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Russ Meyer

A famed film auteur, director Russ Meyer revolutionized attitudes toward nudity on film with his debut movie, "The Immortal Mr. Teas" (1959), one of the first films since pre-Code Hollywood to show nudity in an erotic manner. Meyer also used his films to tackle issues concerning race, politics and morality. He was also incredibly successful making movies like "Wild Gals of the Naked West" (1962) and "Lorna" (1964) on the cheap, and turning a sizeable profit at the box office. Meyer entered the cult favorite pantheon with his wildly titled "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (1966) and had a major commercial hit with the controversial "Vixen!" (1968). Because of its success, Meyer was able to realize his dream of directing a studio film, resulting in "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970), written by a then-unknown Roger Ebert. Though he tried to direct straightforward dramas, Meyer returned to the sexploitation genre only to retire before the porn industry boom after his final narrative film, "Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens" (1979). Part showman, part filmmaker, the uninhibited Meyer nonetheless ushered in the sexual revolution past Hollywood's repressed gates in the 1960s, making his mark as one of the most celebrated cult filmmakers of all time.