Grove Press, which the legendary Barney Rosset founded in 1951, was noteworthy for publishing such classics as D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly’s Lover and Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer. It is perhaps less known that Grove Press supported and distributed a diverse selection of independently made films—works, including such banned films as I Am Curious (Yellow) and Titicut Follies, that challenged the political, sexual, and cultural mores of American society in their times. This program represents a rare opportunity to rediscover some of the most notable and notorious works from the Grove Press Collection, all currently in the collection of the Harvard Film Archive, and to revisit a group of works that speak to the turbulent zeitgeist of 1960s America in the throes of a sexual and political “revolution.”

To reflect the spirit of the times in which these films were made, program notes are drawn largely from original entries in the Grove Press Film Catalog. The Archive wishes to thank M.M. Serra of the Film-Makers’ Cooperative and Barney Rosset for their assistance in organizing this series. Please note that, due to explicit content, admission to some screenings will be limited to persons 18 years of age or older.