Amazon.com essential video

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 the 20th 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 film 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 ... Read more

Reviews (22)

The Power of Cinematic Image
Based on the book by Vito Russo, written by Armistead Maupin, and narrated by Lily Tomlin, THE CELLULOID CLOSET uses interviews and hundreds of film clips to examine the way in which Hollywood has presented gay and lesbian characters on film from the age of silent cinema to such recent films as PHILADELPHIA and DESERT HEARTS. Throughout the documentary, the focus is on both stereotypes and the various ways that more creative directors and writers worked around the censorship of various decades to create implicitly homosexual characters, with considerable attention given to the way in which stereotypes shaped public concepts of the gay community in general.

Overtly homosexual characters were not particularly unusual in silent and pre-code Hollywood films, and CLOSET offers an interesting sampling of both swishy stereotypes and unexpectedly sophistocated characters--both of which were doomed by the Hayes Code, a series of censorship rules adopted by Hollywood in the early 1930s. The effect of the Code was to soften some of the more grotesque stereotypes--but more interesting was the impetus the Code gave to film makers to create homosexual characters and plot lines that would go over the heads of industry censors but which could still be interpreted by astute audiences, with films such as THE MALTESE FALCON, REBECCA, BEN-HUR, and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE cases in point. Once the Code collapsed, however, Hollywood again returned to stereotypes in an effort to cash in on controversy--with the result that throughout most of the sixties and seventies homosexual characters were usually presented as unhappy, maladjusted creatures at best, suicidal and psychopatic entities at worst.

The film clips are fascinating stuff and are often highlighted by interviews of individuals who made the films: Tony Curtis re SOME LIKE IT HOT and SPARTACUS, Shirley MacLaine re THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, Stephen Boyd re BEN-HUR, Farley Granger re ROPE, and Whoopie Goldberg re THE COLOR PURPLE, to name but a few. All are interesting and intriguing, but two deserve special mention: Harvey Fierstein, who talks about the hunger he had as a youth to see accurate reflections of himself on the screen, and Susan Sarandon, who makes an eloquent statement on the power of film as "the keeper of the dreams."

Although the material will have special appeal to gays and lesbians, it should be of interest to any serious film buff with its mix of trivia and significant fact. The DVD also includes notable packages of out-takes from interviews that are often as interesting as the material that made the final cut. If the documentary has a fault, however, it is that it offers no "summing up," preferring instead to show only how far the portrayal of homosexuals has come and indicating how far it has yet to go. Recommended to any one interested in film history and interpretation.

Excellent film on so Many Different Levels
Looking at the roles given to gay and lesbian characters in American cinema over the past several decades, "The Celluloid Closet" manages to simultaneously be hilariously funny, educational, and occasionally quite thought-provoking and even tragic. We see gay and lesbian stereotypes being reinforced over and over again, scenes cut from famous films because they hinted at homosexuality, etc.

Although the initial reaction is to sort of laugh at how backwards and ludicrous the intense homophobia of Hollywood once was, there are also reactions from people growing up during those years who talk about the effect of seeing gays and lesbians in films, or the impact of NEVER seeing gays and lesbians in films. Also, as the film progresses, it helps one to see that, although things have gotten SO MUCH BETTER in many ways, they're still so far from being where they ought to be.

This is a great documentary to watch with friends who might question what the big deal is with GLBT issues... why it's even an issue at all. It really helps one to see the importance of how popular media deals with (or chooses to ignore) minority groups and the very real impact of those decisions on people belonging to that minority group. And the fact that it's so darn entertaining makes it a fun, light movie to watch - a real pleasure!

A MUST SEE
The Dvd extras alone are worth the $25.00 Made in 1995 just shortly after Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for Philadelphia (playing a gay man ). The hero of this production however is Lily Tomlin! This movie documentary was finaly made after the wirters & producers got in touch with her. Lily loved this project and got HBO to fund this movie! The basic theme in this movie is to show us how gay people have been portrade in the movies! Gay themes were Taboo! They were always taboo until the late 1960's. (However All movies were made to a strict code up to that point). So all gay themes (during the era of the Code) were between the lines! (This is the humor) After the code was lifted gays were shown mostly as the villians! ( This is the drama) This documentary was one of the best movies of that year!
Is it dated? Not by much! It has been ALMOST 10 years since this was first released! Now we now have on TV "Will and Grace" (but after 7 years and no boyfriend give me a break). The big break in Hollywood was "The Birdcage". The next year was "My Best Friends Wedding" and "In and Out". (all money makers) Earlier that year "ellen" came out on TV but her show was cancelled a year later. In 2004 "The Stepford Wives" remake hade a gay couple. Although gays are more visable now than ever in the movies most of the time they are regulated to the "best friend" for comic relief! Not much of a change! Would I like a gay movie hero? Of course! I would also like to see hollywood remake movies that had they had gay stories to begin with! "The Lost Weekend" "Gentelman's Agreement" "The Childrens Hour" all had gay themes but were rewriiten for straight story lines or toned down! Yes "Fried Green Tomatoe's" is another but there was a kiss!

After YOU VIEW "The Celluloid Closet" watch "Rebecca" "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Some Like it Hot"! You will be laughing!

A 1995 Documentary That is Still Relevant
The Celluloid Closet has been out for nine years and I have only now seen it for the first time. You would think that gay themes and the presence of gay characters would be even greater now, in 2004, than when the documentary was made in 1995, and that it would seem dated. Unfortunately, it does not seem at all dated. The idea of a gay hero is still edgy and daring, and oddly enough, television, rather than the big screen, seems to be taking the lead in featuring gay characters and themes.

