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The Telephone Book

Name: The Telephone Book
Director: Nelson Lyon
Released: 1971
Duration: 87 min

Representation Score

5.1/10

Fair

1971

Director

Nelson Lyon

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Telephone Book stands out for its subversion of gender expectations, replacing passive female roles with a protagonist driven by independent desires. This strong female lead contributes to its gender diversity score. However, the film lacks breadth in other areas. There is no documented evidence of racial or disability representation, and the narrative does not explicitly feature LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender gender expressions, limiting its multi-layered impact. Overall, the film explores individual non-conformity, challenging social norms around feminine behavior but remaining narrow in its demographic scope.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Telephone Book have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on a sexually driven female protagonist and non-traditional relationships. However, it does not include explicit representations of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender gender expressions.

How does The Telephone Book portray gender?

Good

The narrative breaks down 1970s stereotypes by centering a female lead who actively drives the plot through her own desires, rather than being passive or submissive.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Telephone Book?

Limited

Set in a diverse New York City, the film does not provide specific information about the racial makeup of the cast. It also lacks intentional multi-layered depth.

How does The Telephone Book represent religion and culture?

Good

The story questions traditional social norms by presenting sexual exploration as a personal freedom and promoting moral relativism over conventional Western institutions.

Does The Telephone Book include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film challenges traditional gender hierarchies by giving the female protagonist significant influence over the plot.
It questions mid-century social norms by emphasizing personal satisfaction over societal rules.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks detailed information about the racial and ethnic diversity of its cast.
There is no depiction of characters with disabilities.
The narrative does not explicitly address LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender gender expressions.

Official Synopsis

A sexually voracious young woman receives a dirty phone call from a stranger; so satisfied by the experience, she sets out to find him somewhere in New York City.

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