Straight Films That Are Actually Gay.

[ChristineHoard]

Thank you so much, Jlewis, that was just terrific.  What a couple of great scenes.  Barbara was masterful and Richard was hot without his shirt.  That little girl looked familiar - I know I've seen her in other shows.  What a treat; thanks again; I loved it!

[jaragon]

"The Band Wagon" (1953) another great backstage musical set in the theater world with not a single gay person in sight; if we take a closer look Jeffrey Cordova ( Jack Buchanan) might be gay coded he has no real love interest except for his "personal assistant" Hal.   The metrosexual  choreographer  Paul Byrd was played by gay actor James Mitchell.   The MGM chorus boys are specially cute in this film and they are really on display in the " Louisiana Hayride" number.https://youtu.be/QVxdc1PpiQA

The guy in the bright red plaid shirt looks specially energetic

[ChristineHoard]

Seeing Willem Defoe on the Neglected Favorites thread reminded me of AUTO FOCUS (the film about actor Bob Crane of Hogan's Heroes fame).  Talking about toxic masculinity - Bob Crane's sexual obsessions pretty much tanked his career.  In the movie. Willem Defoe plays his buddy who enables his behavior and is a video taping/electronics expert.  It's sorta subtle, but I think pretty clear, that Defoe's character has the unrequited hots for Bob Crane (played by Greg Kinnear)  and this may have led to his murder when Bob tries to break up their relationship.  It's a bromance gone sour.  I really liked the film and the way it explores sexuality, celebrity in the 1960's.

 

Willem Defoe isn't a conventionally handsome guy but he is an excellent actor and he's really good in this as is Kinnear.

[rayban]

Seeing Willem Defoe on the Neglected Favorites thread reminded me of AUTO FOCUS (the film about actor Bob Crane of Hogan's Heroes fame).  Talking about toxic masculinity - Bob Crane's sexual obsessions pretty much tanked his career.  In the movie. Willem Defoe plays his buddy who enables his behavior and is a video taping/electronics expert.  It's sorta subtle, but I think pretty clear, that Defoe's character has the unrequited hots for Bob Crane (played by Greg Kinnear)  and this may have led to his murder when Bob tries to break up their relationship.  It's a bromance gone sour.  I really liked the film and the way it explores sexuality, celebrity in the 1960's.

 

Willem Defoe isn't a conventionally handsome guy but he is an excellent actor and he's really good in this as is Kinnear.

Willem Defoe actually sings a whole song in "Roadhouse 66"- it is called "Maria, Maria" and he is very good, too.

[jaragon]

Seeing Willem Defoe on the Neglected Favorites thread reminded me of AUTO FOCUS (the film about actor Bob Crane of Hogan's Heroes fame).  Talking about toxic masculinity - Bob Crane's sexual obsessions pretty much tanked his career.  In the movie. Willem Defoe plays his buddy who enables his behavior and is a video taping/electronics expert.  It's sorta subtle, but I think pretty clear, that Defoe's character has the unrequited hots for Bob Crane (played by Greg Kinnear)  and this may have led to his murder when Bob tries to break up their relationship.  It's a bromance gone sour.  I really liked the film and the way it explores sexuality, celebrity in the 1960's.

 

Willem Defoe isn't a conventionally handsome guy but he is an excellent actor and he's really good in this as is Kinnear.

"Auto Focus" was an interesting movie but I would have preferred if the real killer was more of a mystery.  Crane does come across as homophobic- but his buddy Carpenter  ( Willem Defoe) seemed to be more interested in pushing the boundaries of sex- like he says in the movie when you are having an **** hands tend to wander.

[jaragon]

I always thought there was some unspoken homoerotic attraction between Vinnie ( Ken Whal) and Sonny ( Ray Sharkey) in the TV series " WiseGuy" https://youtu.be/eBuVJ2tfrlw

 

[jaragon]

"Kingsman and the Golden Circle" (2017) In the first film Eggsy (Taron Egerton) a handsome working class lad was recruited by Harry (Colin Firth) a sophisticated older gentleman who gives him a extreme make over and turns him into a secret agent ( who could moonlight as gay escort)   The movie is an over the top live action James Bond cartoon but while Bond is straight there is definite gay sensibility at play in the Kingsman series- yes there are females around but they are mostly use as decorations to distract the audience from all the brobonding.  The villain Julianne Moore is surrounded by good looking henchmen but she never has sex with them . And how straight can film be which features Elton John in a supporting role camping it up in full feather regalia as it was still 1978.  The film most obvious gay friendly asset is Channing Tatum as Agent Tequila ?! in tight cowboy drag; strutting around as if he was still in "Magic Mike" His bulging boxer briefs are photographed in loving close ups( now this a movie I wish was in 3-D)  The film ends with a heterosexual wedding but we know where the movies heart really is at when the final image is Tatum in a tight Kingsman suit.https://youtu.be/6ACG2JGk-LA

[jaragon]

"Logan's Run" (1976) in this future world gay sex seems to be accepted- Logan 6( Michael York) does turn down a guy from his 3-D wall grinder but perhaps he did not want to make Francis 7 his bff jealous.  Logan and Francis have an intense bromance- I love the way Francis ( Richard Jordan) practically orders Logan to jump in the hot tub with him later he interrupts Logan's date with Jessica (Jenny Agutter) when he drops in with two girls- we do not see the **** but I have a feeling there was plenty of man to man action too.  