The Celluloid Closet is an eye-opening look at how gays have been portrayed in American film. Film clips are interspersed with interviews and commentary by writers, producers, and actors who are gay or have played gay characters. It is interesting to see that people mocking gay men swished and minced the same way 100 years ago as they do today.

A highlight is the deleted scene from Spartacus with Laurence Olivier as a slaveholder in his bath telling his uneasy slave played by Tony Curtis that he enjoys both snails and oysters. Strangely absent in the documentary are any mention of Clifton Webb or Cary Grant.

I will be looking at old (and new) films in a different way now that I have seen The Celluloid Closet.

Excellent Documentary , but a bit too ideological
Celluloid Closet is a well-done, thought-provoking documentary detailing the history of homosexuality in movies. The author(s)
compile a fascinating list of films, many well-known and beloved, and describe how filmmakers, constrained by prevailing mores and production codes, were forced to deal with the subject creatively through innuendo and subtext. It works equally well as a history of film censorship. Only one drawback: the best documentaries are objective, letting the material tell the story, so why interview exclusively archetypal Hollywood liberal, pro-gay-rights activists? It would have been interesting, for example, to hear Charlton Heston's response to Gore Vidal's take on what "Ben Hur" is really about. Instead, we're left hanging by Vidal quoting the director: "Don't tell Chuck (Heston) what it's really about, or he'll die". (or words to that effect) ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Paris Is Burning closes with two neon-lit boys holding each other on the streets of Harlem. One looks into the camera and asks, "So this is New York City and what the gay lifestyle is all about--right?" This documentary takes an honest, humorous, and surprisingly poignant peek into one of America's overlooked subcultures: the world of the urban drag queen.It's a parallel dimension of bizarre beauty, where "houses" vie like gangs for turf and reputation ... only instead of street-fighting, they vogue their way down makeshift catwalks in competitive "balls." The only rule of the ballroom: be real.

In surprisingly candid interviews, you discover the grace, strength, and humor it takes to be gay, black, and poor in a straight, rich, white world.You'll meet young transsexual "cover girls," street hustlers saving up for the big operation, and aging drag divas reminiscing about the bygone days of sequins, feathers, and Marilyn Monroe.

Made in the late 1980s, this fashion-conscious film shows its age less than you'd expect. It's still a great watch for anyone interested in the whole range of humanity, or anyone who's ever been an outsider, desperately wanting something the world hides out of reach. --Grant Balfour ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Defiance and Pathos
In the beginning of this film, one of the commentators says that he was told that he has two strikes against him: he is black and male. But in addition to that, he has a third strike: he's gay. "You're going to have to be stronger than you ever imagined," he is told. "Paris is Burning" is a documentary about gay black and Hispanic men who are tranvestites (men who dress in women's clothing) or transsexuals (people who have The Operation and become, biologically, the opposite sex). They come together and hold "balls" in which they compete in categories like "Executive Realness," "Opulence," and "the Boy Who Robbed You a Few Minutes before Arriving at the Ball." Although several of these categories seem like a satire of society at large, we are told by elder stateswoman/cynic/voice of reason Dorian Corey that "this isn't a parody or take-off. They are very seriously trying to pass as what they are dressing up as." The miracle of "Paris is Burning" is that director Jennie Livingston takes a subject that could have very easily become a freak show and allows the people in it their humanity. We learn their views of homosexuality, men, women, their hopes, their disappointments, their dreams. Some of these dreams are so unattainable it's tragic (does anyone seriously believe that a transsexual can become a successful female model and make the cover of "Vogue" magazine?). Many of the people are seriously in denial; Venus Xtravaganza, in particular, refuses to see himself as a prostitute ("I'll go out with a man...and sometimes he'll give me money so I can buy a dress and look pretty for him...but I don't have to go to bed with him 99% of the time...well, 95% of the time.")

This is not a film for everyone. There are shots in this movie of nude transsexuals. It is definitely not for children, and if you have a problem with homosexuality, then this movie isn't for you, either. But if you do see this movie you'll realize "Paris is Burning" isn't really about men wearing women's clothes, it's about a group of people who are routinely marginalized and put down by society at large, and what they do to get a sense of community in their lives.

I've watched this movie four times since it was released in 1991, because it says so many things: it's a commentary about materialism in our culture, about gender roles, about rich and poor people, about the media and what it celebrates, about fame and adulation. "Paris is Burning" is one of the most humane, and one of the saddest, movies I've ever seen.

THE GAY HOUSE BALLS AT THEIR FINEST! VOGUE-BATTLES!
I THOUGHT THIS FILM SHOWED THE BALLROOM SCENE WONDERFULLY. IT WAS GREAT SEEING ALL THE LEGENDARY CHILDREN ON FILM. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANY YOUNG BLACK GAY MALE AS A START OF PERSONAL GAY BLACK PRIDE. THIS IS WHERE VOGUEING ORIGINATED.THEY BETTER WORK.

I want this movie on DVD right NOW!
What's up with the entertainment industry? They shovel [bad stuff] down our throats like Spy Kids 2 and Gigli, but try to find brilliant, daring movies like Paris is Burning or Hoop Dreams on DVD - forget it. You might as well try to find Barbara Bush in a tube top on Bourbon Street. Which, now that I think about it, has an demonic sort of appeal all its own. And with that Wilma Flintstone pearl necklace of hers...what a sizzling hot look! I can hear Beelzebub cackling with delight right now.

See you in New York this August, Barbara!

