Part of the Encore Film Book Classics series, this is a reprint of the original text to Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema by James Robert Parish.
Hollywood’s depiction of gays and lesbians was for a long time stereotypical, from the extremely effeminate characters portrayed by Franklin Pangborn, Eric Blore, and Grady Sutton in the 1930s to the gay figures in such later films as To Be or Not to Be (1983) and Torch Song Trilogy (1988). A contrasting depiction—the homicidal homosexual—was the basis for such popular films as Rope (1948), Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Cruising (1980), and Basic Instinct (1992). Another onscreen trend was to present homosexual and lesbian characters as the victims of ostracism, blackmail, or of being pushed by the majority’s bigotry to suicide, in such films as Tea and Sympathy (1956), The Children’s Hour (1961), Advise and Consent (1962), 7 Women (1965), Rachel, Rachel (1968), Silkwood (1983), and My Own Private Idaho (1991). A major breakthrough in the genre occurred with Longtime Companion (1989), a sympathetic presentation of gay life during the AIDS epidemic. Other compassionate, trendsetting studies of gays and lesbians on the screen occurred in A Very Natural Thing (1973), Lianna (1983), An Early Frost (1985), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992), and It’s My Party (1995).
This detailed filmography to gay and lesbian characters in mainstream American movies includes full cast and credits to over 270 theatrical and made-for-television genre releases. Each entry also includes production information, reviews, and an analysis of the film with an essay blending critical commentary and synopsis of the picture. Additionally, Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema provides a brief history of regulatory codes within the American film industry.
About the Author:
JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; The Jeanette MacDonald Story; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California.
Hollywood’s depiction of gays and lesbians was for a long time stereotypical, from the extremely effeminate characters portrayed by Franklin Pangborn, Eric Blore, and Grady Sutton in the 1930s to the gay figures in such later films as To Be or Not to Be (1983) and Torch Song Trilogy (1988). A contrasting depiction—the homicidal homosexual—was the basis for such popular films as Rope (1948), Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Cruising (1980), and Basic Instinct (1992). Another onscreen trend was to present homosexual and lesbian characters as the victims of ostracism, blackmail, or of being pushed by the majority’s bigotry to suicide, in such films as Tea and Sympathy (1956), The Children’s Hour (1961), Advise and Consent (1962), 7 Women (1965), Rachel, Rachel (1968), Silkwood (1983), and My Own Private Idaho (1991). A major breakthrough in the genre occurred with Longtime Companion (1989), a sympathetic presentation of gay life during the AIDS epidemic. Other compassionate, trendsetting studies of gays and lesbians on the screen occurred in A Very Natural Thing (1973), Lianna (1983), An Early Frost (1985), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992), and It’s My Party (1995).
This detailed filmography to gay and lesbian characters in mainstream American movies includes full cast and credits to over 270 theatrical and made-for-television genre releases. Each entry also includes production information, reviews, and an analysis of the film with an essay blending critical commentary and synopsis of the picture. Additionally, Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema provides a brief history of regulatory codes within the American film industry.
About the Author:
JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; The Jeanette MacDonald Story; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California.