[jaragon]

"Peyton Place" (1957) Is Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn) gay coded?  He is dominated by his mother who doesn't want him to get close to any girls.  His friendship with Allison is fairly innocent. He does seem to be jealous when she is being kissed by Rodney Harrington ( or is it that he want to change places with her? ) Norman does become manlier after his time in the army-.  By fade out Norman and Allison seemed to have become a couple- but perhaps Norman would still prefer to spend time bro bonding with Ted Carter (David Nelson)

[DougieB]

9 hours ago, jaragon said:

"Peyton Place" (1957) Is Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn) gay coded?  He is dominated by his mother who doesn't want him to get close to any girls.  His friendship with Allison is fairly innocent. He does seem to be jealous when she is being kissed by Rodney Harrington ( or is it that he want to change places with her? ) Norman does become manlier after his time in the army-.  By fade out Norman and Allison seemed to have become a couple- but perhaps Norman would still prefer to spend time bro bonding with Ted Carter (David Nelson)

Even Grace Metalious didn't really come out and say that Norman was gay (or however she would have euphemized it in those days). In the book, the relationship with the mother is even freakier and it was pretty obvious he was gay-coded in the book. The moviemakers seem to have tried to have it both ways, which only added to the confusion.

[jaragon]

10 hours ago, DougieB said:

Even Grace Metalious didn't really come out and say that Norman was gay (or however she would have euphemized it in those days). In the book, the relationship with the mother is even freakier and it was pretty obvious he was gay-coded in the book. The moviemakers seem to have tried to have it both ways, which only added to the confusion.

I have not read the book but I'm really curious about how  the screenwriter adapted such a raunchy novel for the screen- the film still has some strong moment like the rape scene which must have been even more shocking in 1957. 

[jaragon]

"Pee Wee's Big Holiday (2016)- eternal man-child Pee Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) goes on a cross country adventure so he can brobond with Joe Manganiello (and who can blame him!) https://youtu.be/o12blT1iMtE

The fade out is specially sweet.

[DougieB]

On ‎12‎/‎26‎/‎2017 at 2:08 PM, jaragon said:

"Pee Wee's Big Holiday (2016)- eternal man-child Pee Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) goes on a cross country adventure so he can brobond with Joe Manganiello (and who can blame him!) https://youtu.be/o12blT1iMtE

The fade out is specially sweet.

And Joe seems so happy to brobond with Pee Wee, which makes it especially sweet.

[jaragon]

7 minutes ago, DougieB said:

And Joe seems so happy to brobond with Pee Wee, which makes it especially sweet.

Yes Mangniello is very charming

[jaragon]

https://youtu.be/tHJ4U2Kr1x0 "All the Money in the World" (2017).  Ridley Scott is back in top form in this well made if slightly long film about the kidnapping of J Paul Getty's grandson and his refusal to pay the ransom. Cinquanta ( Romain Duris) one of the kidnappers becomes very attached to the boy ( Charlie Plummer) their relationship feels very homoerotic.  Paul looks like Tadzio from " Death in Venice" and the contrast between his androgynous beauty and the older man's swarthy looks is striking- which brings me to the removal of Spacey by Scott perhaps it goes beyond simply avoiding bad publicity.

[jaragon]

"12 Strong" ( 2018) is the latest war on terror propaganda movie from Jerry Bruckheimer.  Captain Mitch Nelson ( Chris Hemsworth) leads his men into Afghanistan to avenge the World Trade Center attack.  The movie is based on a true story and meant as serious tribute to the men but at it's heart is another male bonding adventure war picture.  The gimmick this time is they ride horses into battle which also brings up some classic Western imagery just replace the Apaches with the Taliban.  The wives/girlfriends vanish after the opening reel because this a movie about manly men.  The guys spend as much time brobonding as fighting the Taliban who are truly evil.  Hemsworth brobonds with General Dotsun but they don't have much chemistry. Ben (Trevante Rhodes) bonds with a Afghan teen by encouraging the kid to suck on a lollipop. ( I wonder if the screenwriters were aware of the man/boy coupling which is very common in that area of the world. ) In another homoerotic scene  Hemsworth  is washing himself when he is interrupted by Sean ( Geoff Stutls) who goes into a long rambling speech about how men loose their humanity in battle.  By the way he ogles Hemsworth I think he wants to do more than brobond and if your commanding officer looks like Thor who can blame him