Yes, alive and well
Reading many of the reviews I'm saddened to see that most people today don't know that the House scene, still is, alive and very well. The Los Angeles House scene, yes modeled from that of the NY scene, is 11 houses and strong, with many fierce, and fabulous balls to brag about baby. Although most of the categories have been modified and simplified with a lil' L.A. flava our balls hold true to where we first began.
Many of the House family members display their voguing in the L.A. hip hop club scene. However our style of voguing has changed slightly, we 'chop', 'sha-blam', and 'shut 'em down' with ol' school/new school flava. Enjoying our unity as a community, a family, and as a people. See you at the next ball.
:-)

'Reflections' Of Lives That Used To Be .......
When I first saw this movie back in 1993, I was only 20 years old, and the first thing that crossed my mind after I saw it was "Aaahh, this is just a movie about a bunch of queens in NY, what-ever!!!" so I saw it once, and never saw it again, I didn't even pay attention to what they were talking about, I had other things in my mind back then. TEN years later (2003), now that I am 30...I decided to rent the video again, and sit down, watch it again and this time really listen to what they had to say. Now at my age, I can trully say, that this film really touched me, because these people are not just a bunch of drag queens and transsexuals, these are real people, with real feelings, hopes and dreams struggling to stay alive and be noticed. There is nothing to laugh about here. I have seen this video now like a hundred times, and it saddens me to find out now, that most of the people on this film are now dead, and their hopes and dreams never came true. My respects goes to ALL of them, because on one way or another, we are all on the same game of survival in this world. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

ONE OF THE BEST documentaries to parallel historical events!
I was absolutely amazed at the filmmaker for their genius in telling some of stories of the most important lesbian and gay historical figures with that of current issues. A truly rich documentary without overloading you with too many facts.

The documentary follows the struggle of Kelli Peterson, the teenager that challenged her high school to register her Gay Straight Alliance. The film does a wonderful job in comparing her current struggle with those of the past in lesbian and gay history.

One of the most powerful segments in the film is about hte gay man who was behind Martin Luther King's civil rights demonstrations.

This is a very important film for all persons to see. Perfect for the classroom and for any other situation that will inspire people to be active and become activists!

Great historical record
This is a great documentary told in a manner to parallel the struggles of a high school student trying to organize a gay student union at her school. This documentary is not heavy-laden with tons of facts but is a highlight of many historical events showing the contributions of lesbians and gays in America's history.

Teachers may use this video to teach their students about tolerance and acceptance. This is a great resource for any person to keep in their personal libraries.

eye-opening
This film is a eye opening documentary focusing on a part of history denied by standard historical documents. A motivating force for gay activists and a great dose of reality for those of us in the "straight community"

A MUST SEE - FOR EVERYONE!
This outstanding video is centered on a modern day fight for equality as it engagingly weaves the reality of our history into today. This inter-twining allows the viewer to grasp how history impacts the lives of everyone, hundreds of years later. It's excellent in its story telling and point-making. I, too, believe this should be required viewing in all Jr. High, High School and College level cirriculum. It's invaluable because of how it invites the viewer to challenge stereotypes and question the false history they're being taught in some many books. THANK YOU!

A wonderful combination of history and activism.
This film draws from the personal experience of Kelli Peterson's attempt in 1996 to start a high school social club, and the obstacles she and her allies faced as a result. The film is worth seeing for her experience alone. But it is more than your average documentary. By interweaving vignettes of other gay people's lives and activism, (from Sarah Orne Jewitt to Barbara Gittings), the directors offer the viewer a complex look into what it means to be identified by society based on who you love. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great movie
I could identify with many of the thoughts, poems and portrayals in the movie. Being in the life, I could certainly see where they were coming from. They talked about everything from going to white clubs, the art of snapping, vouging (it never died, ..., we started it and we're still doing it). This movie is just great. If you're a black gay /SGL/ homosexual/ whatever-you- wanna-deem-yourself male you MUST watch this movie. I love this film. It'll make you think and laugh and make you proud to be who YOU are.

Great Poetry
Beautifully rhythmic poetry combines with wonderful photographic moments, exceptional dance scenes, and touching autobiographical moments--you really can't go wrong with this exploration of what it means to be black and gay.

Marlon kills the silence!
I always feel better about being Black and gay after viewing TONGUES UNTIED.

Sexual Explosion of Gay Black Male Rights
This film is not for people with delicate constitutions. Desire for acceptance is the underline theme. Too black to be gay. Too gay to be black. Where is my world? Can someone make me happy! It is a modern day tradgedy however this is no Shakespear.

Powerful questions and images
This eye-opening film caused a lot of controversy because of its shockingly strong and threatening images. This may be the most uncomfortable 55 minutes in the world for a straight homophobe, black or white. On the other hand, it can be an true film experience if you're there. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inside History's Closet
Originally produced for PBS television, the Emmy-winning "Before Stonewall" is a must-see documentary for anyone researching Gay American history. What makes this film so invaluable is its success in recreating - through photographs, film clips, and later-day interviews - a period in time that was carefully and deliberately NOT recorded as it was happening due to the pervasive institution of "the closet", and the very real dangers that faced those brave enough to crack open the door and step out into the light. As one courageous lesbian pioneer remembers, just being accused of being a gay woman was grounds for involuntary commitment to a mental institution during her youth. Small wonder, then, that there is such a paucity of material documenting the gay movement pre-Stonewall, especially during the years from 1900-1950, before the earliest Gay and Lesbian social and political institutions in the United States were founded.

The cornerstone of this remarkable film is the handful of interviews conducted with some elderly activists from the years before the Stonewall riots began on June 27, 1969. With humor, dignity, and matter-of-fact courage, these men and women tell personal stories about their experiences in the armed forces, in the halls of government, in society, and in their home lives during the years in which America at large experienced the roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the Second World War, the beginning of the Baby Boom era, and the radical Sixties. Their recollections are not only fascinating and brilliantly told; they are of critical importance in understanding the true heritage and history of today's American gay community. The DVD edition offers some fascinating extra material, including some expanded interviews, and footage of poet Allen Ginsberg reading two of his early compositions. Very highly recommended in terms of both quality and content.

