Presents a social and cultural history of exploitation films. Analysing many films, such as "The Road to Ruin", "Modern Motherhood", and more, this book demonstrates that these films were more than simply 'bad' movies. It shows how they evolved during a period of forty years and how, during that time, they shaped public policies and attitudes.

By situating exploitation films in a historical context and organizing them according to the social problems they addressed, Schaefer shows how they evolved during a period of forty years and how, during that time, they shaped public policies and attitudes. Finally, he focuses on the changes in the postwar American film industry that led to the decline of the classical exploitation film and set the stage for the rise of 'sexploitation' in the 1960s. Engagingly written, illustrated with rare photographs, posters, production stills, and ad slicks, and offering a full filmography, "Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!" reveals a forgotten side of film history and American culture. It will delight and inform those interested in film history, cultural studies, American studies and history, and the many fans of exploitation films.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction: "As long as it was in bad taste!"
1. "An attempt to 'commercialize vice'": Origins of the exploitation film
2. "A hodge-podge of cuttings and splicings": The mode of production and the style of classical exploitation films
3. "You've gotta tell 'em to sell 'em": Distribution, advertising and exhibition of exploitation films
4. "Thoroughly vile and disgusting": The exploitation film and censorship
5. "No false modesty, no old-fashioned taboos": The sex hygiene film
6. "The monster that caters to thrill-hungry youth": The drug film
7. "Timely as today's front page": Vice, exotic and atrocity films
8. "They wear no clothes!": Nudist and burlesque films
9. Conclusion: The end of classical exploitation
Appendix 1 Major exploitation producers/distributors and their company names
Appendix 2 Filmography
Appendix 3 Video sources
Notes
Bibliography
Index