Search - The Celluloid Closet on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1995 DVD Release: 05/29/2001 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 13 Genres: History, Film, TV & Radio, Gender Issues, Social Issues

Based on Vito Russo's groundbreaking 1981 work of film history, The Celluloid Closet gathers clips from dozens of mainstream Hollywood films to illustrate how the movies have dealt explicitly -- and more importantly, implicitly -- with gay and lesbian themes. Layered between the clips are interviews with filmmakers whose works have touched on that subject. The popular films of the Golden Age could only hint at homosexuality and often portrayed gays as simpering characters, objects of scorn or merriment, or insidious villains. With the strictures of the old Production Code loosening, bolder presentations were possible, but often over the objections of studio executives who feared a public backlash against a film that dealt with a long taboo subject. Among the films discussed are Philadelphia, The Children's Hour, Making Love, Rope, and Spartacus. Gore Vidal, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, and director John Schlesinger are among the film's strongest interview subjects. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide

Antonio Banderas
Whoopi Goldberg - Interviewee
Susan Sarandon - Interviewee
Sharon Stone
Tony Curtis - Interviewee
Harvey Fierstein - Interviewee
Tom Hanks - Interviewee
Lily Tomlin - Narrator
Gore Vidal - Interviewee

The Celluloid Closet, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's entertaining and penetrating look at the history of homosexual characters in films, comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original aspect ratio. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed captioned. Supplemental materials include a commentary by directors Epstein and Friedman, producer Howard Rosenman, editor Arnold Glassman, and narrator Lili Tomlin. Also available are bonus trailers, talent files, production notes that include words from Charleton Heston and Gore Vidal, and further commentary from Vito Russo whose book was the starting point for this excellent documentary. Columbia/TriStar has done a fabulous job with this DVD that is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in movies or gay and lesbian issues. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide