Out at the Movies ─ A History of Gay Cinema

Over the decades, gay cinema has reflected the community's journey from persecution to emancipation to acceptance. Politicized dramas like Victim in the 60s,The Naked Civil Servant in the 70s, and the AIDS cinema of the 80s have given way in recent years to films which celebrate a vast array of gay lifestyles. Gay films have undergone a major shift, from the fringe to the mainstream and 2005’s Academy Awards were dubbed ‘"the Gay Oscars" with awards going to Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Transamerica. Producers began clamoring to back gay-themed movies and the most high profile of these is Gus Van Sant’s forthcoming MILK, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the first prominent American political figure to be elected to office on an openly gay ticket back in the 70s. So loved was he that his brutal and homophobic assassination by ex-policeman Daniel White sparked the biggest riots in gay history. The book also includes information on gay filmmakers and actors and their influence within the industry. Interspersed throughout the book are some of the most iconic scenes from gay cinema and the most memorable dialogue from key films.

Steven Paul Davies is the author of Alex Cox: Film Anarchist, Brat Pack: Confidential, A-Z Cult Films and Filmmakers, The Prisoner Handbookand Get Carter and Beyond: The Cinema of Mike Hodges.