Starring: Davee Decker
Written By: Doris Wishman
Distributor: Independent Film by Doris Wishman
No matter how you look at it, naked people are one of two things: offensive or funny. Nudity, at least in America, has been associated with either porn or someone losing their clothes in a comedy. However, in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, Nudity is largely associated with art. One of the primary reasons why nudity is frowned upon is largely as a result of the Puritan influence on American Culture. Those pesky Puritans are the main reasons why Americans can never have any fun. Nudity, alcohol (I am not much of a drinker, as I am a teetotaller.), and quite possibly weed were all frowned at by the Puritans.
I say blame the Puritans the next time you want to blame the stupidity in America on something! Our lousy educational values? The Puritans. The fact our politicians suck? The Puritans. The Civil War? The Puritans. Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor? The Puritans sold us out. Kennedy's assassination? Oswald had Puritan support. The Challenger disaster? Puritans sabotaged it. 9/11? Okay, I am going too far with this attack on Puritans. I guess we can all agree that the Puritans have ruined America. The same can be said of their modern form; the Westboro Baptist Church. Both groups suck and they are what make America suck!
Maybe, I got too carried away about my rant on the Puritans to even notice I went off the deep end. I guess that is what happens when someone rants. It goes off topic so bad no one knows what the original point was anymore. My original intent behind his post was not about Puritans, but rather about my latest Public Domain film being reviewed here on Scrutiny Studios: Diary of a Nudist. Before I dive in, I must state that should any Nudists read this review, please understand this is not an attack on Nudism, it is more of a review on this film.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Just as the film starts, we are given a full scene where a group of people are just sitting nude around enjoying the breeze. Although some of the people in that scene had some nice tits and even looks good with no clothes on, I would have to say the big, fat, hairy guy summed up the old adage about nudists in general: They are people you wish to never see nude.In other words, this film just decided to jump right on in regarding these nudists sitting around doing nothing. I have to ask if all Nudists are like that.
Then we FINALLY get to see an opening where we see some chick skinny dipping amid some credits. It is as though, the film makers of Diary of a Nudist wanted to create a parody of a James Bond opening. There is the possibility of the director paying some peeping tom or lecher or creep or whatever you want to call it to film some naked chick in her backyard. One can only imagine how this was captured on film.
After we get our credits, the audience is treated to a scene where a hunter is taking a walk in the woods. Whether this guy is hunting deer, bears, ducks, lions, tigers, zombies or Nazis is any ones guess. I will leave any viewers to decipher that for themselves. As I was stating, the hunter is taking a walk when he comes across some bushes. Curiosity gets the better of the hunter who literally uncovers a Nudist Colony! (No pun intended.) I am assuming this guy must been hunting naked people as it might have been Nudie Season! Then again, the Nudie Colony seems to be secluded to the point where NONE of the Nudists even notice the intrusion our confused hunter.
Turns out our hunter actually works as an Editor in Chief at some Newspaper or Media News Outlet. It is here we learn the hunter has a name: Arthur. As he tries to get back into the routine of working on a Monday, Arthur is approached by one of his co-workers, a reporter whom we all learn is named Stacy. She asks Arthur how his weekend hunting trip went and at first Arthur is reluctant to say anything. Then he tells Stacy about the bizarre site he found: Arthur found a Nudist Colony within the shrubbery! Stacy is taken back by this and ponders more. Being the Editor, Arthur decides to send Stacy to cover the Nudie Camp! (Again no pun intended.) However, Stacy is having none of it. Now it is her turn to be reluctant and despite this, she agrees to take the assignment.
A week later or so in movie time, Stacy is accepted and has to travel the Nudist Colony. When she arrives, the Camp Director gives Stacy a tour of the Camp and introduces her and the audience to members. Every scene at this point has naked people in it left and right. Never do we find a fabric of textile on anyone. The men, women...and even the children (Ugh, that just don't sound right) are unclothed. I have to ponder if the Nudists are Hippies or Skyclad Wiccans because at one point someone was gathering flowers for the Summer Festival. Strangely enough there are no fat people in this Nudist Camp and THANK GOD for that! I guess one could consider that a blessing in disguise.
Even as Stacy is enjoying the Nude Life, no one knows she is writing articles regarding her experiences. That is except for Arthur and the rest of the News Paper staff who ponder if their articles are either Sensation or Exploitation. Back and forth between the scenes of carefree Nudists and Arthur receiving Stacy's articles, it gets to a point where the Articles themselves prove too much and Stacy is later relieved of her position. Stacy gets major points right here for the very reason she would not report about anything except the truth. Arthur, the ardent anti-Nudist, wants only to exploit the Nudist Colony as an immoral place and not where a group of people associate.
To add insult to injury, not only Arthur take over the articles, but he also attends the same Nudist Camp that Stacy attends which does not settle well with her. Everyone on the other hand seems to welcome Arthur. Even if he chooses to wear blue briefs for the duration of his time there as to perhaps save the Audience the agony of seeing his...ahem! Slowly but surely Arthur takes a liking to the Nudist Camp and begins to write articles which are more positive than negative. Even after the rouse is discovered by the Camp Director regarding the articles written by Stacy and later Arthur, the Camp Director actually applauds them for their honest articles. Afterwards, Arthur and Stacy reconcile and before too long, Arthur reveals his love for Stacy which now leaves the door open for a sequel about Employer-Employee relationships.
COMMENTS:
Even though I am a Textile (The Nudist Lingo for Non-Nudists), I found the movie to be very pleasent. Despite the repeated shots of Nudists living carefree without a worry in the world, I found the depiction of Nude life done quite well. Unlike most films which depict Nudist stereotype as someone who hates clothes and proudly goes about nude, this film was actually positive in its depiction. Never once did any Nudist act as though Clothes were a "sin" and that being nude was a blessing.
I also enjoyed how Stacy, and later Arthur, conduct themselves to this assignment as Journalists. Rather than being an outsider peering into the Nudist Camp, they chose to become part of the coverage themselves. Considering this film was created before Hunter S. Thompson's concept of Gonzo Journalism, one could say this film predicted something which would later become a staple among some journalists who decide to become part of the story, rather than observe it from outside.
Another thing I enjoyed was the absense of villains. Sure, Arthur may come off at times as an ass, but one cannot blame him as he originally set out to exploit the Nudists. However, once he comes to know about their ways, Arthur instantly takes a liking to the Nudist Colony and its people. Perhaps one could say the "villains" of this film are mainly a misunderstanding about Nudists and Journalistic integrity, both of which are resolved within the first half of the film. Meaning the rest of the film is spent looking at naked people!
OVERALL RATING: 7
While I love the fact this movie has no depiction of Nudist Stereotypes or any villians whatsoever, I must say what holds this movie back is the scenes of repetition involving Nudists at the camp. While one may use this film as a cheap excuse for masturbation material (considering all the naked breasts all over the place), those who watch this film with a serious mindset would see the movie as more of a positive depiction of the Nudist Lifestyle. Whether this film serves as an introduction to Nudism for some, Textiles like me and you would have to find Nudists in general anything unlike the stereotype.
Still the fact this film was made in the 1960s would put off some as the people who were young in this film are now very old, so rather than fap to the scenes of naked people, I would suggest you watch Diary of a Nudist as a means of understanding Nudists or to watch a film were the stereotype is ignored.
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