Introducing Gay Film #1--1938's "Bringing Up Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                                                    

                           As I have said previously, the ranking has nothing to do with better or best, but simply the chronological order in which each film was made.

                            Arguably the greatest film comedy of all time, I can tell you that "Bringing Up Baby" is gay from start to finish, but not everyone in our household liked it.  But that is their problem, because if a person cannot like "Bringing Up Baby," what can they like???????????

                             The film's narrative structure is of a snowball fashioned atop a steep hill.  It is given a gentle push, and before one knows it is growing bigger and bigger.

                               The snowball begins in a paleontologist's office.  Cary Grant, as Doctor David Huxley, who comes off as a big closet case, is being reprimanded by his fiancé, Alice Swallow, (Virginia Walker) a repressed lesbian who looks as though she should remain a spinster, which, come to think of it, she does.  She reminds him of a golf appointment he has with an important potential donor, Mr. Peabody, and when he gets onto the golf course and encounters Connecticut socialite Susan Vance, played marvelously by Katherine Hepburn, well, the ball just does not stop rolling until the film's final moment.

                                Darlings, you have to see Susan's sumptuous apartment in, of all places, Riverdale, NYC.  I never thought Riverdale existed in 1938. Though shot in Hollywood, the settings are all on the East Coast.  The fluffy white curtains alone are worth having and would make all gays drool.  Same for the ones at Aunt Elizabeth's (May Robson) house in West Lake, Connecticut.   I mean, the double door, the rooms upon rooms, the elegant bathrooms, who would not want this country enclave?  It is every gay man's dream.

                                    Now, the question must be asked.  Is Huxley gay or not?  There are two arguments for admission.  The first is when he admits to wanting children and intimacy with Alice Swallow.  Oh, my God!  Straight sex with a repressed lesbian; you know, the kind who carries Radclyffe Hall's "The Well Of Loneliness" in her purse, how can such a thing be possible??????????  Disgusting for both parties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The second is when David greets Aunt Elizabeth (May Robson) in a pink bathrobe with three sets of frills on each side, and says to her, "I've suddenly gone gay!"  Uh huh.  And how many of us gays would just love to wear that robe?  I must ask my David if he can order one on Amazon, or from some top designer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    The comic and cuteness meters speed up when George and Baby come into the picture.  Baby is the cutest and prettiest domesticated leopard, and I would just have loved to pet and scratch him.  George, who is played by Asta of "The Thin Man" series; like Dreyfus another big career dog, finds the bone Huxley has acquired to complete his brontosaurus skeleton, and runs off.  What follows is the funniest comic chase scene in history, what with Grant and Hepburn arguing, loving, singing "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby," which Baby responds to.  As if this were not enough, there is another leopard, who escaped from a nearby circus, but he is a killer and is going to be put down.  Then he becomes part of the chase till the whole cast ends up in jail, until things are straightened out.

                                     Darlings, from the curtains to the furnishings, this film is a gay man's paradise.  Now, the question must be asked, is Susan interested in David because she is a fag hag, or does she think she can change David?  Especially after repressed lesbo Alice drops out of the picture.  The ending is loving but leaves you wondering.  My guess is yes, she did change him, because this was the gayest role Grant ever played.

                                       And this was the film I could not stop laughing with, which says a lot because while I am an easy crier I am a hard laugher.  One person in our house had the temerity to fall asleep during the film.  Inexcusable.

                                     I could see it again and again.  But this project requires I move on to other films.

                                     This film is a must.  Even if one does not recognize the gay code signals, it is still enjoyable.

                                      And I just love cute leopard, Baby.  And how about Hepburn's outer space dress in the hotel, and the olive trick?  Not to mention GWTW alum Leona Roberts, playing Hannah the housekeeper?

                                       I could go on.  But gay or straight, "Bringing Up Baby" offers laughter and delight for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I had a big smile on my face throughout!

                                        Darlings, you can't miss it.  But wear white gloves and sip tea while watching it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    

What Kind Of Dog Was Dreyfus On "The Golden Girls??????????????"

                               Dreyfus, in the nineteen-eighties, had quite a career.   He made guest appearances on "The Golden Girls," which David and I watch each weeknight before the news, and he was featured on the TV series "Empty Nest," with Richard Mulligan, Kristy McNichol and Dinah Manoff.

                                   I just loved Dreyfus, so much I wish he would jump through the TV screen and hop onto our bed, so I could pet and cuddle him.  I always wondered what kind of dog he was and I am happy to say I was half right.

                                    Dreyfus was a mixed breed.  He was a combination of a Saint Bernard and a Golden Retriever.  I could see the Saint Bernard part in his face, but I would never have guessed the second.  But there you have it.

