“He didn’t want people to know what it’s really about,” says the official German trailer for the “Secrets of Playboy – Im Bann von Hugh Hefner” series: a documentary worth seeing that couldn’t be more daring and already after its broadcast caused quite a stir in the USA in January. After all, it’s about none other than the controversial founder and longtime editor-in-chief of the men’s magazine “Playboy”: Hugh Hefner. On Thursday, the first of a total of ten episodes about the dark side of the glamorous “Playboy” world celebrated its German premiere. The true crime broadcaster Crime Investigation shows new episodes every Thursday from 8:15 p.m.
The documentary series by director Alexandra Dean reveals the abysses of abuse of power: sexual assault, drug abuse and manipulation are revealed. Women are pitted against each other and vie for Hefner’s favor. The audience faces the grim reality and witnesses the realities that Hefner’s empire knew how to hide behind a glamorous facade. Ex-Playmates, former employees and companions openly talk about their experiences with Hefner, who is by no means portrayed as a pure monster, and his toxic treatment of them.
Archival footage of the Playboy Mansion, which he shared with Playmates and models, shows Hefner’s world as the public knows it: revealing women, high spirits, boisterous celebrations. Every pubescent boy’s dream. Hard to believe that the bon vivant grew up in a strictly religious family, where empathy and physical contact were foreign words. Rather, misogyny was the order of the day. Perhaps that was also the decisive factor in founding the men’s magazine and its excessive lifestyle.
Hefner, who died in 2017, was publicly known for his sexualization of women and his lavish love life. He not only found admiration and encouragement for this. Many criticized his treatment of women and their portrayal as sex objects. But that didn’t seem to bother him much. His world seemed perfect, but it was deceptive over the years. In the past, acquaintances and ex-partners have published books and statements that tell of the dark side behind the shiny facade.
However, these individuals were sometimes silenced. A well-known example is Jennifer Saginor, the daughter of Hefner’s best friend and the author of Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion. In the documentary, she reports on the means by which Hefner managed to silence her and put pressure on her. “We want to draw attention to grievances. Of course, we don’t take on the job of the police or the court, but we can definitely clarify things,” said Kathrin Palesch, Managing Director of AE Networks Germany, during the premiere at the 37th DOK.fest Munich.
But not only Jennifer Saginor, but also former employees and friends have their say. Ex-girlfriends like Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Sondra Theodore also face the interviews. They all tell how the semblance of permissiveness has been maintained over the years to create a world that only shines on the outside. Four years after his death, people can report what life was really like in the Playboy world – without fear of Hefner’s power games. Statements such as “You cannot feel safe with someone who is so powerful” are made.
“I think what makes the production special is the material that is shown,” explained journalist and podcaster Katja Engelhardt on the sidelines of the premiere. Although there have been some allegations based on various headlines in recent years, the documentation gets that audience the opportunity to hear all the stories from start to finish.
Boris Becker is said to enjoy a celebrity bonus in Wandsworth prison after a short time. At least that’s what insider information from the “Bild” newspaper says. Not only could the tennis legend have his door open during the day – he was also allowed to make more calls than usual on his first day.
Carsten Maschmeyer has had a check with him for two seasons, which he can fill out if necessary and then hand over without a deal. In the sixth episode, the time had finally come. The founders were speechless.
The Essen police apparently prevented a killing spree at a high school. A special task force stormed the apartment of a 16-year-old early Thursday morning. They found more than ten pipe bombs. The tip came from a young person, and an alleged announcement was also discovered on a school toilet.
The original to this post “”Secrets of Playboy”: New documentary shows Hugh Hefner’s darker side” comes from Teleschau.
