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David Hamilton Grant (born Willis Andrew Holt; 1939–1991) was an
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
porn producer during the late 1960s and 1970s.


Biography

Willis Andrew Holt was born in
Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Situated west-northwest of Charing Cross, it is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Uxbrid ...
in 1939. He changed his name by Deed Poll on the 22 January 1982 to David Hamilton Grant. David Grant first film was ''Love Variations'' (1969) a sex education film that was based on a ‘marriage manual’ Grant had photographed/published a year earlier. Grant's sex film empire grew in the 1970s, he opened up a number of adult cinemas, the first being 'The Pigalle' in 1974, distributed foreign sex films through his "Oppidan" company, and produced his own featurette length British sex comedies ('' Girls Come First'', ''
The Office Party ''The Office Party'' is a 1976 British sex comedy directed by David Grant and starring Alan Lake, Johnny Briggs, Pamela Grafton, Ellie Reece-Knight and Theresa Wood. It depicts the sexual misadventures of staff enjoying an office party where ...
'', '' Under the Bed'') He also produced ''Snow White and the Seven Perverts'' (1973), a pornographic animated short parodying ''
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as Ta ...
''. Grant's featurettes were often released on the lower half of cinema double-bills with popular European sex films in order to capitalise on the
Eady Levy The Eady Levy was a tax on box-office receipts in the United Kingdom, intended to support the British film industry. It was introduced in 1950 as a voluntary levy as part of the Eady plan, named after Sir Wilfred Eady, a Treasury official. The le ...
tax situation. For example '' Girls Come First'' was paired on a 1975 double bill with '' Enter The 7 Virgins'', the Grant produced '' The Over-Amorous Artist'' was retitled ''Just One More Time'' and re-released as the support feature to a 1975 release of
Just Jaeckin Just Jaeckin (8 August 1940 – 6 September 2022) was a French film director, photographer, and sculptor. Early life Jaeckin was born in Vichy, Allier, French State Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 19 ...
’s ''
Emmanuelle Emmanuelle is the lead character in a series of French erotic films based on the main character in the novel ''Emmanuelle'' (1959), created by Emmanuelle Arsan. Character history Emmanuelle appeared as the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andrian ...
'' (1974), ''
The Office Party ''The Office Party'' is a 1976 British sex comedy directed by David Grant and starring Alan Lake, Johnny Briggs, Pamela Grafton, Ellie Reece-Knight and Theresa Wood. It depicts the sexual misadventures of staff enjoying an office party where ...
'' was paired on a 1976 double bill with ''
Linda Lovelace for President ''Linda Lovelace for President'', also known as ''Hot Neon'', is a 1975 American comedy film directed by Claudio Guzmán and starring Linda Lovelace, who achieved notoriety as the central character in the most profitable X-rated film of all time, ...
'', and the Grant directed ''Sensations'' starring Cosey Fanni Tutti and
Genesis P-Orridge Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (born Neil Andrew Megson; 22 February 1950 – 14 March 2020) was a singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist, and occultist who rose to notoriety as the founder of the COUM Transmissions arti ...
was the support feature to ''Pussy Talk'' (1975). Described in a 1978 profile in Punch magazine as “a chubby, boyish forty-year-old, with a youthful, uncorrupted face enfolded in two glossy skull-caps of hair and beard”, Grant liked to refer to himself as the ‘King of Sexploitation’, Grant enjoyed giving himself Hitchcock cameos in his own films. During the making of ''
The Office Party ''The Office Party'' is a 1976 British sex comedy directed by David Grant and starring Alan Lake, Johnny Briggs, Pamela Grafton, Ellie Reece-Knight and Theresa Wood. It depicts the sexual misadventures of staff enjoying an office party where ...
'' (1976), Grant got into a furious row with actor Johnny Briggs, after Briggs refused to bare all for the film. Briggs feared such exposure could damage his reputation, and a furious Grant threatened to fire him. After the intervention of Briggs’ agent, a compromise was reached and Briggs performed the offending scene with his underpants on. Briggs later recalled this story in his autobiography, noting that after the film he vowed never to work with Grant again. As well as his sex films Grant also produced X-rated cartoons like ''Sinderella'' (1972), and comedy shorts like ''Escape to Entebbe (1976) a parody of
Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...
featuring a browned up
John Bluthal John Bluthal (born Isaac Bluthal; 12 August 1929 – 15 November 2018) was a Polish-born Australian actor and comedian, noted for his six-decade career internationally in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He started his career ...
as a Pakistani TV reporter. In the early eighties, Grant turned to video, forming the World of Video 2000 label with fellow 1970s sex film mogul Malcolm Fancey. Grant held the position of company secretary, while Fancey was head of marketing. The company launched onto the video market with several soft porn titles in December 1981. in 1983 Grant noted that
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
’s film ''
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (or simply ''E.T.'') is a 1982 American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. It tells the story of Elliott, a boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, d ...
'' had yet to be released on home video in the UK, and responded by releasing an old sixties 'B' movie called ''Night Fright'' (1968) on video under the title ''E.T.N - The Extra Terrestrial Nastie'', with video artwork that parodied the E.T poster. Universal International Pictures threatened legal action, and the tape was withdrawn then later re-released with different artwork. On 3 February 1984, Grant was imprisoned for distributing ‘ video nasty’ ''
Nightmares in a Damaged Brain ''Nightmare'' is a 1981 American psychological slasher film written and directed by Romano Scavolini, and starring Baird Stafford and Sharon Smith. Its plot follows a deranged man who, after undergoing an experimental medical procedure, is release ...
'' (1981) on video. Grant was sentenced to 6 months in prison for being in "possession of over 200 copies of an obscene article for publication for gain", he was found guilty under section two of the obscene publications act. Grant's defense lawyer during the trial was Geoffrey Robertson. After Grant's imprisonment, World of Video 2000 (and its parent company April Electronics) were placed into liquidation. The Slough Observer alleged that Grant had been a drug dealer, and had “corrupted thousands of children” during his time in Northern Cyprus. He died in 1991, believed to have been victim of a
contract killing Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may be ...
.


