Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a rewatch.
The Conversation Starter: The Boys in the Band
To understand the present and the future, we must first examine the past. For LGBTQ people–or anyone interested in the history of the way we’re portrayed on-screen–that could begin with a viewing of Mart Crowley’s seminal play about gay men, The Boys in the Band.
The Boys in the Band has always had a divisive onus about it: some critics hailed it as a landmark portrayal (for the time, anyway) of gay men, while others assail it for latent homophobia and even racism. The plot follows a group of New York gay men gathering for a birthday party. Booze and underlying tensions ignite tempers, and eventually, the whole night culminates with a humiliating game in which the men must each phone the man for which they feel true love. Needless to say, things get quite ugly.
The Boys in the Band has landed in front of the camera twice: first, directed by Oscar-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist) in 1970 featuring the original cast of the play, and again this year, directed by Joe Mantello. Of the two, we recommend the remake for two key reasons. First, Friedkin regards the characters as freaks: he shoots the film through a clinical lens, as if examining mental patients or a prison gang. The film also ends on a terribly bleak note, a quiet admission that, yes, all gay men will always be pathetic and miserable. Mantello takes steps to address some of the underlying issues with the play, and shows empathy for his characters. Rather than standing on the outside, he wants viewers to feel like they’re part of the party. He also adds an epilogue–written by Crowley–that shows the characters recovering after the party and finding a solemn note of hope. Featuring a spectacular (and, coincidentally, all-gay) cast, we recommend it as a way of regarding gay history, the progress of the community, and to continue a conversation that began all those years ago.
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Streams on Netflix.
Kangol2
I’ve seen the original film & several stage productions of this play, and I don’t think it fully works as a play per se because of the second act, but it is still an important glimpse at a segment of the 1960s American gay world, and this film version includes some stellar acting, particularly by Zachary Quinto (playing Harold, whose cutting remarks are a highlight), Jim Parsons, Andrew Rannells, and Robin de Jesus. They all light up the screen. Whatever you think of the play and its politics, including the racist statements (which feel true to these characters), etc., this version is worth watching for the acting alone.
Josh447
This may deserve a second watch as I remember the acting was palatable. I particularly remember Quinto and Rennels.
Going to put it on the new years to do list.
WillParkinson
Saw the original self-hating, self-loathing train wreck. No interest in this one, despite the great cast.
G-Man
I didn’t enjoy it for that reason so much self loathing.
Cam
Having the parts played by out and proud actors really changed the tone of the remake.
JPB
I’ll watch anything with Matt Bomer in it.
bodie425
I’ve never seen any of the versions, despite being in my late 50s, but now I will “try” to watch both. (I’ve heard it referenced many times but just never saw it.) While many disparage the earlier work for its dark and hopeless theme, I have to wonder if it really did accurately reflect the LGTBQ community of that time. Furthermore, the people of our community saw this reflected on the screen and said, “this cannot be who we are or who we become.” Sometimes, we need the jolt of reality to shock us into change. I’m saying this having never seen the films. I will remedy this oversight soon.