Below the Belt | 1971 | USA | Bethel Buckalew

From producer Harry Novak, Below the Belt is a major sexploitation exercise centred around a boxing theme, made in the heyday of softcore movies. Sleazy manager Johnny is knee-deep in with the local mob, so much so that he’s forced to use his own protegé, up and coming fighter Sammy, to get him out of his predicament. To ensure he’s up to meet his competition, Johnny supplies Sammy with a prostitute to keep him satisfied during the night, but the hot-blooded young man isn’t exactly the exclusive dating type, leading to a whole harem of girls that potentially jeapordise Johhny’s investment. Certainly of its time and as cheap as chips to boot, the film was surprisingly seized from shops during 1983 and most disturbingly, had a destruction order approved against it, making it a Section 3 title despite not being on the official lists. One can only assume it was the heavy softcore sex, as well as an ambiguous moment of consent during one sex scene.