The Celluloid Closet (film)

Overview

The documentary features interviews with various Hollywood industry figures who comment on film clips and share personal experiences regarding the treatment of LGBT characters in cinema. Topics range from sissy characters and Hollywood Production Code censorship to coded gay characters and stereotypes, as well as changes in the early 1990s. Vito Russo assisted with the project until his death in 1990, and some critics noted the film was less political and more positive than his book, which aligned with Russo's wish for an entertaining reflection of positive changes.

Production

Russo approached Epstein about a film version in 1986 and wrote a proposal, but progress stalled until after Russo's death in 1990. Channel 4 in England then offered development funding to write a treatment and determine if film clips could be obtained. Fundraising remained the biggest obstacle; Lily Tomlin launched a direct mail campaign in Russo's honor and headlined a benefit at the Castro Theatre with Robin Williams, Harvey Fierstein, and Lypsinka.

Significant support came from Steve Tisch, James Hormel, and Hugh Hefner, along with foundation funding from the Paul Robeson Fund, the California Council for the Humanities, and the Chicago Resource Center. European television again helped when ZDF/arte signed on, but production began only after HBO committed funding. In May 1994, Tomlin contacted HBO chairman Michael Fuchs; Epstein, Friedman, Tomlin, and Rosenman met with Fuchs and HBO Vice President Sheila Nevins, and HBO agreed to supply the remainder of the budget.

Reception and legacy

The film appeared during a dramatic period in gay history, following Bill Clinton's election as the first major party candidate to court gay voters, yet facing the setback of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The LGBT-rights movement became increasingly media-focused, recognizing that negative film images affected perceptions of homosexuality. In 1994, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation formed as a national organization. The Celluloid Closet was released in 1996 as protests against homosexual representation in film and television grew.

Time magazine noted protests aimed at films like The Silence of the Lambs, featuring a crazed transvestite killer, and JFK, with a scene of gays in sadomasochistic fun. Queer Nation member Kate Sorensen was quoted saying, Every lesbian and bisexual character in these films is accused of being a psychotic killer ... And the girl never gets the girl. Gay activists attacked such portrayals of homosexuals as disgustingly erotic killers, believing they reflected a perverse fear of AIDS or rising intolerance.

The documentary emphasized the twisted depiction of homosexuals throughout history, addressing the existence of Hollywood homosexuals and the homophobia that keeps homosexuality in the closet on and off screen.

Accolades

The film received the GLAAD Vito Russo Award in 1996, an award created after Russo's death for openly gay or lesbian people in Hollywood who advance the fight against homophobia. It earned four Emmy Award nominations in 1996, including Outstanding Individual Achievement in Informational Programming for editing, sound recording, and director of photography, as well as Outstanding Informational Special. The film also won a Peabody Award and the Freedom of Expression award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, and was nominated for the Truer Than Fiction Award at the 12th Independent Spirit Awards.

Did You Know?

• The 2001 DVD includes a second audio commentary with the late Vito Russo and a documentary titled Rescued from the Closet.
• The film had precursors in Parker Tyler's 1972 book Screening the Sexes and Richard Dyer's 1977 Gays and Film.