The Look of Love

‘Sex sells’ is the credo which makes Paul Raymond one of Britain's richest men. His career begins as a nightclub owner where the acts must be so hot that no ‘real man’ would be able to resist them. Using his initial savings to purchase a single building, Raymond is later in a position to buy up entire streets in London’s Soho district. His expanding empire soon includes erotic magazines and theatres and his bank account finally swells to 650 million pounds. But then, his beloved daughter Debbie dies of a heroin overdose at the age of 36 …
After 24 Hour Party People and The Trip, director Michael Winterbottom joins forces once again with his brilliant leading man Steve Coogan to create the bizarre world of a sex maniac. This tale of a latter day King Midas is based on the real life of Paul Raymond, who entered Britain’s history of sleaze as the ‘King of Soho’. Carefully balancing comedy and tragedy, the film creates a humane picture of its eccentric protagonist whilst also drawing a portrait of the second half of the twentieth century.