Gene Siskel Film Center — Friday and Tuesday, 6pm
Making a feature film about gay men in 1970 was a bold move. THE
BOYS IN THE BAND is often cited as being the first Hollywood narrative
to put queer men front and center, and that meant it was going to be
judged more for its politics than its content. It generally received
tepidly positive reviews from critics, but at the same time some major
newspapers refused to run its ads. Released less than a year's remove
from the Stonewall Riots, the Boys in this Band were not the cheerleaders
for gay pride that some would hope for. Based on an off-Broadway play
by Mart Crowley and featuring the same cast, it has aged well, in most
ways. Accused of trafficking in negativity by some in the gay community
because of the self-hatred that is so apparent in most of the characters,
it gives its gay-stereotyped ensemble the three-dimensionality they
deserve. We're not supposed to love or hate these men; we just drop
in on an emotional evening that ends with a lot of hurt feelings. Despite
some unevenness in the dialog and over-reliance on the close-up, the
film is essential viewing because of the topic it chose to address.
Sometimes, a period piece that is the first of its kind is more important
than repeatable one-liners and intricate plot twists. The Boys aren't
likable movie icons, but they are real, and necessary. Pamela Robertson
Wojcik lectures at the Tuesday screening. (1970, 119 min, 35mm) JH - Cine-File.info
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