The Sexploiters (1965) is a very early East Coast sexploitation film that was presumed lost. It stars Terrie Steele, mild mannered housewife who enjoys the finer things in life, and, unbeknownst to her husband, has become a woman of negotiable virtue to afford them. She works out of a "modeling agency" where the girls pose naked for amateur photographers between more profitable transactions. She doesn't show any skin, but does supply the ending hook of the film. We see her start her day, and follow her through a "date" with a man who wants to be whipped. Then she arrives at the agency, where we watch a "who's who" of early sexploitation queens disrobe, model and tantalize, including Jackie Miller, June Roberts, Marlene Starr and the gorgeous Gigi Darlene. The girls were actually nude models, not trained actresses, and their parts were written such that they took off their clothes and posed, which was well within their dramatic reach.

This film was directed by Al Ruban, who went on to work on many mainstream films with John Cassavetes such as Minnie and Moskowitz and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. Jerry Denby produced and was credited as cinematographer. C. Davis Smith, who filmed several Doris Wishman films, also appeared in the film, as did All Ruban and Jerry Denby. Although it is barely an hour long, there is no plot or pacing to speak of. The film itself is just as dull as all of the early sexploitation efforts.

But ...

Unlike some of its competitors, The Sexploiters did deliver on the nudity. (See the details in the nudity report.)

It would be little more than a curiosity for film historians and fans of the actresses, but this is a Seduction Cinema release, and they not only found this rare title, but found one of the original cameramen who shot the film (C. Davis Smith), teamed him with film historian Michael J. Bowen, and recorded a feature length commentary. While they do touch on the making of the film, and the filmmakers, the discussion contains great insight into the early exploitation industry, focusing on genre legend Doris Wishman, and much more. If you have an interest in early exploitation, or in how those films were made, this DVD is absolutely a must-see, largely because of the commentary.