Goodwill can only do so much.
'Before Stonewall' was not just a celebratory film documenting the underground gay resistance to [...] America before the historic moment of Stonewall in 1969. As the frightening utterances of then-President Reagan reveal, this was very much an urgent political gesture, a protest against 80s conservative retrenchment.

This is an illuminating and endearing documentary, full of wonderful anecdotes (e.g. Eisenhower's failure to sack the lesbian element of the WAC because it was all lesbian!), a moving reunion of elderly patrons of a notorious gay bar, and an inspiringly un-bitter outlook. The talking-heads-with-stills formalt becomes monotonous, and self-congratulation sometimes creeps in. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Women directors don't have it easy and lesbian directors in particular face serious problems producing their work. The documentary Lavender Limelight focuses on seven prominent lesbian filmmakers and examines both the frustrations and the ecstasies inherent in their art. Interviews with directors such as Jennie Livingston (Paris Is Burning) and Monika Treut (Virgin Machine) illuminate the process of filmmaking with insightful answers to penetrating questions, often exposing the tenacious sense of humor required to succeed in the business. Clips from films, including The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love and Go Fish, help anchor the artist's words in their work and show the wide range of styles and subjects these women choose to cover.Inspiring to young directors and enlightening to those seeking diversity in their media diet, Lavender Limelight is well worth repeat viewing. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

LESBIAN!!
i am a lesbian and damn proud of it..but yea..i haven't seen this one yet..but i sure like to..hehe..ok..well see you al whenever..and to any of you lesbians out there..please do...IM me at swtpnaiex143..or XxLiLPuRePnAyxX..which ever one is on..ok..bye!!

I'm a lesbian and I agree this how real lesbians are.
This movie really tell you how real lesbians are. Were justnot sex but we have a real life too. I actually love the sexualmoment.

my thoughts
I was disapionted in this video a lot of talk less action ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not relevant anymore
What we know about AIDS today dwarf what was known some 20 years ago. As a result, any movie (documentary or fictional) that deals with the disease quickly becomes dated (and irrelevant) as new information becomes available. "Sex Is"is no exception. Still, some of the interviewees, namely Lulu, Madame X and Bambi Lake provide enjoyable entertainment. The rest of the 'cast' are either nondescript or downright pretentious and annoying.

Dated and Embarrassing
Sex is...well, very dated, very boring and very depressing. We can all look back on how stupid our gay community has been, but the director seems to revel in the characters insipid recollections of the past. Sure, thier stories are real, but it is a tiny slice of the SF gay community, presented only for "splash and glory". Gimme a break. If you are straight, please ignore this film as you would any blatant propoganda. If you are gay, you probably already know about this celluloid travesty.

SEX IS ... Is Sex Positive
A seminal (pardon the pun) documentary that explores the many facets of sex in the lives of 15 very diverse gay men. By turns thoughtful, poignant, raunchy, and extremely funny, the film touches on such weighty subjects as coming out, first encounters, dating, love, tricking, fetishism, racism, aging, loss, disease and responsibility ... but never does it deviate from delivering a very welcome celebratory and sex-positive message. In a wickedly funny twist, director Marc Huestis (who also appears on-camera as one of the interviewees) has dedicated the film to homophobic politico Jesse Helms, whose fumbling rantings are cleverly intercut with archival porn footage depicting the very acts he is decrying. Produced with obvious care and skill, the film remains as fresh and timely today as it did when it first premiered in 1993.

The DVD from Water Bearer Films offers a sharp, clean transfer. ... a great conversation-starter that begs to be watched and discussed with people you care about.

BEST FILM ON THIS SUBJECT I'VE SEEN
Humorous, entertaining vital, important

Important, Funny and powerful documentary.
The film explores Sex and Sexuality in the Lives of 15 Gay Men. From ages 19-72, the men interviewed run the gammut from pastor to porn star to actvist to writer to slut. The film opened at the 1993 Berlin Intl film Festival where it took the audience award for BEST GAY FILM. The film has played around the world and now is on video with the DVD to come out in the Spring'99 distributed by Water Bearer Films.

Director Marc Huestis and Co-Producer Lawrence Helman have constructed a fine document of the state of affairs of gay men in the early '90's. The film interweaves graphic scenes from archival porn to illustrate some of the subjects being described. Stunning visually and it is "way fun" to boot. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I came Out with this video.
It was an amazing experience, after going to 4 sessions with a psycologist, so I could come out to my mom, I came across this incredible video. At first I thought it was for teenagers, but I rented it anyways. I'm 29 years old.

I could not belive how I felt after seeing it by myself, and that's when I decided to use it to come out. It was a total success with my mom and I, It clarified all of her missconceptions, and made an already good relationship with her, into a Great one!

Please rent or buy this informative video, it's for your own peace of mind. It saved me lots of therapy sessions.

Excellent and enlightening
I have never seen such an outstanding video on the subject. An exceptional investment for helping narrow minds widen and eyes open. This video gives you the rare chance to fully understand a subject thats not considered polite conversation. A heaven send for lost parents. The finest Question and Answer video on the market. This tape should be in every school. If you are 17 or 71 years old and want to better understand, this is the ticket. If you are a parent who needs answers, buy this video.

Growing Up Gay and Lesbian with Brian McNaught
Brian McNaught is by far one of the best presenters of gay issues that I have come across.

Growing Up Gay and Lesbian is one of my best education videos in my video library. I highly recommend viewing by parents, teachers, preachers, students and anyone wanting to be edudcated on this issue.

