With lily tomlin, tony curtis, susie bright, arthur laurents. Praised by the chicago tribune as an impressive study and written with incisive wit and searing perceptionthe definitive, highly acclaimed landmark work on the portrayal of homosexuality in film. I have a reliable source for that one 09102008, 12. Rob epstein the celluloid closet 1996 peabody award acceptance speech duration. The celluloid closet 1995 directed by rob epstein, jeffrey. The movie is based on a book written by legendary gayrights. Remember when gore vidal said he secretly turned charlton. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film. With clips from over 100 hollywood movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them including tom hanks, shirley maclaine, susan sarandon, whoopi goldberg, tony curtis, and gore vidal, the celluloid closet is an epic story.
World class documentaries 6 films 7dvd box set the celluloid closet grey gardens the times of harvey milk little dieter needs to fly bu nonusa format, pal, reg. Five things hit me harder than a hammer to the kneecap while watching eyeopening 1996 documentary the celluloid closet. The doc has given me a huge list of movies that i want to check out, because i was not familiar with so many of these. A list of 118 films compiled on letterboxd, including the celluloid closet 1995, 48 hrs.
Watch the celluloid closet the celluloid closet was a documentary film that took an in depth look at the hidden world of homosexuality in the hollywood film industry. Filmmakers rob epstein and jeffrey friedman look at the depiction of homosexuality in film. The film is based on the 1981 book of the same name written by vito russo, and on previous lecture and film clip presentations given in person by russo 197282. The new ancientroman actiondrama benhur, in theaters aug.
Russo had researched the history of how motion pictures, especially hollywood films, had portrayed gay, lesbian. It is an enlightening, entertaining and somewhat disturbing look at how a coded idea of homosexual identity was put forward in mainstream cinema, the lingua franca of the 20th century. The celluloid closet functions as a multipurpose wonder. See top 1996 movies at the domestic box office for the total domestic box office for the top 100 movies released in 1996, and movie index 1996 for an overview of all movies released in 1996. For example, the 2004 box office year ended on sunday, january 2, 2005. Homosexuality in the movies by vito russo 2,180 ratings, 4. The celluloid closet takes a thoughtprovoking look at the decades of omission and misrepresentation endured by the gay community in mainstream cinema. The celluloid closet is based on how motion pictures especially hollywood films had portrayed gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters in cinema. Pop imagesbased on the 1981 book by the late vito russo, which filtered hollywoods pop images through a staunchly political, gaylib lens, the celluloid closet goes all the way back to the. The celluloid closet 1996 official trailer, organic. The celluloid closet is a 1995 american documentary film directed and written by rob epstein and jeffrey friedman. Yet gays were everywhere in the movies, right from the beginningthis documentary shows two men dancing together in a thomas edison short named the gay brothers, from 1895and often they were hidden in plain view. Jul 21, 2012 the second film, the celluloid closet, explored the depiction of homosexuality throughout the history of film and how it has affected our view on sexuality and gender identity today. Opening the celluloid closet 20 years later pinknews.
He is best remembered as the author of the book the celluloid closet 1981, revised edition 1987, described in the new york times as an essential reference book on homosexuality in the us film industry. Stories from the quilt, documakers rob epstein and jeffrey. The film discusses how hollywood screenwriters and directors respond to its. Homosexuality in the movies, and on lecture and film clip presentations he gave in 19721982. The film is based on vito russos 1981 book the celluloid closet. A documentary surveying the various hollywood screen depictions of homosexuals and the attitudes behind them throughout the history of north american film. Harper collins, sep 20, 1987 social science 384 pages. A possible exception to this lack of lesbian visibility is the 1996 independent film the. The celluloid closet where to stream and watch decider.
As mercedes plans for her single release party, mason and ethan get to know their fellow ras. Financial analysis of the celluloid closet 1996 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Sam watters publisher, jeff yarbrough editorinchief jan 1, 1996. The celluloid closet, a forthright and fascinating documentary based on the writings of vito russo, traces those decades with clips from more than 100 films and with commentary from such. There is an 1895 film clip by edison, of two men dancing, probably the earliest segment here. With clips from over 100 hollywood movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them including tom hanks, shirley maclaine, susan sarandon, whoopi goldberg, tony curtis, and gore vidal, the celluloid closet. Documentary directors rob epstein and jeffrey friedman, already well established for bringing gay issues to a mainstream film audience, examined the. Russo researched the history of how motion pictures, especially hollywood films, had portrayed gay, lesbian, bisexual.
So much has happened with queer characters in the last 25 years that there could easily be another another movie like the celluloid closet. Sep 10, 2008 fwiw, one of the celluloid gods right now used to turn tricks with male hollywood moguls i. The celluloid closet ranges from obscure film clips two men dancing together a hundred years ago in an experimental film of thomas edisons to scenes that are eminently familiar. The celluloid closet 1996 r 0315 1996 us history, documentary 1h 42m user score. Films featured in the celluloid closet, a list of films. Films featured in the celluloid closet, a list of films by. Paul rudnick are very entertaining and in two cases with susan sarandon and gore vidal utterly uproarious.
