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Amazon.co.uk Review
Author Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City) wrote Lily Tomlin's narration for this superb documentary, based on a book by the late Vito Russo, about Hollywood's treatment of homosexual characters in this century. Never pointing a finger at anyone in the film community, The Celluloid Closet presents clips from more than 100 mainstream features (including The Children's Hour, Advise and Consent, The Boys in the Band, and The Hunger) that speak loudly in their respective images of gays and lesbians. The Celluloid Closet makes a persuasive case for patterns of sexual mythology in Hollywood, such as presenting homosexuals repeatedly as tragic, helpless figures redeemed only through death or as back-street monsters cavorting in the shadows. Things change, of course, and clips from more recent films by gay and lesbian filmmakers suggest a more vital, diverse, autobiographical approach. There are lots of great interviews with screenwriters (Gore Vidal), filmmakers (John Schlesinger), actors (Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg), and others to enunciate the major themes. --Tom Keogh
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Remember when famous actors didn't dare play gay for fear of being typecast? This documentary shows Hollywood's flirtation with homosexuality, from early experiments with film showing two men dancing to AIDS movies and beyond. It explains how gay (and straight) movie makers portrayed homosexuality in an attempt to take it out of the closet, but also shows that gays and lesbians were mocked or even used as a instrument of horror.
What surprised me was that even though homosexuality has always been more or less a taboo, many films in the last century showed gay characters, but they were often cleverly disguised to bypass the sensors.
This film is for anyone interested in how Hollywood works and how we are influenced by the movies, regardless of your sexual preferences!
What surprised me was that even though homosexuality has always been more or less a taboo, many films in the last century showed gay characters, but they were often cleverly disguised to bypass the sensors.
This film is for anyone interested in how Hollywood works and how we are influenced by the movies, regardless of your sexual preferences!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As the title says - it's about time this fantastic film was released on DVD in the UK. I've had an American copy for years, and it's something I never get tired of watching.
The same review applies here as I posted for the Region 1 release. This is wonderful - absolutely must-see viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of the depiction of gay people in cinema (or, come to that, anyone with an interest in the history of cinema full stop). It's by turns fascinating, shocking, sad, funny and uplifting. The narrative structure works well, taking us from the first silent films right through to the mid-90s (when this film was produced), with numerous talking heads giving their opinions - from film historians to Whoopi Goldberg and back again! It's full of classic clips of films you probably know, and some you almost certainly don't (and if you're like me, it'll inspire you to hunt them down and watch them).
Buy it!
The same review applies here as I posted for the Region 1 release. This is wonderful - absolutely must-see viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of the depiction of gay people in cinema (or, come to that, anyone with an interest in the history of cinema full stop). It's by turns fascinating, shocking, sad, funny and uplifting. The narrative structure works well, taking us from the first silent films right through to the mid-90s (when this film was produced), with numerous talking heads giving their opinions - from film historians to Whoopi Goldberg and back again! It's full of classic clips of films you probably know, and some you almost certainly don't (and if you're like me, it'll inspire you to hunt them down and watch them).
Buy it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This documentary takes you from the time of silent movies to 1990s Hollywood, and it really gives you an amazing insight into Hollywoods best kept secrets about the 'the love that darest not speak it's name' which basically never shuts up in this film!!!!
Great!!!!
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood are talking about their views on how homosexuality was dealt with in Hollywood throughout all those decades, featured are Whoopi Goldberg, Shirley MacLaine and Tony Curtis to name just a few.
The DVD also features very cool extras, including some more video footage where stars are talking about their experience of either being gay or playing gay characters.
A must see for everybody who is either gay or interested in film history. Go for it!!!!
Great!!!!
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood are talking about their views on how homosexuality was dealt with in Hollywood throughout all those decades, featured are Whoopi Goldberg, Shirley MacLaine and Tony Curtis to name just a few.
The DVD also features very cool extras, including some more video footage where stars are talking about their experience of either being gay or playing gay characters.
A must see for everybody who is either gay or interested in film history. Go for it!!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Moving and informative documentary
This film examines the ways in which gays and lesbians have been shown in Hollywood movies through the decades from "the sissy" through to "the gay best friend". Read more
Published 3 months ago by Songbirdjennie
how times have changed
excellent doc that shows many interesting clips from movies Id forgotten all about . Loved the idea of sitting throught whole movie just to see an almost sexy bit , dont we still... Read more
Published 4 months ago by cartoon
Varied, entertaining, and educational.
The Celluloid Closet is about 100 minutes long, and manages to cram in countless clips, stills and comments about a huge variety of movies that are about homosexuality, or deal... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Close Range.
Great Film, lousy quality!
I agree with the above review, a very good documentary, but the picture quality is worse than VHS.
A great pity as it is very interesting, and needs to be watched several... Read more
A great pity as it is very interesting, and needs to be watched several... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2009 by Mr. Alan East
Superb, Fascinating
This is wonderful - absolutely must-see viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of the depiction of gay people in cinema (or, come to that, anyone with an... Read more
Published on 21 July 2008 by Good Wolf
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