Comments on: Screened Out: Gays and Lesbians on TCM http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/ thinking film Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:41:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: crowley http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-466960 crowley Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:35 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-466960 Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina" is quite something. But to this day I haven't been able to figure out what the movie was trying to say: was she bisexual? straight? asexual? something else? With Garbo, you can never tell. Greta Garbo in “Queen Christina” is quite something. But to this day I haven’t been able to figure out what the movie was trying to say: was she bisexual? straight? asexual? something else?

With Garbo, you can never tell.

]]> By: Andre Soares http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-124795 Andre Soares Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:23:54 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-124795 James, Point well taken, though I'd still say that non-Hollywood productions -- especially non-English-language films -- would have provided a welcome context to the series. And so would a couple of new American movies dealing with the subject, for that matter. We'd then be able to compare and see how much (or how little) has changed in the last 40 years. True, TCM will be screening two or three British productions, and that's good. A couple more from other cultures both more open and more honest in their depiction of homosexuality on screen would have served as solid contrast to the repressed attitudes toward homosex (and sex in general) in American motion pictures. But as I say in the "Screened Out" article, Turner Classic Movies must be commended for showing such a wide variety of culturally and socially important films, even though I believe the series' focus should have been expanded a little bit. And yes, "A Florida Enchantment" would have been a cool and important addition to the series. It's quite similar to "Turnabout." In fact, I'd say that Hal Roach was thinking of "Florida" when he made his 1940 gender-bending comedy. James,

Point well taken, though I’d still say that non-Hollywood productions — especially non-English-language films — would have provided a welcome context to the series. And so would a couple of new American movies dealing with the subject, for that matter. We’d then be able to compare and see how much (or how little) has changed in the last 40 years.

True, TCM will be screening two or three British productions, and that’s good. A couple more from other cultures both more open and more honest in their depiction of homosexuality on screen would have served as solid contrast to the repressed attitudes toward homosex (and sex in general) in American motion pictures.

But as I say in the “Screened Out” article, Turner Classic Movies must be commended for showing such a wide variety of culturally and socially important films, even though I believe the series’ focus should have been expanded a little bit.

And yes, “A Florida Enchantment” would have been a cool and important addition to the series. It’s quite similar to “Turnabout.” In fact, I’d say that Hal Roach was thinking of “Florida” when he made his 1940 gender-bending comedy.

]]> By: James http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-122844 James Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:24:08 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/screened-out-gays-and-lesbians-on-tcm/#comment-122844 Hmm.. I don't totally agree here. I certainly think a festival spotlighting gays in early Hollywood films exclusively is a worthy examination on it's own. I don't find that limiting. Sure, there are other films from other countries that allowed more frank and open discussions of homosexuality. But, that's sort of the point. While no country is totally devoid of homophobia, no matter how progressive, there are certainly other countries that have much more relaxed mores about such things than American culture, and have led the way and managed to get over their hangups and accept other people to a larger extent. Conversely, as you point out, certain subjects like the one at hand here-homosexuality, have largely been taboo subjects in American films and were rarely discussed in an open and non-judgemental way. Certainly not within the films that cover the period of time the festival covers. So, I think it's kind of interesting and valuable to see the inventive and subversive(And of course often unflattering) ways American filmmakers managed to covertly (or in some cases obviously)depict a group that was largely marginalized in American society. And how they managed to do it working within the restrictions that existed in Hollywood production of the Golden Age. And how the industry was able to evolve towards making more open, socially-conscious films. That's a much different perspective than other countries that hold more progressive views. So, all in all I think it's a good effort and perhaps can spark interest in other festivals and examinations. Can't understand why they aren't including the 1914 film A Florida Enchantment which has some of the most striking gay subtext of any early film I've ever seen. Perhaps in the series.... Hmm.. I don’t totally agree here. I certainly think a festival spotlighting gays in early Hollywood films exclusively is a worthy examination on it’s own. I don’t find that limiting. Sure, there are other films from other countries that allowed more frank and open discussions of homosexuality. But, that’s sort of the point. While no country is totally devoid of homophobia, no matter how progressive, there are certainly other countries that have much more relaxed mores about such things than American culture, and have led the way and managed to get over their hangups and accept other people to a larger extent.

Conversely, as you point out, certain subjects like the one at hand here-homosexuality, have largely been taboo subjects in American films and were rarely discussed in an open and non-judgemental way. Certainly not within the films that cover the period of time the festival covers. So, I think it’s kind of interesting and valuable to see the inventive and subversive(And of course often unflattering) ways American filmmakers managed to covertly (or in some cases obviously)depict a group that was largely marginalized in American society. And how they managed to do it working within the restrictions that existed in Hollywood production of the Golden Age. And how the industry was able to evolve towards making more open, socially-conscious films. That’s a much different perspective than other countries that hold more progressive views.

So, all in all I think it’s a good effort and perhaps can spark interest in other festivals and examinations. Can’t understand why they aren’t including the 1914 film A Florida Enchantment which has some of the most striking gay subtext of any early film I’ve ever seen. Perhaps in the series….

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