X-Rated: The Mitchell Brothers : A True Story of Sex, Money, and Death

by David McCumber

An account of the murder of pornographer Artie Mitchell by his brother, Jim, describes Jim and Artie's rise to fame in the pornography industry, their porn classic, Behind the Green Door, and their descent into lives of alcoholism and violence. 50,000 first printing. Tour.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Film

464 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mitchell Brothers are fascinating creatures and this book shows you the underbelly of the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre. It's full of sex and violence, but it's a sad story, one of symbiotic siblings who dearly love one another, but share a destructive lifestyle.

I enjoy the chapters about the dancers from the theatre and their personal lives. Good stuff.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will tell you everything you need to know about The Mitchell Brothers, their pornographic empire, Jim's killing of Artie in 1991 and the trial in 1992.


This tale of two brothers caused mixed emotions for me. The Mitchell brothers were signatories of a declaration of independence for the sexual revolution of the 1970s. However, like many of the Founding Fathers, they didn't necessarily think that all people were created equal or deserving of the same life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness they desired. Jim and Artie Mitchell were both drug addicts, alcoholics and abusive womanizers; but Artie was self-destruction and misogyny incarnate. This book chronicles the rise and fall of the Mitchell brothers, their lives, loves, hates, wives, girlfriends,children and -in Artie's case- death. Their story is told in detail by many of Artie Mitchell's girlfriends, buddies and business associates. The stories as told by the dancers of the O'Farrell Theatre are the most interesting sections of the book. In my opinion, one woman in particular, Elisa Florez (Missy Manners), was Artie's most pitiable victim; however she emerged from her abusive life with him a strong, admirable person.

[Josh Avery · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was an absolute slog. I liked
the movie on Showtime years ago with Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez and I was hoping this would be a good book, but, unfortunately, it was not. The author spent more time describing the features of Artie's girlfriends and their sexual prowess than going further into the relationship with the brothers, which was the whole point. There was even a bit on Frank Lloyd Wright designing the Marin County, CA courthouse for no reason. Ugh.

[Bruce Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically this is the story of one of the Mitchell Brothers and each of his steady lovers and/or wives. The inside scoop into stripper/porn actress thoughts about him, and the business they are in. How porn went mainstream. That was the interesting part of the book. The trial, the minutia of cross-examination was much less interesting.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay until it got to the trial portion and then it just dragged. This is my second book about the Mitchells and I have one more to read—I find the story really interesting.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can set aside the fact that the Mitchell brothers were pornographers, this true crime work documents there legal advancements for free speech and their pioneering efforts in the sex enterntainment. This adds flesh to the murder story where one brother kills the other. I saw the documentary on that crime on cable and that prompted me to seek out this book. The last thrid of the book is the trial testimony which was one of the first cases after Prop. 115 in California, the "Crime Victims Justice Reform Act" (1990), and is thus historical in its own right.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book title and the book seems to be all about sex. But it is not! It's about the true story of the Mitchelle brothers and their life in and as a result of the porn industry. Excellent story!

[Rachel d.]

Not particularly gripping writing for what is a pretty interesting story. i picked through it, which i never do, and then passed it on to my other. i also hate it when people who talk about waiting for the movie. So i won't.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cocaine, guns and porn just do not mix.

[Joel Lantz · Rating 2 out of 5]

A truly interesting story that was told they way you'd expect. Tabloid flash and cheesy writing. Still, fairly entertaining and informative.

[Zeus Polak · Rating 5 out of 5]

True crime at its best!