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Review

The Celluloid Closet’s evil twin! A thought-provoking and entertaining documentary that questions how Hollywood coyly depicted homosexuality at a time when it was forbidden to show gay or lesbian characters. Through the eyes of the devilishly resourceful Rappaport, we see how many filmmakers and stars sent coded messages about male homosexuality during the 30s, 40s and 50s. Like Rappaport’s previous propaganda scrapbooks (Rock Hudson’s Home Movies, The Journals of Jean Seberg), this foray entwines narration (by Dan Butler of Frasier) to take funny, sometimes rude and often admittedly far-fetched analysis of gay subtexts found in a series of film clips. He shows that comedians such as Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and Danny Kaye were able to spend much of the time in drag, or acting sissy for easy "fag gags." Also scrutinized are the Clifton Webb and Walter Brennan "syndromes" in which these character actors hinted at their homosexuality by playing, respectively, a bitchy, urbane snob and a hero-worshipping western sidekick.

The film’s best sequence is the eye-opening analysis of My Favorite Wife, a comedy starring then roommates (and presumed lovers) Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. What may have been a harmless farce in 1940 is now a very obvious in-joke about the true nature of their relationship. Despite the stilted narration, this is a must-see for anyone who ever wanted to find subversion beneath the surface of puritanical Golden Age Hollywood films.

Also included on the DVD is the terrific short film John Garfield which applies Rappaport's brilliant cinematic history technique to the tough-guy star of the 40s. Garfield was Jewish, but he kept it a secret so as not to affect his image - all dissected by the outstanding Mark Rappaport.

Raymond Murray