When I went to see Inside Deep Throat a couple of weeks ago, after I bought my ticket I was presented with a tie-in promotional lollipop. Ha-ha, I thought, I see what you have done there, for whilst I suck my lollipop it will be a little bit like Linda Lovelace sucking a different type of lollipop. The analogy really falls down if you see the film, but the promotional power of this lolly also falls apart.
Consider. I was given the lolly after I bought my ticket. Nowhere was it advertised, “See our documentary, get free lolly”. The lolly was a pleasant surprise but as a surprise it had no impact on my buying the ticket. However consider alternative uses of the lolly. Perhaps a bowl of them, all saying “Come And See Inside Deep Throat” was placed in the foyer. This would clearly attract the main consumers of lollipops, young kids*. Unfortunately young kids, off to see Millions, will not be allowed to see Inside Deep Throat (just as well) so this logic falls down. Thus the small distributor seems to have waster much of its money on these slightly insipid lemon lollipops. And yes, I did feel dirty sucking it during the film.
*It may also attract Kojak, who I would imagine may well be in the demographic sweep for both Deep Throat and the documentary on it.