Skin Deep (1978 film)

{{Use dmy dates|date= April 2026}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date= April 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Skin Deep
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| director = Geoff Steven
| producer = John Maynard
| writer = {{Plainlist|
*Piers Davies
*Roger Horrocks
*Geoff Steven }}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
*Deryn Cooper
*Ken Blackburn }}
| music = Jan Preston
| cinematography = [[Leon Narbey]]
| editing = Simon Sedgley
| studio = Phase Three Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1978|11}}
| runtime = 101 min
| country = New Zealand
| language = English
| budget = $180,000
| gross =
}}

'''''Skin Deep''''' is a 1978 New Zealand film.{{cite book |last1= Martin |first1= Helen |last2= Edwards |first2= Sam |date= 1997 |title= New Zealand film, 1912-1996 |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23627951 |location= |publisher= Oxford University Press | page=68 |isbn= 9780195583366 |access-date=}} It was directed by Geoff Steven and filmed in the small town of [[Raetihi]] with a budget of around $180,000.{{citation |last = Sykes |first= Jill |title= A little like Hollywood of 30 years ago |periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald |date= 1 December 1979 }} It debuted at the Chicago International Film Festival in November 1978.{{citation |last = |first= |title= N.Z. ‘sex’ film for Chicago festival |periodical = The Press |date= 6 November 1978 | url = https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1978/11/06/7 }} It was later screened in New York and Denver and toured Europe.{{citation |last = |first= |title= ‘Skin Deep’ winning critical acclaim |periodical = The Press |date= 24 March 1979 | url = https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1979/03/24/21 }} It had it's New Zealand release in February 1979{{citation |last = |first= |title= 23 films helped by commission |periodical = The Press |date= 11 September 1979 | url = https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1979/09/11/28 }} first showing for free for residents of Raetihi. {{citation |last = MacKay |first= Roger |title= 'Skin Deep’ is beauty |periodical = The Press |date= 20 February 1979 | url = https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1979/02/20/11 }}

==Synopsis==
The town of Carlton is trying to raise funds to promote itself. A local Gym brings a city masseuse to town.

==Cast==
*Deryn Cooper as Sandra Ray
*[[Ken Blackburn (actor)|Ken Blackburn]] as Bob Warner
*[[Grant Tilly]] as Philip Barrett
*Alan Jervis as Vic Shaw
*Glennis Levesiam as Alice Barrett
*Heather Lindsay as Rita Warner
*Bill Johnston as Michael Campbell
*Arthur Wright as Les Simpson
*[[Kevin J. Wilson]] as Graham Goodwin

==Reception==
''Variety'' said "An excellent script and three-dimensional characters flesh out this skeleton. Central to the theme and payoff is Sandra Ray (Deryn Cooper), the masseuse who, though she still emits plenty of erotic voltage, has had enough of the sex side of the business."{{citation |last = |first= |title= Skin Deep |periodical = Variety |date= 1978 |url = https://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/skin-deep-2-1200424174/ }} In ''the New York Times'' Vincent Canby said ''Skin Deep'' was "a nice, socially aware comedy of the sort that Hollywood might have made 30 or 40 years ago, when movies didn't have to be blockbusters and when movie makers were allowed to express some interest in the quality of the life around them."{{citation |last = Canby |first= Vincent |title= Skin Deep: low-budget quality |periodical = The New York Times |date= 20 April 1979 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/20/archives/screen-skin-deepjazz-mass-at-st-patricks.html }} William Dart in Art New Zealand writes "The narrative flow of the work is impressive; and it is here that Geoff Steven has made a considerable achievement." He later says "''Skin Deep'' was so accomplished from a technical standpoint that possibly only the musical score could be directly criticised."{{citation |last = Dart |first= William |title= Skin Deep New Zealand Cinema Comes of Age |periodical = Art New Zealand |date= Winter 1979 |url = https://art-newzealand.com/12-skindeep/ }} Colin Bennett in ''the Age'' finishes "Basically sober in intent, Steven refuses to make fun of the place or its inhabitants, even when their failings surface. The trouble is that, if satire is too faint, it goes unappreciated. And if you don't make fun in a comedy, it isn't very funny."{{citation |last = Bennett |first= Colin |title= A satire that falters |periodical = The Age |date= 19 July 1979 }}

Dave Sargent in ''the Sydney Morning Herald'' writes "Few Filmakers manage to employ a naturalistic style as competently as Geoff Steven. He is assisted by a screenplay which moves effortlessly, photography that is marked by realistic clarity, and performances that are devoid of obvious "acting" styles."{{citation |last = Sargent |first= Dave |title= Skin Deep: low-budget quality |periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald |date= 25 August 1980 }} ''The Oregonian'''s Ted Mahar notes "Director Steven, who wrote the script with two others, unfolds his tale at a steady pace that is never too slow. His characters are full of satirical touches but are never caricaturistic".{{citation |last = Mahar |first= Ted |title= Rustic charm runs only 'Skin Deep' in New Zealand film |periodical = The Oregonian |date= 9 June 1983 }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0078276}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skin Deep}}
[[Category:1978 films]]
[[Category:1978 English-language films]]
[[Category:1970s New Zealand films]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Films set in New Zealand]]