The Celluloid Closet

REVIEW
Inspired by Vito Russo's seminal book on the depiction of homosexuality in Hollywood cinema, this funny, informative and occasionally moving documentary offers -- through interviews and a vast assortment of film clips -- a candid mini-history of gays and lesbians on-screen. The Celluloid Closet takes a chronological approach to the subject, offering clips from the turn of the century (The Gay Brothers) thru the silents to the effeminate caricatures of the 1930s (Broadway Melody), the pitiful homosexual of the 1950s and '60s, the violently deviant homosexual of the '70s and '80s, and concluding with the squeaky clean image of recent times. While encompassing in scope, the film is too simplistic and suffers from the lack of critical analysis and a central point-of-view. And, too many actors have nothing really to say -- only Tony Curtis and Susan Sarandon offer insight into the queer roles they have played. With that said, however, The Celluloid Closet is more than recommended, but for something deeper, it is best to read Russo's book.