The Celluloid Closet (1995)
- Director(s):
- Jeffrey Friedman, Robert Epstein, (more
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Documentary, Special Interest
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Based on Vito Russo's groundbreaking 1981 work of film history, The Celluloid Closet gathers clips from dozens of mainstream Hollywood films to illustrate how the movies have dealt explicitly -- and more importantly, implicitly -- with gay and lesbian themes. Layered between the clips are interviews with filmmakers whose works have touched on that subject. The popular films of the Golden Age could only hint at homosexuality and often portrayed gays as simpering characters, objects of scorn or merriment, or insidious villains. With the strictures of the old Production Code loosening, bolder presentations were possible, but often over the objections of studio executives who feared a public backlash against a film that dealt with a long taboo subject. Among the films discussed are Philadelphia, The Children's Hour, Making Love, Rope, and Spartacus. Gore Vidal, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, and director John Schlesinger are among the film's strongest interview subjects. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 101 mins
Complete Cast:
- Antonio Banderas
- Susan Sarandon - Interviewee
- Tony Curtis - Interviewee
- Tom Hanks - Interviewee
- Gore Vidal - Interviewee
- Antonio Fargas - Interviewee
- Harry Hamlin - Interviewee
- Jay Presson Allen - Interviewee
- Arthur Laurents - Interviewee
- Ron Nyswaner
- Barry Sandler - Interviewee
- Paul Rudnick - Interviewee
- Susie Bright - Interviewee
- Stewart Stern
- Whoopi Goldberg - Interviewee
- Sharon Stone
- Harvey Fierstein - Interviewee
- Lily Tomlin - Narrator
- Quentin Crisp - Interviewee
- Farley Granger - Interviewee
- Shirley MacLaine - Interviewee
- Mart Crowley - Interviewee
- Daniel Melnick - Interviewee
- Jan Oxenberg - Interviewee
- John Schlesinger - Interviewee
- Joseph Breen - Interviewee
- Richard Dyer - Interviewee
- Armistead Maupin
- Director(s):
- Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
- Writer(s):
- Jeffrey Friedman, Sharon Wood, Robert Epstein
- Producer(s):
- Robert Epstein, Sheila Nevins, Jeffrey Friedman
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Not For Children, Adult Language, Adult Situations)
- Categories:
- Special Interest, Documentary
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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- 1996 - The Celluloid Closet - Berlin International Film Festival - Teddy Award - Best Documentary
- 1996 - The Celluloid Closet - Sundance Film Festival - Freedom of Expression Award
