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Product Description
On June 27, 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York. In a spontaneous show of support and frustration, the city's gay community rioted for three nights in the streets, an event that is considered the birth of the modern Gay Rights Movement.
Revealing and often humorous, the award winning Before Stonewall exposes the fascinating and unforgettable decade-by-decade history of homosexuality in America, from 1920's Harlem through to World War II and the witch hunt trials of the McCarthy era.
Before Stonewall is essential viewing for all those who have celebrated their sexuality, or have been persecuted because of it.
Extras:
- Archive interview footage of Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, Jose Sarria
- Q&A session with Ken Livingstone, Greta Schiller, Richard Kwietniowski (Love and Death on Long Island) hosted by Richard Newman (Big Brother), recorded April 2009 at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Short film 'Tiny and Ruby' (30mins, dir.Greta Schiller), an award-winning documentary about prominent black jazz trumpeter Tiny Davis and her drummer/pianist partner Ruby Lucas
Special Features
- Archive interview footage of Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, Jose Sarria - Q&A session with Ken Livingstone, Greta Schiller, Richard Kwietniowski (Love and Death on Long Island) hosted by Richard Newman (Big Brother), recorded April 2009 at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Short film Tiny and Ruby (30mins, dir.Greta Schiller), an award-winning documentary about prominent black jazz trumpeter Tiny Davis and her drummer/pianist partner Ruby Lucas.
- Short film Tiny and Ruby (30mins, dir.Greta Schiller), an award-winning documentary about prominent black jazz trumpeter Tiny Davis and her drummer/pianist partner Ruby Lucas.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I previously purchased BEFORE STONEWALL years ago on VHS; this 25th anniversary DVD of the original documentary has added extras, as mentioned in the blurb.
BEFORE STONEWALL only covers U.S. Gay and Lesbian history from about the 1920's to the Stonewall Inn riots of 1969. It is a well-presented archive that informs us of the "coming out" of the U.S. Gay and Lesbian identity and community.
A good buy
BEFORE STONEWALL only covers U.S. Gay and Lesbian history from about the 1920's to the Stonewall Inn riots of 1969. It is a well-presented archive that informs us of the "coming out" of the U.S. Gay and Lesbian identity and community.
A good buy
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
BEFORE STONEWALL covers the period from the 1920s to the Stonewall Inn riots in 1969. Combining archival footage and interviews with key players such as Harry Hay and Allen Ginsberg, this documentary traces the "early formation of a gay community", touching on issues such as the impact of World War II (population mobility, temporary economic independence for women), the McCarthy era, the Mattachine Society, the first periodicals, the rise of the paperback novel, and the connections between the civil rights, feminist and gay liberation movements.
Obviously there's a great deal of material to cover, and BEFORE STONEWALL does a decent job of presenting an overview of the main influences that brought about visibility and the emergence of an identity for gays and lesbians. That said, the documentary is quite localized in time and place, confining itself primarily to key US cities from the 1920s onwards, and largely ignoring the influence of other countries and figures, eg. Magnus Hirschfeld in Germany, and Oscar Wilde and the Uranian poets in the UK, all active from the late-1800s.
The DVD was issued for the 25th anniversary of the original documentary's release, hence inevitably many of the interviews will seem grainy and dated, but of course are no less interesting for that. There is much in the way of 'DVD extras', including a taped poetry reading by the late Allen Ginsberg and a panel discussion (including Ken Livingstone) that took place at the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The latter is particularly instructive, as the makers of the documentary and those from the 'older generation' attempt to field questions about whether the spirit of Stonewall has been betrayed. I suspect that those legends Allen Ginsberg and Harry Hay would have much to say on this question, were they alive to serve witness.
Obviously there's a great deal of material to cover, and BEFORE STONEWALL does a decent job of presenting an overview of the main influences that brought about visibility and the emergence of an identity for gays and lesbians. That said, the documentary is quite localized in time and place, confining itself primarily to key US cities from the 1920s onwards, and largely ignoring the influence of other countries and figures, eg. Magnus Hirschfeld in Germany, and Oscar Wilde and the Uranian poets in the UK, all active from the late-1800s.
The DVD was issued for the 25th anniversary of the original documentary's release, hence inevitably many of the interviews will seem grainy and dated, but of course are no less interesting for that. There is much in the way of 'DVD extras', including a taped poetry reading by the late Allen Ginsberg and a panel discussion (including Ken Livingstone) that took place at the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The latter is particularly instructive, as the makers of the documentary and those from the 'older generation' attempt to field questions about whether the spirit of Stonewall has been betrayed. I suspect that those legends Allen Ginsberg and Harry Hay would have much to say on this question, were they alive to serve witness.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A well presented collection of archive and new material that informs and reminds us all how a minority group was put on the road to recognition and acceptance. There is still a long way for some members of society to travel.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
This documentary is an inspiration.
The Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, New York City , in June 1969, were undoubtedly a landmark event in the gay and lesbian rights movement. They are a part of history now. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Close Range.
Gay Rebellion
Stonewall - the New York City bar where the "gay riots" kicked off. Not a real riot but a massive protest against the NYPD and others harassment of gays going about their everyday... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Downsman
gay drama
good strong drama with a good storyline to follow, good performances and an essential purchase for any person not only gay guys. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by Mr. G. E. Gregory
An essential docu on lesbian and gay lifestyles throughout the ages
This is a fascinating peek at the lives and prohibited loves of gays and lesbians over the past century. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by S. Savory
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