercial failure.