[jaragon]

https://youtu.be/jr9QtXwC9vc Hugh Jackman is excellent as PT Barnum in "The Greatest Showman" (2018) the highly fictionalized story about birth of show business.  It's a very traditional movie musical which means it has big gay heart.  Barnum and his wife Charity ( Michelle Williams) spend a lot of time dancing but P. T.'s heart is really on his museum which only becomes a success when he exploits the freaks- this colorful group has bearded lady, a midget and some hot male dancers who look fine in the tight period costumes. Philip( Zac Efron) has zero chemistry with Anne (Zendaya) a mixed race aerialist.  Jackman and Efron have a brobonding duet  about exploring "The Other Side" - nothing gay here

[jaragon]

"The 15:17 to Paris" (2018) Clint Eastwood produced and directed this celebration of the three young American heroes who stopped a terrorist attack on a French train .  The bromantic threesome meet cute in middle school and stay friends even after two of them move away talk about strong male bonding.  Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sandler an Spencer Stone are likeable but they are not actors.  Eastwood should have used actors not the actual guys. Actors at least would have brought some subtext to the scenes. The film at times plays like an extended commercial for the US Arm forces which here looks tough but is place were you can always find a good bud to watch you back.  The three amigos go on a cliche backpacking tour of Europe and while there is some innocent flirting with women they never seem to hook up with any of them.  After a long night of partying in Amsterdan the boys wake up in their hotel room - this scene plays like one of those gee-I-was-so-drunk-I- forgot- if - I- had- sex-with- you scenarios.

 

[jaragon]

https://youtu.be/WrUpTliVq5cFellini's "Satyricon" (1969) has to be gayest Roman epic ever filmed- there is no subtext here just anything goes sex-straight and gay well mostly gay. I wonder if in our politically correct age - Fellini would have gotten away with all the man - boy romance.  Encolpious (Martin Porter) and his lusty best friend Ascltus( Hiram Keller) fight over the androgynous Giton before embarking on a series of loosely linked adventures featuring among other things , a gay wedding at sea, a hunky minotaur, a poor hermaphrodite and in the films most erotic scene -a bisexual three way with a black slave girl. Porter and Keller are gorgeous young men and I really wish Fellini would have given them a real love scene besides the tease we get from the slave girls pov.  This is a fantastical looking ancient Rome which at times feels more like a science fiction film than a historical epic.  Fellini had an eye for the grotesque and the beautiful. The costumes and production design by Danilo Donati are timeless.  Stunning photography by Giusspee Rotunno.  A true cinema classic.

[jaragon]

Dirk Bogarde struts around in black leather pants tempting priests and virginal blondes  in this psychosexual western...

 

[don96]

I just recently saw The Singer Not the Song and found it to be rather amusing.  Apparently Dirk Bogarde and the director (Roy Baker- better known for A Night to Remember) were both under contract to The Rank Organization and had to do this film in order to fulfill their contracts.  They both disliked the script. So Dirk played his bandit character as if he had fallen in love with the priest ( John Mills).  His costume is like totally far out.  The title is explained - Dirk love the singer (john Mills as the priest, but Not the song ( religion).   A vey campy film!

[jaragon]

I have not seen "The Singer Not The Song" but that music video is obvious about the homoerotic subtext.  I love Bogarde's leather get up- but his gang has some weird costume choices- I specially like the guy with the big sombrero, red shirt and tan trousers. The Depeche Mode song is perfect

[rayban]

5 hours ago, don96 said:

I just recently saw The Singer Not the Song and found it to be rather amusing.  Apparently Dirk Bogarde and the director (Roy Baker- better known for A Night to Remember) were both under contract to The Rank Organization and had to do this film in order to fulfill their contracts.  They both disliked the script. So Dirk played his bandit character as if he had fallen in love with the priest ( John Mills).  His costume is like totally far out.  The title is explained - Dirk love the singer (john Mills as the priest, but Not the song ( religion).   A vey campy film!

Dirk Bogarde was at his campiest in "Modesty Blaise".

[TopBilled]

10 minutes ago, rayban said:

Dirk Bogarde was at his campiest in "Modesty Blaise".

I wish TCM would make Dirk Bogarde a Star of the Month. I'm really surprised they haven't-- he was in so many great "A" films and had such a long career.

[don96]

36 minutes ago, TopBilled said:

I wish TCM would make Dirk Bogarde a Star of the Month. I'm really surprised they haven't-- he was in so many great "A" films and had such a long career.

I totally agree- even a full day of his films for Summer Under the Stars. Most likely, however, most of his films are  not readily available.  I know that I have had to go to great trouble to see some of his films ( like The Fixer and Providence).