I have used this video in a number of workshops addressing anti-gay climate in schools.

John Myers ...
Director of Operations and Programs
The Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State

One for the world to see!!
I'm so excited about the video. Brian's approach is great for all audiences. I've shared the video at home, with family, friends and have even shared it in the workplace. Our Cultural Diversity Team at my job loved it.

It Struck a chord
Saw this video with my buddy Roy whilst on vacation from England to Minnesota. It really struck a chord with me, bringing back memories of childhood, and the feelings of being different, and having no one to talk to. This video is a must for straight and gay alike to view, its enlightening. I'd love to have a copy to show at our local CWU Union Equality training courses, during the session on homophobia, it would open a few minds quite wide, Brian does it so well, touching on all the feelings, and experiences that I myself as a gay guy went through, and finally came through the other end, proud to be gay, and happy with who and what I am.sean@fireman.net ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Basic information
This was not bad however, I didn't feel it was a quality investment. Mostly it consists of a support group and its members talking about what is going on in there lives as young Gay folks. I felt that "Growing up Gay" was a much better learning tool and a fantastic investment.

Wonderful for parents too!
My husband and I suspected our teenage son was gay because of his lack of interest in girls and the way he was slowly isolating himself. We would have conversations in front of him discussing our understanding of different lifestyles and then one day we played this movie when he was around hoping he would stick around to watch it. He did watch it and a few weeks later he sat us down and said he had been thinking about something for a long time and the movie helped him feel better about confiding in us. He said he knew he was gay for a few years, but was frightened to say anything, he even considered committing suicide. But we showed him that we would not hate him or think of him as disgusting and that gave him the courage to tell us.

This movie saved our family and our son in particular a lot of pain.

A Guide to the freedom of me
Though all hard traditions,customs and being a muslim in my country, I decided to uncover myself with a deep passion.I have just done it and I feel free myself. All that happened after watching this film.

The number one helper in a year.
This movie is so great that now i'm living home with my boyfriend, before i didn't see this movie i didn't tell anyone that i was gay but after i saw this movie i thought that i have to make a decidion and ask a guy out to the movies and after that we stick together. Thanks.

this movie was the bomb of my week.
i thoroughly enjoyed this movie as it made me believe that my decision to come out to my family and friends was the best decision that i ever made... ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Less a Documentary than a Reminiscence
PARAGRAPH 175 is a beautifully photographed, historicaly accurate, sensitively enlightening film about the Nazi persecution and slaughter of the Pink Triangle, as male homosexuals were designated in Hitler's concentration camps. But for once a documenting film does not focus on grotesque pictures of bodies, wretched camp conditions or images of abuse and torture. The film's makers instead opt for the more sensitive approach of interviewing the few remaining men (and one woman)who survived the period. From these elderly gentlemen we hear memories of how fun Berlin was from 1914 to 1918, the between war period when life was raucous and liberated. We then learn through their words and through film clips of the growing influence of Hitler and his own gay SA General, the response of a people wilted from WWI needing hope for a future and not realizing the depravity of the promises of the Nazi party, the ugly truth. It is this insidious perpetration of evil that becomes most pungent in the faces and words of the survivors. This is a beautifully realized documentary and one that will open eyes to a fact that most people remain unaware of even today.

Voices from Our Past
From Common Threads to The Times of Harvey Milk, Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman have documented the lives of gay men and lesbians throughout the 20th century. Adding Paragraph 175 into this collection is a crown lewel of their masterful work.

Documenting the experiences of homosexuals during the infamous Nazi regime in Germany, the filmmakers interviewed the few remaining people who suffered under the infamous paragraph. These men are a brave and stalwart group. As they tell their stories, the pain and horror they are forced to relive is evident. The filmmakers fortunately step out of the way and allow these men to speak. In fact, one of the best things about this documentary is that it is not a slick, clean production, with all of the extra things edited out. It's rough, to allow us to see their humanity. Some of these men had never spoken of their experiences publicly.

The DVD offers an insightful if sparse producers'/director's commentary, along with additional interviews not included in the film. The music is gripping, especially the inclusion of Marlene Dietrich's version of "Falling in Love Again".

So much has been done in the last years to document and remember the experiences during WWII. This film adds an important voice to that chorus, allowing all of those who suffered under the tyranny of one man's dementia, their prominent stanza.

i wanted more...
The truth about homosexual persecution in Nazi Germany told by 6 survivors, using real footage from the times and documentary/interview style storytelling.
I find it interesting how they only targeted gay men. Nazis declared lesbianism a "temporary and curable problem."
Anyway, an interesting little documentary... not enough substance to it though in my opinion- although that might be because none of the men wanted to talk about their experiences. I imagine they get tired of all the interviews and having to relive those things...

"Do you want butter or guns?"
And the people cried "Guns!"
And at that my Father became afraid."

