Film Details

Can implanting goat testicles cure male impotence and infertility? 1920s Kansas quack doctor John R. Brinkley thought so, and he got famous and rich by performing the operation and establishing clinics and hospitals in many states. He also spread the gospel of “goat glands” via the airwaves (Brinkley was a pioneering broadcaster and radio station owner) and eventually entered politics. But he was long dogged by doubting medical experts and government regulators. Penny Lane tells this bizarre but largely unknown American story with a snappy mix of animation, vintage audio and film clips, and interviews. “Ultimately, this isn’t a film about goat balls at all, but the willingness of millions to believe that some slick-talking demagogue knows more about what’s good for them and their families than someone with actual qualifications.” –A.V. Club. DCP. 79 min.