The Celluloid Closet (Special Edition)

Rating:
Summary: very revealing!! Stunning!
Review: This book has become the starting point to my dissertation paper. I'm working on "the evolution of the treatment of homosexuals in American movies since THE CELLULOID CLOSET". I don't know where I'm going yet but if you have any info on recent US movies displaying gay characters... help me.

Rating:
Summary: A good overview
Review: This was an excellent DVD in quality. Some of the supplemental additions had bad picture quality - Tony Curtis looked almost washed out in his segments but that was not in the actual movie. That was of fine quality. This was an interesting overview of the role of homosexuals in the cinema since its beginning. In the 20's and 30's, the movies became too "explicit" for a lot of people so the PTB decided to police themselves rather than have some outside agency do it. Thus the Hayes code was created and slowly dismantled over the years. The interviews were interesting as were the clips and the history of homsexuality in movies well covered;however, being a 2 hour movie, there was a limit to the depth it could go into. It lacked an ending which stated where movies had been, where they are now and what the future might bring. There was no summing up as it were, which I think was really needed.

Rating:
Summary: An even tempered look at the topic
Review: To its credit, THE CELLULOID CLOSET avoids strident political tones (except for some of Harvey Fierstein's unfortunate chauvinism) in favor of a sweet, well-balanced presentation of clips and interviews that results in an informative and highly enjoyable film. The montage of men and women simply clasping each other and declaring their feelings is especially moving. And the use of music, particularly the old Doris Day hit "Secret Love," is stunning.

Rating:
Summary: Must
Review: You must get this documentary. It's incredibly entertaining. There's one thing I don't agree with. They talk about Jane Russell singing among half-naked gymnasists on the boat of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. They don't even look at her, that doesn't make them automatically gay. I mean they don't even look at THEMSELVES! Anyway, I've seen it more than 5 or 6 times and everytime it's like I like it even more. I love the montages by theme, especially the deaths of the characters, chills run down my body.