Inventive and wildly fun, “NUTS!” recounts the unbelievable true story of John Romulus Brinkley, a Kansas doctor who in 1917 discovered that he could cure impotence by transplanting goat testicles into men. From there, the story only gets more bizarre.
Mixing hand-drawn animated reenactments, interviews, archival footage, and a very unreliable narrator, “NUTS!” traces Brinkley’s rise from poverty and obscurity to the heights of celebrity, wealth, and influence. Along the way, he transplants thousands of goat testicles, amasses an enormous fortune, is (sort of) elected Governor of Kansas, invents junk mail and the infomercial, builds the world’s most powerful radio station, and generally annoys the heck out of the establishment.
Filmmaker Penny Lane has skillfully borrowed a page from her subject – charming viewers into believing the unbelievable, building their trust and excitement, until the final chapter bares the painful truth and reveals the doctor for what he truly was. “NUTS!” reminds us that our love of (and need for) compelling narratives is exactly what makes us so endlessly susceptible to being conned.
“NUTS!” is directed by Penny Lane and written by Thom Stylinski. The film is produced by James Belfer, Caitlin Mae Burke, and Daniel Shepard. Executive Producer is Dan Cogan. Original music is by Brian McOmber with co-editing credit shared by Lane and Stylinksi.
“NUTS!” will have its World Premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Documentary Competition.
“NUTS!” will screen at the following dates and times:
- Press & Industry Screening
Saturday, January 23 at 9:30AM – Holiday Village Cinema 3, Park City. - Premiere Screening (limited press tickets available):
Friday, January 22 at 9:00PM – Temple Theater, Park City. - Additional Screenings (limited press tickets available):
Saturday, January 23 at 3:30PM – Redstone Cinema 1, Park City.
Sunday, January 24 at 12:00PM – Sundance Mountain Resort Screening Room, Sundance Resort.
Monday, January 25 at 9:45PM – Broadway Centre Cinema 3, SLC.
Thursday, January 28 at 9:00AM – Library Center Theatre, Park City.
Saturday, January 30 at 3:00PM – Yarrow Hotel Theatre, Park City.
