The Celluloid Closet (1995)

Directors:

Rob Epstein
Jeffrey Friedman

Writers:

Vito Russo (book)
Rob Epstein (story) ...

Release Date:

15 March 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Plot:

A documentary surveying the various Hollywood screen depictions of homosexuals and the attitudes behind them throughout the history of North American film.

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Lesbian | Lesbianism | Voice Over Narration | Gay Interest

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Lily Tomlin	...	Narrator
Tony Curtis	...	Himself
Susie Bright	...	Herself
Arthur Laurents	...	Himself
Armistead Maupin	...	Himself
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Herself
Jan Oxenberg	...	Herself
Harvey Fierstein	...	Himself
Quentin Crisp	...	Himself
Richard Dyer	...	Himself
Jay Presson Allen	...	Herself
Mrs. Gustav Ketterer	...	Herself
Gore Vidal	...	Himself
Will H. Hays	...	Himself (archive footage)
Farley Granger	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Celluloid Closet (France)
Gefangen in der Traumfabrik (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for some graphic footage of sexuality and violence, and for language.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

France | UK | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Spain:13 | USA:R

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

Jack Lemmon declined to be interviewed for this film.

Quotes:

Quentin Crisp: Mainstream people dislike homosexuality because they can't help concentrating on what homosexual men do to one another. And when you contemplate what people do, you think of yourself doing it. And they don't like that. That's the famous joke: I don't like peas, and I'm glad I don't like them, because if I liked them I would eat them and I hate them.

Movie Connections:

Features Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Eye Opener!

I think this documentary is a total eye-opener. It gave me an insight into the American film history with respect to the particular topic of homosexuality. There are many original film clips as examples, and also have actors who performed the respective roles to comment on their views of this topic. This makes the documentary so convincing and credible.