Filmography

* ''Love Variations'' (1969, director as ‘Terry Gould’) * ''Sex, Love and Marriage'' (1970, director as ‘Terry Gould’) * ''Sinderella'' (1972, co-producer, writer) * ''
Au Pair Girls ''Au Pair Girls'' is a 1972 British sex comedy film directed by Val Guest. It stars Gabrielle Drake, Astrid Frank, Me Me Lai and Nancie Wait. Part of the British 1970s softcore sex comedy genre, the film also includes appearances by mainstrea ...
'' (1972, story) * ''Snow White and the Seven Perverts'' (1973, co-producer, writer) * ''
Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman ''Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman'' is a 1973 sex comedy film directed by Wolf Rilla.European Nightmares: Horror Cinema in Europe Since 1945' (2012). Columbia University Press. p. 65. Also known as ''Naughty Wives''. Plot The film is about ...
'' (1973, producer) * '' The Over-Amorous Artist'' a.k.a. ''Just One More Time'' (1974, producer) * '' The Great McGonagall'' (1974, producer) * ''Pink Orgasm'' (1975, uncompleted, footage later edited into ‘Who Bears Sins’ (1987)) * '' Girls Come First'' (1975, co-producer) * ''Dear Marjorie Boobs'' (1976, producer) * ''
The Office Party ''The Office Party'' is a 1976 British sex comedy directed by David Grant and starring Alan Lake, Johnny Briggs, Pamela Grafton, Ellie Reece-Knight and Theresa Wood. It depicts the sexual misadventures of staff enjoying an office party where ...
'' (1976, director,producer, writer) * ''Escape to Entebbe'' (1976 co-director,producer) * '' Under the Bed'' (1977, director, co-producer) * ''Submission'' (1977, director) * ''Over Exposed'' (1977, footage later edited into ‘Who Bears Sins’ (1987)) * ''The Kiss'' (1977, co-producer) * ''End of Term'' (1978, producer) * ''Marcia'' (1977, script/co-director) * ''You’re Driving Me Crazy'' (1978, director, co-writer) * ''Love is Beautiful'' (1978, unfilmed) * ''The London Programme'' (1979, TV, Interviewee) * ''Electric Blue 001'' (1980, video, includes Grant's ''Snow White and the Seven Perverts'', no other Grant involvement) * ''Who Bears Sins'' (1987, director, video compilation)