Painful, defiant, angry, joyous
This is a magnificent piece of documentary filmmaking, not only from the perspective of the production values, but especially of the reportage. It is made clear throughout the documentary how extraordinarily difficult it was to get the extremely elderly men who were the survivors of the Holocaust to think back to what must have been a horrifying period in their lives. The producers managed to get through, however, sometimes with the help of friends, sometimes on their own, and the effect is a devastating one. I cannot agree with the reviewer from Louisiana who carped about "too many Nazi movies". First of all, the Holocaust is a horror which must never be forgotten, and there is no point at which there will be too much information about a "civilized" Western European country which slaughtered millions upon millions upon millions of people at a time which is still in the living memory of countless Europeans, Americans and other citizens of the world. Second, I would have a hard time in coming up with any short list, let alone long list of written, audio or video material which treats the specific subject of the extermination of gay people in Hitler's camps. Gay men were one of the secondary groups of slaughter, of course, in comparison to the breathtaking horror that was visited upon the Jews, but they were a major group nevertheless, and if the critic in Louisiana thinks that this is a story that does not need telling, then I'm sorry, but he's wrong. It does need telling, and the point to this documentary is that not many more years will pass before all of those who survived the terror are gone, gone, gone. The fact that the Holocaust is a throbbing and living thing even in the lives of people in the late 20th and early 21st century was neatly encapsulated in "Paragraph 175" when, if I understood it correctly, a French interviewee said that the interview was the first time that he had ever spoken to a German since World War II. "Paragraph 175" brought tears to my eyes again and again, because I had to ask, again and again, "why, why in God's name, why?" Whether Nazi atrocities have been treated in the media to a greater, lesser, more significant or any other extent than the atrocities of Stalin's Gulag (and as a Latvian, I am perfectly aware of what Stalin did, thank you) is entirely not the point. No human terror can be measured up against any other. This was terror. This was pain. But the survivors also represent a point of joy. They did survive. They had something to say. "Paragraph 175" allowed them to say it. I think that we are better for the story having been told.

Infomative, but slow paced for no reason
Paragraph 175 delves into a little discussed aspect of World War II. While Jewish people were the primary target of Nazi Germany, homosexuals were also discriminated against in the worst way. However, while this documentary is informative, it seems like it is a one hour film stretched into 90 minutes.

The most annoying aspect of the film is its moments of long pauses in narration. Since it primarily concerns itself with interviews of homosexuals who survived imprisonment in concentration camps, it's understandable that the survivors have long pauses. After all, they're elderly and the pain the memories bring can make it hard to speak. But the long pauses continue when Rupert Everet does his narration as well. And they're not dramatic pauses, but pauses to fit the length of video provided. The narration either needed more material, or the film needed to condense its video.

Also, as the film jumps back and forth between survivors, it never seems to have any real focus. One interviewee will be talking about one thing, and then it switches to another discussing some other topic. Though the film makes some good points and does serve to be enlightening, it's apparent that it could have done a better job in telling the stories. As it is, it seems like a rough cut of the documentary, not the final film.

Despite my criticisms, Paragraph 175 still has some interesting stories to tell and some moments of true poignancy and sorrow. It's just too bad it's not polished to shine some light onto these disturbing, harrowing tales. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hilarious
This film is very amateur yet it's a treat to watch to see how gay men were practically no different in the mid 60's than they are today. Superficial, eyes rolling, just about everything is spontaneous and is obviously not scripted. There are many funny moments throughout this movie; as well as scenes where some of the guys talking about being "out" even in the mid 60's, and how one guy was talking about how he was from a town of 500 people and his mother accepted him for who he is. The best part of this film is towards the end, where the jealous 4th runner up in the drag queen pageant verbally attacks the winner, reading her about her makeup and dress. They definitely saved the best for last in this one. Worth a watch, as you will see the pre-Stonewall gay/drag queen life.

A Strange Little Time Machine
You can't get much stranger than this 1967 documentary that takes a look at a New York drag show where contestants compete both on and off stage for the crown. Running just over an hour and filmed with hand-held cameras, THE QUEEN is tacky, vulgar, distasteful, embarrassing, and often quite funny as it peeks behind the scenes of the event. But the film is more than accidental camp humor--it really is a historical artifact.

Very few gays or lesbians were "out" before the 1969 Stonewall riots, and the contestants shown here are among the few... and not only were they out, they were out as drag queens, doing the unthinkable by stomping across the stage in evening gowns, heels, and eyeliner. This is not the sort of drag that has entered popular mainstream entertainment via such performers as RuPaul: this is in-your-face, I-am-what-am, I-don't-care DRAG as performed by skinny teenagers with bad skin, fat guys with bald spots, and tough men with hairy chests and tattoos. This is big hair, big make up, and big attitude, and it is all the more unnerving because it isn't just a character that the contestants put on and off. This is the reality that sparked a thousand stereotypes.

Much of the film's entertainment value is accidental. There is nothing funnier, or more painfully embarrassing, than a chunky drag queen in out-of-style clothes. THE QUEEN is really too superficial to be called significant, too tacky-funny to be taken very seriously--and yet, it does make you wonder about the lives of those before the Stonewall Riots, the Gay Liberation Movement, the Anita Bryant hysteria, the advent of AIDS. And therein lies its power: it is a time machine, badly filmed, yes, superficial, yes, but a time machine just the same, capable of giving us a glimpse of what it was like to be gay, a drag queen, and in New York in the mid-1960s. It won't be to every one's taste, but it is worth a look if you can find a copy.

The most important drag document of the 20th century
This film, which was unavailable in video for decades, used to be screened at places like the Paradise Garage and Jackie 60 so that new generations could see it. It documents a super-glamorous drag pageant in the sixties in New York City, and is peopled by legends from the underground drag/transgendered/transvestite world and from the world of arts and culture, like Warhol.

The MC and hostess, Flawless Sabrina, is still very much a force in the night world of New York, and this film is a link to both her glorious past and that of a community that has gone on to mass acceptance through latter-day vehicles like Wigstock.

