The Celluloid Closet

In VL-11/96, K. Lee Benson wrote: "Lily Tomlin narrates this eye-opening and consciousness-raising documentary based on Vito Russo's landmark 1981 book. Clips from more than 100 films are combined with interviews to vividly illustrate how movies taught straight people what to think about gays, and gay people what to think about themselves. Among the more provocative talking heads are: Gore Vidal revealing how Ben-Hur's gay subtext was hidden from a clueless Charlton Heston and Tom Hanks reflecting on how his likable screen image made his gay, AIDS-stricken character in Philadelphia less threatening to audiences." This "special edition" includes an additional 50 minutes of interview footage, an interview with the late Vito Russo, and--oddly, for a documentary--an optional commentary track that isn't half as interesting as the interviewees--Susan Sarandon, Harvey Fierstein, Shirley Maclaine--it drowns out. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)