The directors are jeffrey friedman and rob epstein. This documentary highlights the historical contexts that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have occupied in cinema history, and shows the evolution of the entertainment industrys role in shaping perceptions of lgbt figures. Mar 09, 2015 the celluloid closet is an indie documentary film that was created in 1995. Watch bay state season 19, episode 2 the celluloid closet. When vito russos the celluloid closet was published in 1981, its comprehensive compendium of gay stereotypes and subterfuges in movie history delivered with.
The documentary is a worthy adaptation of the vito russo book, managing to include and expand on many of the ideas from the book. The celluloid closet was finally released in 1995 after a series of fundraising appeals. Inflationadjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates. The celluloid closet 1996 r 03151996 us history, documentary 1h 42m user score. The documentary interviews various men and women connected to the hollywood industry to comment on. I enjoyed watching this film because it describes the history of people. Fwiw, one of the celluloid gods right now used to turn tricks with male hollywood moguls i. The celluloid closet directed by rob epstein and jeffrey friedman.
The celluloid closet is a documentary film that touches on issues within the lgbt community, specifically within the hollywood scene. The celluloid closet special edition dvd 1996 sony. Quentin crisp, rob epstein, and jeffrey friedman in the celluloid closet 1995 the celluloid closet 1995 1 sheet the celluloid closet 1995. The celluloid closet movie posters from movie poster shop. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters. The celluloid closet by ken tucker updated march 22, 1996 at 05. Aug 15, 2009 the celluloid closet, a documentary about the representation of homosexuality in hollywood, was first released in 1995. The celluloid closet 1996 is a best of documentary documentary, history movie starring lily tomlin and tony curtis. The celluloid closet explodes sexual myths and explores how our attitudes about homosexuality and sex roles have evolved through the century.
Based on the book by vito russo, this 1995 documentary explores the history of hollywoods portrayal of gay characters through the ages. The celluloid closet bass, house, hollywood, daniel. The celluloid closet is a 1996 american documentary film directed and written by rob epstein and jeffrey friedman. The vito russo test takes its name from celebrated film historian and glaad cofounder vito russo, whose book the celluloid closet remains a. Near the beginning and the end of the celluloid closet we are shown the same clip. A young female intern at a small magazine company becomes involved with a drugaddicted lesbian photographer, both of whom seek to exploit each other for their respective careers, while slowly falling in love with each other. The celluloid closet is an indie documentary film that was created in 1995. In 1985 he cofounded the gay and lesbian alliance against defamation, a media. The deserved success of the celluloid closet has set all sorts of odd birds atwitter of which easily the oddest is the spokesperson for the national rifle assn. Portrayals of homosexuality were frowned upon until the 1960s, by the movie industrys production code and such groups as the legion of decency. The celluloid closet tv series the movie database tmdb. Explores depictions of gay men and lesbians in mainstream american.
Homosexuality in the movies, 2 and on lecture and film clip presentations he gave in 19721982. Film, video howl motion picture feature film over 60 minutes. The celluloid closet takes a thoughtprovoking look at the decades of omission. Just remember that the 1959 benhur was about chariots and jesus. The image of two men slowly dancing together, from an early. The celluloid closet quotes by vito russo goodreads. The national gay and lesbian newsmagazine magazine cover story inside the celluloid closet by lily tomlin by and liberation publications inc. The celluloid closet features excerpts of over 120 films in a groundbreaking expose of on screen gay men and lesbians, from cruel stereotypes to covert love to positive images of the 1990s. Sundance film festival, freedom of expression award, winner, 1996.
Vito russo july 11, 1946 november 7, 1990 was an american lgbt activist, film historian and author. Find out where the celluloid closet is streaming, if the celluloid closet is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. Taking inspiration from the bechdel test, which examines the way female characters are portrayed and situated within a narrative, glaad developed its own set of criteria to analyze how lgbt characters are included within a film. The film is based on vito russo s 1981 book the celluloid closet. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
Buy the celluloid closet movie posters from movie poster shop. The film is based on the 1981 revised 1987 book of. New documentary outs gay hollywoods secret love arts the. Watch the celluloid closet online stream full movie directv. In oscarwinning films such as the times of harvey milk and common threads. Aug, 2015 the celluloid closet was finally released in 1995 after a series of fundraising appeals.
A home box office presentation in association with channel 4, zdfarte, brillsteingrey entertainment, hugh m. The celluloid closet came out in 1996, as marches and protests against homosexual. According to the celluloid closet, gays and lesbians did not disappear from the movies. Watch the celluloid closet starring antonio banderas in this documentary on directv. The film is based on the 1981 revised 1987 book of the same name written by vito russo, and on previous lecture and film clip presentations given in person by russo 197282. Rob epstein the celluloid closet 1996 peabody award acceptance speech. My analysis on the celluloid closet film, gender, and. This documentary highlights the historical contexts that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have occupied in cinema history, and shows the evolution of the entertainment industrys role in shaping perceptions of lgbt. The 1959 william wyler epic of the same name struck gold. The celluloid closet is the featurelength expansion of a groundbreaking.