I am thrilled that this film is available on video now -it is a gem and deserves to be seen, and re-seen.

superb one of the most incredible document on transvestites
an absolute shock from begining to end, this documentary film has all the drama and passion of a shakespearean tragedy a stolen wigg takes on grand proportions you can hardly believe this is really happening...... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A brilliant counter-history
Julien seeks to mine the archive of the Harlem Renaissance for what has been lost or forgotten, namely the role of gay black men--writers, visual artists, and singers--in official history. More than this, however, this film moves backward and forward in time, an homage to black gay men today and the dangers they face and have faced in U.S. history. The final coup of the film is that it is not about Langston Hughes but rather uses Hughes as an icon for the ineffability of identity itself--was Hughes gay or straight? Julien refuses to answer the question, refuses spectacle and surveillance as means of "spotting" identity. Julien's filmic language is also beautiful and subversive and he alters written texts, such as Bruce Nugent's Smoke, Lilies, and Jade (Nugent is now known as the first "out" African American writer) to fit his own political project. I have written an article on this film, 35 pages, forthcoming from VU University Press, Amsterdam, 2002, copyrighted, and think most reviews of the film are idiotic or simply do not understand the beauty and complexity of this very alternative film.

Looking For Langston? Look Elsewhere
This pretentious film reveals little about Langston Hughes, one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century. Instead the filmmaker seems more interested in parading around a cadre of gay men on screen for no apparent reason. The film doesn't even explore with any depth the alleged sexual proclivities of Mr. Hughes. However, hat's off to the cinematographer and the production designer -- the film looks great. They should get plenty of work by placing the film on their respective demo reels. Unfortunately, as a fully realized work, the material is woefully lacking. At least the gay-themed "Tongues Untied" by the late Marlon Riggs, was at times insightful and funny. If after reading this review, you still decide to purchase this video, you will not only still be looking for Langston, but you will also be looking for your money back.

ISAAC JULIEN SHINES THROUGH IN SUPERB FILMAKING
THIS FILM IS NOT A PORTRAYL OF LANGSTON HUGHES, IT REACHES TO ACHEIVE A COMMUNICATION BEYOND A SOUL INDIVIDUAL. IT CELEBRATES THE HARDSHIPS OF BEING BLACK, AND HOMOSEXUAL AS WELL. THIS FILM TRUELY ILLUSTRATES ONE MAN'S JOURNEY, BUT ALSO CONNECTS INTO THE LIVES OF OTHER GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS. THIS FILMS CELEBRATES THE JOYFUL LIFESTYLE WHICH COMES ONLY WHEN ONE TRUELY FINDS THEMSELVES AND IS COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING A TRUE MEANING OF LOVE. ISAAC IS A WONDERFUL AND WARM ARTIST. THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIIME AT ArtPace! HOPE THINGS ARE WELL. JK-23YRS OLD

Looking for and at Langston
Simply an excellent documentary. Whether one likes Langston's poetry or is interested in the Harlem Renaissance, this is a film well worth screening. Eqxuisititely shot and well-scripted, even if the Langston Estate did not approve, and with an elegantly postmodern twist to it, as the closing scene makes more than clear. Certainly, it is up to anyone's taste to decide if the visuals match the text, but surely the poetry chosen is unarguable and at least I found the narrative both informative and well done, especially given the limits of time and format, for - obviously - this is a documentary with definite artistic ambitions as well. But, in short, for anyone who likes Langston, this is a thing not a go without. A little black-and-white gem!

Erotic Creativity
The movie Looking for Langston by Issac Julien discusses the issue of homosexuality in an artistic light. It's artistic because it represents deviations from the norm;it shows gay men as confident in their sexuality through poems. It represents men as being objectified rather than women in conventional Hollywood film. It made the audience think like a gay male, that men are beautiful. It showed the gay male's club scene. How each night, a man goes out and admires other men's beauty. Even though much of the film was hard to understand because of the complex language and rhyme scheme, I got the basic idea. Apparently there is a paucity of monogamous gay males. This film portrays the Harlem Renisance of the 1920's, it is only when a techo song comes on that the film changes from black and white to color. The mood of the film changes as well from thoughtful/poetic to fun/real. As the film ends the club is being raided by the police, this shows how in society today, a homosexual male has to keep his sexuality hidden. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It begins with a woman sitting on a bed with her dog, saying nothing, barely moving, and ends with a raucous gay pride parade. In between: candid opinions, hesitations, tears, songs, chainsaws, a lot of cigarettes, and a meal or two. And we learn that Barbie and Ken wear the same size.

Funny, articulate, and occasionally troubling, the testimonies offered by the 26 subjects of Word Is Out entertain, inform, and inspire for the duration of its 130 minutes. Made in 1977 by the Mariposa Film Group, the documentary--a montage of interviews in which the crew often foregrounds its own participation (by responding verbally, retaining mistakes, and shooting into mirrors, for example)--divides into three parts. The first focuses on the closet, and various attempts to pry open the door; the second on coming-out experiences--initial physical contact and emotional involvement; and the third on present and future concerns, including the consequences of visibility, which, as several of these people make clear, could be more dire then than now. Likewise, the film is definitely a period piece, wide lapels, frizzy perms, handlebar mustaches, overstuffed furniture, towering table lamps, pot plants, and all. But it also remains an important artifact of its time, in terms of these individuals, such as Radical Faerie Harry Hay and his partner, Bob, as well as the history of gay liberation. From the comical (one woman's psychiatrist attempts to treat her lesbianism with a diet of green salads) to the painful (one man's parents consider castrating him, while more than one interviewee had to witness or undergo shock treatment in mental institutions), and ethnically varied, Word Is Out offers telling tales of the city, town, and country: an act of remembrance on par with Coming Out Under Fire and The Celluloid Closet. --Robert Burns Neveldine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What we've come to know and love from Epstein.
This documentary is a great one. It carries the same feel as Epstein's other documentaries, COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE QUILT, THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK, and THE CELLULOID CLOSET to name a few.
The film is comprised of many gay, lesbian, and transgendered people basically talking about all aspects of their life. Epstein and his codirectors did a good job presenting a variety of lifestyles: Black, white, mothers and fathers, the very young to the quite old. This truly encompasses much of the GLBT experience, in an entirely unbiased way, with people simply speaking for themselves.
I recommend this to all people, but especially to gays and lesbians.

