Fragments: The Incomplete Films of Peter de Rome

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A documentary about Peter de Rome, shot in New York, where the British gay erotic film maker has lived since the 1950s. Peter reveals that he was captivated by Hollywood and its stars from childhood. He first worked as an actor in repertory theatre and then as a film publicist, a job that took him to the US. While involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s he bought his first 8mm camera and began making short erotic films, many of them featuring men of colour. He was one of the first gay pornographic film makers at a time when such material was illegal. A guest at one of the private parties where Peter showed his films was producer Jack Deveau, who encouraged Peter to blow up eight of his films to 16mm and release them as The Erotic Films of Peter de Rome. Peter tells us that many of his films were left unfinished or were projects he did not develop. We see extracts from such previously unseen films as Wet and Wild (1964), Violation and The Fire Island Story (1965), Scopo and Boogaloo (1966), and hear about projects such as Grand Motel (a gay version of Grand Hotel) and even a film based on an idea by William Burroughs. Peter re-visits Harlem, where he was a regular at the famous Apollo Theatre, and meets actor and musician Lord Hamilton. At a dinner party attended by some of his fans - including photographer Leee Black Childers, film maker Carol Payne, and author Maitland McDonagh - Peter makes the startling announcement that one scenario, about a gay orgy in a clothes shop, was written for him by Sir John Gielgud.