Out at the Movies: A History of Gay Cinema
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Product Description
Over the decades, gay cinema has reflected the community's journey from persecution to emancipation to acceptance. Politicised dramas like Victim in the 60s, The Naked Civil Servant in the 70s, and the AIDS cinema of the 80s have given way in recent years to films which celebrate a vast array of gay life-styles. Gay films have undergone a major shift, from the fringe to the mainstream and 2005's Academy Awards were dubbed ''the Gay Oscars'' with gongs going to Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Transamerica. Producers began clamouring to back gay-themed movies and the most high profile of these is Gus Van Sant s forthcoming MILK, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the first prominent American political figure to be elected to office on an openly gay ticket back in the 70s. So loved was he that his brutal and homophobic assassination by ex-policeman Daniel White sparked the biggest riots in gay history.
The book also includes information on gay filmmakers and actors and their influence within the industry. Interspersed throughout the book are some of the most iconic scenes from gay cinema and the most memorable dialogue from key films.
With a foreword by Simon Callow.
The book also includes information on gay filmmakers and actors and their influence within the industry. Interspersed throughout the book are some of the most iconic scenes from gay cinema and the most memorable dialogue from key films.
With a foreword by Simon Callow.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an authoritative guide to gay movies through the decades and beautifully produced too, from the fabulous cover to the glossy full-colour pictures included throughout.
Steven Paul Davies takes the reader on a journey through a century of gay-themed cinema, from the silent era, into the reprssive Hollywood production code, the AIDS cinema of the 80s, to the very latest gay-interest releases.
Interspersed throughout this history, Davies singles out gay-themed films that have impressed him most, with full detailed reviews. The book also includes profiles of notable gay writers, directors and actors.
This is a well researched, informative and revealing book on gay cinema and has obviously been a labour of love for its author Steven Paul Davies, whose knowledge of this genre is formidable.
Steven Paul Davies takes the reader on a journey through a century of gay-themed cinema, from the silent era, into the reprssive Hollywood production code, the AIDS cinema of the 80s, to the very latest gay-interest releases.
Interspersed throughout this history, Davies singles out gay-themed films that have impressed him most, with full detailed reviews. The book also includes profiles of notable gay writers, directors and actors.
This is a well researched, informative and revealing book on gay cinema and has obviously been a labour of love for its author Steven Paul Davies, whose knowledge of this genre is formidable.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With previous books on filmmakers Alex Cox and Mike Hodges, the author Steven Paul Davies is clearly a fan of the independent and idiosyncratic, which made his book on gay cinema Out At The Movies an all the more tantalising prospect.
Davies doesn't fail to disappoint as he discusses in detail the roots of gay cinema and his hopes for its future. Reading the book, it quickly becomes clear that even though Hollywood has always seemed to have stayed firmly in the closet, every decade still managed to produce a groundbreaker - Davies charts how gay cinema has evolved, discussing the genre's troubled and often shameful history. Each chapter looks at a different decade and as well as discussing the gay-interest films from each period, key directors, actors and writers are also discussed throughout.
Davies' book also boasts a foreword by the esteemed actor-writer-director Simon Callow.
This book is now my indispensable bible of gay cinema! It has thrown up plenty of gems for my 'to watch' list and I would highly recommend it.
Davies doesn't fail to disappoint as he discusses in detail the roots of gay cinema and his hopes for its future. Reading the book, it quickly becomes clear that even though Hollywood has always seemed to have stayed firmly in the closet, every decade still managed to produce a groundbreaker - Davies charts how gay cinema has evolved, discussing the genre's troubled and often shameful history. Each chapter looks at a different decade and as well as discussing the gay-interest films from each period, key directors, actors and writers are also discussed throughout.
Davies' book also boasts a foreword by the esteemed actor-writer-director Simon Callow.
This book is now my indispensable bible of gay cinema! It has thrown up plenty of gems for my 'to watch' list and I would highly recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a decent and informative guide to the history of gay cinema. I found it particularly useful for bringing to my attention a host of films I have never seen or known to exist. I can now go and look for them on DVD.
However I would not give this book a full mark for 2 reasons:
First of all it pays too much attention to the Oscars, which in my view is a very overrated award not to mention highly flawed. You only have to look at some of the dubious choices picked by the academy as `best picture' in the last 5 or 10 years to see that. Secondly the authors take a rather dim view of light hearted gay comedies and also of films with a happy ending. This is slightly odd as the book spends a good deal of its earlier chapters rightly complaining about the fact that films from the pre 1960s era always portrayed gay characters as victims, with the gay character almost always dying at the end. Then in later chapters the guide keeps referring to films with a happy ending as predictable.
As someone who loves a happy, upbeat and optimistic end to a story I found myself disagreeing with many of the authors views.
Gay cinema has come a long way in the last 30 years and all genres of films should be celebrated rather than derided.
However I would not give this book a full mark for 2 reasons:
First of all it pays too much attention to the Oscars, which in my view is a very overrated award not to mention highly flawed. You only have to look at some of the dubious choices picked by the academy as `best picture' in the last 5 or 10 years to see that. Secondly the authors take a rather dim view of light hearted gay comedies and also of films with a happy ending. This is slightly odd as the book spends a good deal of its earlier chapters rightly complaining about the fact that films from the pre 1960s era always portrayed gay characters as victims, with the gay character almost always dying at the end. Then in later chapters the guide keeps referring to films with a happy ending as predictable.
As someone who loves a happy, upbeat and optimistic end to a story I found myself disagreeing with many of the authors views.
Gay cinema has come a long way in the last 30 years and all genres of films should be celebrated rather than derided.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Out at the Movies
Good book. Clear sections, specific information about actors and movies from different periods. Also visually attractive.
Published 19 months ago by Marta07
Brokedown Prosestyle
Out at the Movies: A History of Gay Cinema
This is a handsomely-produced and generously illustrated book- which is about all that can be said for it. Read more
This is a handsomely-produced and generously illustrated book- which is about all that can be said for it. Read more
Published on 4 May 2009 by Raphael
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