                                     I hope, when Dreyfus retired, he was happy and comfortable.  And that he and his owner(s) get spectacular royalties.

                                        I cannot think of a more lovable canine since.

                                        But then, darlings, we really don't watch much television.

To Think It Took Me This Long To See "Mean Streets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          I was a tender 20 when this came came out, so why it was not on my radar I cannot remember.

                                          But seeing it now will provide lots of surprises. Imagine, seeing Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro so young!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            This was the film that put Martin Scorsese on the map, and deservedly so. Shot as a night in the big city of New York, it is laced with carefully selected lighting, violence and two star making performances from Keitel and DeNiro.  "Mean Streets" has no real conventional narrative, outside of these thugs going after everyone in sight for either drugs or money.  This could have been nothing.  But Scorsese's camera placement, his carefully lit night shots and the almost documentary feel to the film raise it above the level of an ordinary gangster pic.   Looking back, I asked myself, "The man who directed 'The Age Of Innocence' directed this?"  It seems inconceivable.

                                                For Scorsese fans, especially those who like me who have never seen it, "Mean Streets" is a must.  It will take you back to the director's roots and will allow viewers to see how he has evolved.  And how the city of New York has, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   "Mean Streets" will grip the viewer from start to finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   And eat some pasta bolognese afterward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What The Hell Is "Svengoolie" Showing This Week???????????? My Advice, Girls, Is To Avoid It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Who the hell is Captain Kronos?  I know this is a Hammer film, and even though the poster suggests a showcase of bosoms, I am not sure I want to watch a film I never heard of.

                            So, Baby Gojira and I have a real gem planned instead, but, unfortunately, David does not like this particular film.  But then, about a week ago, he had the temerity to say he thought "Meet Me In St. Louis" was too long.  Can you imagine?  A film of perfection?

                            I mean, even Baby was appalled.  So, we have picked out a special film, which I will try and write about tomorrow.  For those who choose to watch this, let me know what it was like.

                              To me, it looks like some ersatz "Brides Of Dracula" knockoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Victorian Welcome To August!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Yes, darlings, here we are at the start of the year's most ambivalent month.

                                        As a child, I hated this day, because it meant the next month was September and that meant going back to school.  I still have that feeling, though I have been out of school for decades.

                                         August signals not only the last full month of Summer, but that Labor Day and Autumn are getting closer.  And the sunshine we have enjoyed will decrease and darkness will surround us.

                                           As Little Edie sang in the musical "Grey Gardens," "Another Winter In A Summer Town."

                                           That is what August means to me.  But it also has the Feast Of The Assumption, the anniversary of Woodstock, and Baby Gojira's birthday.  He will be 22 this year, but he is still our baby.

                                              And I get another month of movies to see and write about.  And books!

                                              So maybe August is not so bad after all.

                                              It is the anticipation more than the actuality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A Victorian Farewell To July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       Seven months have just gone by.  And this month seemed to fly faster than the others.

                         A heat wave--two, actually--two summer colds, a colonoscopy--which came out OK--and an obsession with seeing movies that by this age I should have already seen.

                          Yes, July was both an exciting and challenging month.  I am always glad of the support I get from my readers, as well as all my friends here--David, Baby Gojira, Little Pippin, and Cucumbo.

                           To think tomorrow is August 1st already.  Before you know it, Proserpina will be packing to return to Hell.  That always makes me sad, but I will have more say on the day tomorrow.

                              Meanwhile thank you for the fun and warmth you brought us, July.  Seven down, and five to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   See you next month, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, My God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Girls, Look What They Are Making A Musical Of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and renowned composer and lyricist John Legend are combining talents to present a musical adaptation of the Fannie Hurst classic, "Imitation Of Life."  The question is, how are they going to do it????????????

                                                 First of all, it is a limited run, from November 21 to January 3.

                                                 How in hell will they do this story today?  Will the daughter have a pink princess phone?  Will the Lana Turner character be an actress.

                                                   And what about Annie Johnson and her daughter Sarah Jane, who can pass for white?  How will this be treated?  Will it?  Or will there be something different, like maybe Sarah Jane going trans.

                                                      The show is not being presented on Broadway, but Off-Broadway at  The Shed, located at 545 West 30th Street.  Will it move from there?  Only time will tell.

                                                      My advice to you, girls, is to watch the 1959 version as soon as you can.  Because there will be no Mahalia Jackson and a too late repentant Sarah Jane throwing herself on her mother's coffin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   This is the real thing, so see it.

                                                       Ironically, this vehicle so far is the most potentially exciting offering of the new theater season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         I can't wait to tell you girls about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        

                                                   

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