Representations of Homosexuality (inc Negative) in Cinema

[abbymorley]

i wondered what people thought about how homosexuality as a topic is and has been represented in cinema over the years??

[Mr Sloane]

i wondered what people thought about how homosexuality as a topic is and has been represented in cinema over the years??

Would someone have an essay to write

[jimw1]

A Film Ive only seen brief clips of... its on my list of must watch......

The Children's Hour AKA The Loudest Whisper





The Loudest Whisper (1961) - IMDb

[Mr Sloane]

Would someone have an essay to write

Seriously a good starting point is The Celluloid Closet both the book and film. It covers the changing ways homosexuality has been treated in the cinema ( primarily but not exclusively Hollywood) over the years.

[abbymorley]

iv got a piece of coursework to yes :) but its based on research and im counting this as primary research :)
and the celluloid closet looks really goos im working my wy round to watching it :)

but any ideas on how the representation has changed would be much appreiciated

[CaptainWaggett]

How do you think they've changed? What films have you looked at?

[abbymorley]

well...im looking at Victim 1961, Philedelphia 1993 and brokeback mountain 2005 :)

and from other things iv looked into it seem as tho in early cinema that the gay characters were seen as something to laugh at but then as the years have gone on it seems that they is more acceptance or tolerance of homosexuality.....that was the spin i was plannig to put on my coursework..... any suggestions?

[Mark O]

i wondered what people thought about how homosexuality as a topic is and has been represented in cinema over the years??

If you've not seen it I'd recommend 'the Leathers boys' from 1963, it avoids the camp limp-wristed stereotype that some film-makers thought would raise a laugh of sorts such as Oliver reed's camping it up in a scene from 'The league of gentlemen'.

[abbymorley]

ill make sure i check it out thanks :)

[Sgt Sunshine]

A Film Ive only seen brief clips of... its on my list of must watch......

The Children's Hour AKA The Loudest Whisper





The Loudest Whisper (1961) - IMDb

Amazingly but true.......The Children's Hour is number 5 on my next to watch list.............Have you been peeking at my list Jim.....
By the way do check out "The Naked Civil Servant" based on the life of Quentin Crisp...
Cheers
Sgt S

[Mr Sloane]

One suggestion try comparing the homosexual depictions in the noirs of the 40's The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep with the gay detective in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

The Maltese Falcon - Peter Lorre plays a camp perfumed villian while Sidney Greenstreet and Elisha Cook jnr play a Daddy and rentboy ( it's actually touched upon in the script when Elisha's character is referrred to as a gunsel 30's slang for a rentboy but with it sounding like gunman most people including the censor did n't realise).

The Maltese Falcon is interesting for while the Lorre character is mocked for his effeminancy it is the most overt use of homosexuality in a Hollywood film of the time.

In The Big Sleep - Humphery Bogart as Philip Marlow lisps ( well more prominently than usual) as camp buyer of porn.



In Kiss Kiss Bang Bang the gay man is the detective a major character rather than a support and any laughs spring from the situation and character so we are laughing with him and not at him.

I suggest you watch all three films and draw your own conclusions.

[jimw1]

Amazingly but true.......The Children's Hour is number 5 on my next to watch list.............Have you been peeking at my list Jim.....
By the way do check out "The Naked Civil Servant" based on the life of Quentin Crisp...
Cheers
Sgt S

Yes Ive been peeking at your list Sarge along with your record Collection...
seen "The Naked Civil Servant" a few times John hurt was outstanding...there was a Program aired in the 80's "An evening with Quentin Crisp" Cant seem to find it anywhere now but I loved his Philosophy in life.....
"Dont try to keep up with the Jones's Drag them Down to your Level"....

[didi-5]

Try to view Sunday Bloody Sunday from 1971 as well. And another good representative book is The Lavender Screen.

[Sgt Sunshine]

Yes Ive been peeking at your list Sarge along with your record Collection...
seen "The Naked Civil Servant" a few times John hurt was outstanding...there was a Program aired in the 80's "An evening with Quentin Crisp" Cant seem to find it anywhere now but I loved his Philosophy in life.....
"Dont try to keep up with the Jones's Drag them Down to your Level"....

:I'm safe now.....put a sock over your camera....
Love Quentin's idea about dirt......after a while it just does'nt get any worse.....
Enjoyed the sequel about him in New York which was broadcast last Xmas....

[Mr Sloane]

If you've not seen it I'd recommend 'the Leathers boys' from 1963, it avoids the camp limp-wristed stereotype that some film-makers thought would raise a laugh of sorts such as Oliver reed's camping it up in a scene from 'The league of gentlemen'.

The Oliver Reed scene is the one terrible scene in a brilliant film.

The film does have a strong gay sensibilty, the depiction of Keir Dullea's character Stevens is positive, he is being blackmailed but that was the great black dog that gay men feared until homosexuality was legalised.

There is also the relationship between Race and Hyde while it may not be consciously written as homosexual in nature it certainly seems to be so to a least one gay man.

I can only assume the Reed scene was added to the film to reassure viewers and maybe the writers and directors that it was not a gay film.

[jimw1]

Some of Quentin's Philosophy....A Great Man R.I.P.

[GoggleboxUK]

I'd certainly avoid writing anything about Brokeback Mountain, you'll be running the risk of tipping into the cliche abysss regarding the finger spitting scene.

If you do wish to centre on the 'act' I'd be tempted to research the timeline of how graphic cinema portrayal developed compared to heterosexual sex. When was the first gay kiss, gay nude scene, gay frontal nudity? How far advanced is heterosexual depiction by comparison?

You could even run a historical comparison of how cinema depicted gay couples set against gay rights in the UK and USA, you should be able to find some excellent examples that homosexuality was accepted in film long before it was recognised in law.

You could also look at how depiction has changed after changes in the law were made by focussing on how screen lesbian relationships have lost the titilation focus in favour of a caring and sensual depiction.

[Kitty Whiskers]

A Film Ive only seen brief clips of... its on my list of must watch......

The Children's Hour AKA The Loudest Whisper





The Loudest Whisper (1961) - IMDb

I wouldn't rush that one, Jim. It's not that great a film, IMO - and I say that as someone who would watch Audrey Hepburn in anything. A very clumsily made (and ultimately dull) piece of cinema. It's one of those films that looks great on paper.

[GRAEME]

the depiction of Keir Dullea's character Stevens is positive...

Kieron Moore is the Gentleman in question, not Keir (2001) Dullea.

[Mr Sloane]

of course