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The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

(1997)

directed by Mark Rappaport, 101 minutes

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender, the American Documentary by Mark Rappaport

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From the ground-breaking director of ROCK HUDSON'S HOME MOVIES, Mark Rappaport takes us on a hilarious and provocative romp through the hidden and not-so-hidden gay undercurrents of Hollywood’s Golden Years. Dan Butler acts as tour guide as he uncovers (despite efforts to launder American cinema of even the faintest traces of gay influences) Hollywood’s squeamish fascination with gay eroticism and camp. Through the use of ingenious film clips, along with Rappaport’s signature witty insights, THE SILVER SCREEN: COLOR ME LAVENDER brilliantly uncovers the unmistakable homoerotic flirtations and the ambiguous behavior that richly imbued the performances of Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, Gary Grant and other film legends.THE SILVER SCREEN: COLOR ME LAVENDER is a rich and funny meditation on American sexual identity, film history and culture that will change the way you look at butch westerns or the campy charades of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in their “buddy” road movies forever.

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1 user found this helpful Created 18 days ago.

It is interesting how you do not see the obvious when growing up when the movies depicted here in "The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender" were ubiquitous but now that one is older, you see these movies and the camp and blatant homo-eroticism for what they were; groundbreaking, legendary performances by a handful of actors that did not take the status quo as acceptable and in their roles, railed against the anti-gay (or in those days "anti-fruit" or "anti-fairy") machine.

Perhaps this was how the gay rights movement was fought before there were such commonplace things as gay rights.

When seen through the lens of Mr. Rappaport, I can see that gays have come much further in the past 80 years than I ever would have thought possible or appreciated as I do now having seen this film.

From unbridled gaeity in the movies of the 1930s to having now 9 states having legalized gay marriage and two gay marriage measures being decided upon by the Supreme Court of the United States in the 2nd decade of the 21st century, the entertainment industry that has always been the counter cultural equivalent to mainstream morality turns the mirror back on that morality and forces it to see that what it has always rebuked, chided and ridiculed is no less than the very class of people that made it the giant it is today.

Brilliant piece of work!

Created 9 months ago.

all right already. its like beating a dead horse...no pun intended.

Created 8 months ago.

great---entertaining

Created 7 months ago.

FOOLIN AROUND WITH MY HARMONICA

Created 8 months ago.

I found this to be a very highly educated movie . I know about our past History. Why it was the era of my parents , Grandparents. I can remember them talking about did you see those two guys dancing together . laugh ! drink their coffee . The 50's were one of the most repressive times from what I have educated my self on when it came to Homosexuality. Fathers such as mine to this day are rugged tough , Yet not aware of what there real sexuality could have been . Example , My father is 75. Does not look a day over 60,,was a jock, played sports . as he grew to be an engineer , and as he got to be around my age which is close to 50, I noticed as a young Male growing up, That he was always in the company of young males and still chooses to do so to this day. But when I his son who is gay . would make a remark to him about his friends etc. Oh he would just go raving mad how he hates gay people . .I ask him well you do not hate me . he says that's Different I made you your my son. Sort of like one of those one liners the producer uses to show in this film . Hollywood actors had to hide , yes there will be so many that were gay in their time that we will never know about . But common , A wife for a actor was a Prop. So that it was not public knowledge . And I look at this era and this time. from the start of movies to up until the Late 1960s till even now how can they just hide it like it was a disease . Look at it this way . During Pride week watch Turner Classics and watch how Hollywood did use homosexuality in the movies there is a whole week of gay and Lesbien films out there . and they are good . Turner films always had pride week as one of its best silver lined screen showings. The Producer of this film is awesome and showing us the hidden messages . ones I always saw watching old films in my own gay era , would shake my head and ask what is so different now that was different then other then that perhaps we are a more except it more in our society cities , But I dare you to have the glass balls to live in the outer suburbs of Places where I grew up like Mars Pa 18 miles out of the city of Pittsburgh . You live in outer city Land , You may as well just Put your face in your hands find a girl friend for a prop and do not talk to anyone about being gay or bring up Homosexuality it is considered Tabu.I give the film producers and makers of this a 100 thumbs up . Wonder just how many in our own families Hid all their lives and were afraid to come out . I know of 7 of us who did in my family . and One who lived as to be 104 That was my great aunt who lived her life style to the hilt as a Delicate Lesbien . Hmm And they still think it is not Genetic . Thank you for making this movie . Howard E Crowe III Mars PA>

Created 9 months ago.

enjoyed the content; but didn't not enjoy the lag and stalling through out the movie.

Created 9 months ago.

Outstanding and entertaining!

Created 10 months ago.

Very thought provoking and entertaining