
C. Davis Smith
- Known for
- Camera
- Born
- June 18, 1930
- Died
- September 20, 2017
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
"Somebody asked me to write a book about my experiences. I was gonna title it: "Twenty Years in the Porn Business, and I Never Got Laid." Sadly it's a true story!" Exploitation movie jack-of-all-trades Charles Davis Smith was born on June 18, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following a tour of duty in the US Air Force, Smith began his cinematic career in the industrial film business in the 1950s. He went on to shoot, edit, direct, write, and even act in numerous low-budget softcore sexploitation features made throughout the 1960s. After a stint working in mainstream television, Smith returned to his trash film roots and shot a handful of hardcore porn movies made in and around New York City in the 1970s. He is perhaps best known for his work as a cinematographer on a string of films for legendary Do-It-Yourself maverick schlock cinema auteur Doris Wishman, among them Bad Girls Go to Hell (1965), Another Day, Another Man (1966), Deadly Weapons (1974), Double Agent 73 (1974), Satan Was a Lady (1975) and A Night to Dismember (1983). In addition, he also shot movies for such directors as Victor Milt, Cecil Howard, and Zebedy Colt. Moreover, Smith edited music videos for The Manhattans, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Run-D.M.C.. He provided lively, entertaining, and illuminating commentaries on DVD reissues of assorted enjoyably down'n'dirty grindhouse features that he worked on in various capacities during his colorful and impressive East Coast underground cinema career. Smith died at age 87 on September 20, 2017.
Filmography

Meet-Cute Fantasies Vol. 1 2025
Director

I Prefer Romance 2025
Director
- Better than Sex! or: How to Make a Wishman Film
Better than Sex! or: How to Make a Wishman Film 2018
as Himself

Each Time I Kill 2007
Director of Photography

Step Into the Third Dimension 1989
Editor
- Babes in Joyland
Babes in Joyland 1987
Director of Photography

A Night to Dismember 1983
Director of Photography

The Erotic Adventures of Lolita 1982
Director of Photography

Neon Nights 1981
Director of Photography, Editor

Unwilling Lovers 1977
Editor, Camera Operator, Director of Photography

Come with Me My Love 1976
Director of Photography, Co-Director

The Farmer's Daughters 1976
Director of Photography

White Fire 1976
Director of Photography

Satan Was a Lady 1975
Director of Photography

Big Abner 1975
Sound, Director of Photography

The Immoral Three 1975
Director of Photography

In-Flight Service 1975
Director

Certified Mail 1974
Cinematography, Lighting Technician

Deadly Weapons 1974
Cinematography

Double Agent 73 1974
Cinematography

Badge '69' 1974
Lighting Technician, Director of Photography

The Young Nymphs Kitty and Kathy 1973
as Narrator
- Rosebud
Rosebud 1972
Actor

Keyholes Are for Peeping 1972
Director of Photography

The Altar of Lust 1971
as Hans

The Amazing Transplant 1971
Director of Photography

Scorpio '70 1970
Editor

The Ultimate Voyeur 1969
Writer
- Graffiti
Graffiti 1969
Director, Director of Photography, Editor

Too Much Too Often! 1968
Director of Photography

Indecent Desires 1968
Director of Photography

To Turn a Trick 1967
Writer, Additional Photography, Director

A Taste of Flesh 1967
Story, Director of Photography

File X for Sex: The Story of the Perverted 1967
as Male Voyeur / Blindfolded Man, Director, Writer

My Brother's Wife 1966
Director of Photography

Hot Nights on the Campus 1966
Editor, Director of Photography

The Girl from S.I.N. 1966
as Professor Drake, Director of Photography, Director, Writer

Banned 1966
Editor, Cinematography

All My Men 1966
Writer, Camera Operator, Cinematography, Director

Bad Girls Go to Hell 1965
Director of Photography

The Sex Perils of Paulette 1965
Editor, Director of Photography

Lust and the Flesh 1965
Associate Producer, Editor, Director of Photography

The Sexploiters 1965
as Cameraman, Additional Photography

Crazy Wild and Crazy 1964
Director of Photography, Editor
Credits from TMDB.