The Celluloid Closet

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The Celluloid Closet ★★★½ 1995 (R)

Terrific documentary on how Hollywood films have depicted homosexual characters, subliminally and otherwise. Working chronologically and in an historical context, beginning with silent films, there are clips from more than 100 films, along with interviews from writers and actors. (Notable is writer Gore Vidal's comments on the gay subtext in 1959's “Ben-Hur”). Based on Vito Russo's 1981 book. 102m/C VHS, DVD. D: Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; W: Armistead Maupin; C: Nancy Schreiber; M: Carter Burwell; Nar: Lily Tomlin.

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The Celluloid Closet

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