Sex And The Silver Screen Review

As the louche saxophone title music starts up and Raquel Welch’s name flashes onscreen under “narrator,” this six-part documentary series states its intentions loud and clear.

It’s a bawdy, slapdash romp through 100 years of celluloid sex, where the board of censors are the villains and the heroes are decidedly scantily-clad.

First shown in the US ten years ago, it shows its age with faintly ridiculous filler sequences and a galloping pace made passé by the purposeful stride BBC4 has accustomed us to. But there’s no denying the fascinating subject matter, and this is a goldmine of rare footage.