GLBT living history
This is probably the best GLBT documentary ever made. It is poignant, funny, and provocative. While somewhat dated since so much has changed in the past 20+ years, the stories hold up and still speak to the human condition in a touching way. Also, it's probably just as necessary to give people a historical context of how far the community has come, not only since the film was made, but throughout the lives of the participants, including The Pioneer Harry Hay, who just died recently.

Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or knows any GLBT people should appreciate this film. And any member of the GLBT community should consider this mandatory viewing as an obligation to their own history, and those who came before. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"Quality Time" with a true "Legend"!!!
"Resident Alien" is a most wonderous experience! You feel like your right there as the camera follows Mr. Crisp all around New York and we get to see some private moments in the life of this "Living Legend". He is the undisputed "Father of Style", and for those who have never had the pleasure of spending time in this great man's company, this great film/video will at least give you the chance to feel as if you had. Quentin Crisp reigns supreme, as always... and he does know such wonderful people indeed! This is a true "FIND" and tribute to a man who never ceases to amaze. Bravo Mr. Crisp, Bravo!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dictionary for every problem experienced by a gay person
Script touched on every issue know to the world of gay people. Felt like I was re-experiencing my adolescence and coming out...I thought it was trite and would never recommend, except for those who like the torture.

Thoughtful discussion of many gay/bisexual men's concerns.
This is basically a filmed two character play that does a good job of bringing up and exploring common arguments and fears in the gay community. The two characters are engaged in pillow talk just after completing the key event in a one night stand. Both guys are credible and likeable, and the different perspectives they have on "gay identity", "gay politics", love, AIDS, and traditional families are well presented. Transitions between one conversational topic and the next sometimes seemed forced, but all in all this is a good flick. It could promote many fascinating conversations between friends. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Film-School Projects Show Their Age
The films in Boys Shorts are, to be blunt, boring. I found myself fast forwarding looking for the next bit of dialog or human interaction. A few of these directors have fallen into the arrogant trap of believing that their work is so good that it needs neither plot nor momentum. It's not.

My advice is to leave these shorts to their owners. They are from the early 90s, and feel even older. They will never become classics. They feel like film school projects. Several of them might well garner an A from the teacher, but none are worth public exhibition. Save your money.

Review
"Boys' Shorts showcases six of the finest gay shorts produced in the last four years. This feature-length program, spanning the work of filmmakers from the U.S., Canada, England and Australia, exemplifies the quality, defiance and self-affirmation of The New Queer Cinema. B. Ruby Rich, in her ground-breaking article in Sight & Sound on The New Queer Cinema, wrote: "These works are irreverent, energetic, alternatively minimalist and excessive. Above all, they're full of pleasure. They're here, they're queer, get hip to them." " - From Frameline

RSVP Director: Laurie Lynd 1991 Canada 23 mins. A powerful and moving portrait of loss, punctuated by the haunting recording of La Spectre de la Rose, performed by Jessye Norman.

Anthem Director: Marlon Riggs 1990 USA 9 mins. A collage of erotic images and a call to arms, with a feverish hip-hop energy that celebrates the lives of African American men.

Relax Director: Christopher Newby 1991 Great Britain 25 mins. An elegant film about one man's fears and fantasies regarding HIV testing.

Billy Turner's Secret Director: Michael Mayson 1990 USA 26 mins. An upbeat, slickly produced, energetic comedy about a young Black man coming out to his homophobic roommate.

The Dead Boys' Club Director: Mark Christopher 1992 USA 25 mins. A charming and poignant tribute to the '70s world of promiscuity and glitter balls, firmly rooted in the American cinematic tradition (it pays tribute to The Wizard of Oz) and in gay life in the '90s.

Summary
Showcases six of the finest gay shorts produced in the 90's and exemplifies the quality, defiance and self-affirmation of the New Queer Cinema. BOYS' SHORTS includes RESONANCE (Dir. Stephen Cummins), an exploration of a gay-bashing in the back streets of Sydney; RSVP (Dir. Laurie Lynd), a powerful portrait of loss punctuated by the haunting voice of Jessye Norman; ANTHEM (Dir. Marlon Riggs), a collage of erotic images that celebrates the lives of African American men; RELAX 9Dir. Christopher Newby), an elegant film about one man's fears and fantasies regarding HIV testing; BILLY TURNER'S SECRET (Dir. Michael Mayson), an upbeat, energetic comedy about a young Black man coming out to his homophobic roommate; and THE DEAD BOYS' CLUB (Dir. Mark Christopher), a steamy and poignant tribute to the '70s world of promiscuity and disco balls from the perspective of gay life in the '90s. Color and B&W, 119 min., NTSC ... Read more

Reviews (3)

true insite into work place descrimination.
Very thought provoking, and memorable film.

A Wonderful Training Tool
This is a very good basic video for EEO managers to use in workplace training for a general audience. Brian McNaught takes a very non-confrontational approach to his material, presenting gay men and lesbians as people who simply desire to be treated by the Golden Rule. He points out some of the common workplace problems, ranging from unintentional slurs to outright homophobic attitudes, that gay folk face on a daily basis, and suggests methods to eradicate the problem.

Homophobia in the Workplace
If you want an honest, insightful, sensitive and informative look into the world of gays and lesbians in the workplace and those who love them, this video is a must. This is a wondersful stand alone video for educators and corporate training departments. There is a difference between ones belief system and the right to discriminate. ... Read more