Films distributed by David Grant

* ''Easy Virtue'' (1972, rejected) * '' Succubus'' (1973) * ''The Apprentice'' (1973, rejected) * ''Wet Dreams'' (1974 rejected) * ''Confessions of a Sex Maniac'' (1974) * ''A Man of Our Time'' (1974) * ''
The Last House on the Left ''The Last House on the Left'' is a 1972 American exploitation horror film written, directed and edited by Wes Craven in his directorial debut. The film follows Mari Collingwood (Sandra Peabody), a hippie teenager who is abducted, raped, and ...
'' (1974, rejected) * ''The Growling Tiger'' (1974) * ''Best of the New York Film Festival'' (1975, rejected) * ''Woman’s Best Friend'' (1975, rejected) * '' Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS'' (1975, rejected) * ''Take an Easy Ride'' (1975) * ''Far Gone- Too Far Gone'' (1975) * ''Crimson Acceleration'' (1975) * ''Submission'' a.k.a. Pets (1975) * ''
The Bruce Lee Story ''Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story'' is a 1993 American biographical drama film directed by Rob Cohen. The film stars Jason Scott Lee, with a supporting cast including Lauren Holly, Nancy Kwan and Robert Wagner. The film follows the life of actor and ...
'' (1975) * ''
The No Mercy Man ''The No Mercy Man'' (also known as ''Bad Man'', ''Trained to Kill'', and ''Trained to Kill USA'') is a 1973 action film with elements of a modern-day Western starring Steve Sandor, Rockne Tarkington, Sid Haig, Ron Thompson, Mike Lane, and Richa ...
'' (1975) * ''My X Wife'' (1976, rejected) * ''The Coming of Seymour'' (1976, rejected) * ''The Best Way to Walk'' (1976) * '' Late Night Trains'' (1976, rejected) * ''The Younger the Better'' (1976) * ''Divine Obsession'' (1976) * ''Only in Denmark'' (1976) * '' Cathy's Curse'' (1977) * ''What a Performer'' (1977) * ''Dreams of Thirteen'' (1977) * ''Depraved'' (1976) * ''Exhibition'' (1976, rejected) * ''
Linda Lovelace for President ''Linda Lovelace for President'', also known as ''Hot Neon'', is a 1975 American comedy film directed by Claudio Guzmán and starring Linda Lovelace, who achieved notoriety as the central character in the most profitable X-rated film of all time, ...
'' (1976) * ''Sensations'' (1977) * ''Draws'' (1977) * '' Through the Looking Glass'' (1977) * ''Private Collection'' (1977) * ''Good Taste'' (1977) * '' Desperate Living'' (1977, rejected) * ''Pelvis'' a.k.a. Hard Up(1977) * ''Pussy Talk'' (1977) * ''His Model Wife'' (1978, rejected) * ''The Young Tycoon'' (1978) * ''Memories within Miss Aggie'' (1978) * ''Dark Star'' (1978) * ''Days in London'' (1978) * ''Soft Places'' (1978) * '' Shock Waves'' (1978) * ''Lebanon Why?'' (1978) * ''Take Off'' (1979) * ''Feel My Love'' (1979) * ''Big Ones'' (1979) * ''Video Blue a.k.a. The Double Exposure of Holly'' (1980) * ''
Nightmares in a Damaged Brain ''Nightmare'' is a 1981 American psychological slasher film written and directed by Romano Scavolini, and starring Baird Stafford and Sharon Smith. Its plot follows a deranged man who, after undergoing an experimental medical procedure, is release ...
'' (1982) Titles marked ‘rejected’ were refused classification by the British censor and therefore banned. Dates refer to the year of distribution, rather than the films actual production dates.


References

* Johnny Briggs and Pat Codd “Johnny Briggs: My Autobiography” 1998 (Blake Publishing)


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, David British pornographic film producers British animated film producers British parodists Parody film directors People from Uxbridge 1939 births 1991 deaths Date of birth missing People convicted of obscenity People murdered in the United Kingdom 20th-century British businesspeople