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Man Says DVD At Town 'N Country Library Is Porn

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Frank DeAngelis said he didn't know what to expect when he checked out 'The Films of James Broughton.'

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2008

TOWN ’N COUNTRY - A Rocky Creek man wants to have a film he regards as pornographic removed from the shelves of the Town 'N Country Regional Public Library.

Frank DeAngelis, a former police officer and retired sociology professor, said he didn't know what to expect when he checked out "The Films of James Broughton." DeAngelis said he was shocked to see naked men engaging in various sexual acts. In one the collection's films, "Devotions," two men dress up like nuns and embrace and kiss.

But what really concerned DeAngelis is that naked children are shown, albeit in nonsexual situations.

"Why would they put little children in there to infer pornography?" DeAngelis said. "They crossed the line with the little children."

Linda Gillon, manager of programming for Hillsborough County's Department of Library Services, said she was not familiar with the film. She talked to DeAngelis on Monday and suggested he file a complaint.

Gillon said librarians research reviews, look at lists of award winners and check other libraries' collections to ensure films and books meet "community standards." The committee that chooses DVDs does not look at every video.

"It's just like we can't read every book we have in the library," Gillon said.

Broughton was a poet, playwright and avant-garde filmmaker. Born in 1913 in Modesto, Calif., Broughton wrote more than 20 books of verse and considered himself "first and foremost a poet."

But his films, including "Dreamwood," "The Pleasure Garden" and "The Golden Positions" received more attention, earning him an American Film Institute lifetime achievement award in 1989. He died in 1999 at age 85.

The DVD that DeAngelis borrowed was not rated but had a warning on the back cover saying it was for "mature audiences." The front cover shows a man sitting on the floor, filming a dancing man who appears to be naked.

Keith Allen, supervisor at the Town 'N Country library, said he had never heard of the film and doesn't remember anyone complaining about it.

"When people have complaints there is formal procedure," Allen said. "We take them very seriously and do look at it."

County library policies lay out a three-step level of review when a patron complains about material. The first step calls for two librarians to review the content and make a recommendation to the library system materials manager, who makes a decision.

If the patron disagrees with that decision, a review by the director of libraries can be requested. A third level of review by the library board is available if the customer is not satisfied with the library director's decision.

"Sometimes things slip, through," Gillon said. "That's why we have customers fill out this complaint so we can address it correctly."

DeAngelis said he is considering making a formal complaint to the sheriff's office and county commissioners. His main goal is have the film removed from all county libraries.

"I think parents should be aware this happened, and it could happen again," he said. "This is way beyond the pale."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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