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The Celluloid Closet
Directed by
Rob Epstein
,
Jeffrey Friedman
R
1996
1h 42m
History
,
Documentary
7.8
97%
89%
Add to Watchlist
A comprehensive documentary of the history of gays and lesbians in cinema, from negative to positive reflections of gay characters and the troubles of actors and actresses.
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Where to Watch The Celluloid Closet
Amazon Video
Rent $3.99
Buy $12.99
Apple TV
Rent $3.99
Buy $12.99
Fandango At Home
Rent $3.99
Buy $14.99
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Cast of The Celluloid Closet
Lily Tomlin
Narrator (voice)
Tony Curtis
Self
Susan Sarandon
Self
Gore Vidal
Self
Whoopi Goldberg
Self
Antonio Fargas
Self
Shirley MacLaine
Self
John Schlesinger
Self
Armistead Maupin
Self / Writer
Arthur Laurents
Self
Tom Hanks
Self
Farley Granger
Self
Quentin Crisp
Self
Harry Hamlin
Self
Sharon Stone
Self
Susie Bright
Self
Mart Crowley
Self
Jay Presson Allen
Self
Richard Dyer
Self
Jan Oxenberg
Self
Paul Rudnick
Self
Barry Sandler
Self
Ron Nyswaner
Self
Daniel Melnick
Self
Stewart Stern
Self
Harvey Fierstein
Self
Paul Newman
Self (archive footage)
James Dean
Self (archive footage)
Sal Mineo
Self (archive footage)
Natalie Wood
Self (archive footage)
Rob Epstein
Director / Producer
Jeffrey Friedman
Director / Producer
Caroline Spry
Producer
The Celluloid Closet Ratings & Reviews
Charles London
April 27, 2025
A riveting and eye-opening examination. The sorry treatment of gay characters across cinematic history is laid bare. From the thinly-veiled ones who were there for amusement and mockery, to the ones heavily veiled so the folks in Omaha (as well as the censors) would think they were straight, to the unveiled ones whom of course would always be unsavory agitators deserving of a cruel demise. Thankfully that dark era is mostly behind us, but it should never be forgotten. Though this documentary is almost 30 years old, it is a great look into the past, and.......once we know where we've been, we will know more about where we are going.
Chicago Reader
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Lively and absorbing.
San Francisco Chronicle
Edward Guthmann
"The Celluloid Closet" goes all the way back to the birth of cinema, to an experimental Thomas Edison short of two men dancing, to trace the odd, funny, sad and disgraceful history of homosexual iconography on film.
Baltimore Sun
Stephen Hunter
A fascinating account of how Hollywood has dealt with homosexuals and homosexuality through its history.
Hartford Courant
Malcolm Johnson
Opening the door of the celluloid closet reveals a shifting kaleidoscope that underlines just how influential, for good or bad, the movies can be.
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Rob Nelson
How ironic that a movie about the dangers of the closet would so confine one's freedom of interpretation.
Variety
David Rooney
An immensely entertaining, galloping reflection on screen perceptions of lesbians and gay men, from the humorous to the heinous to the heartening.
EmanuelLevy.Com
Emanuel Levy
Instead of an angry diatribe against Hollywood, the film shrewdly opts for a wity, often campy commentary by gay figures (Gore Vidal), directors (Wyler) and actors (Tom Hanks) who shed light on the context in which these films were made and viewed.
DVDJournal.com
Mark Bourne
It's engrossing, brings a healthy sense of humor to the discussion, and enlightening without being bludgeoning.
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Dennis Schwartz
An engaging documentary touching on Hollywood's on screen treatment of homosexuality.
Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Michael A. Smith
Rock Hudson was gay? Who knew?
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ken Hanke
Entertaining but ultimately shallow.
New York Times
Janet Maslin
Celebrity interviewees and glossy graphics further turn this into a colorful overview with the popular appeal of a "That's Entertainment!" and with an even more interestingly gay agenda than the history of Hollywood musical comedy.
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Makes it clear Hollywood wanted it both ways: It benefitted from the richness that gays added to films, but didn't want to acknowledge their sexuality.
Austin Chronicle
Marjorie Baumgarten
The filmmakers have gathered together a staggering array of the moving images that the book could only show in still form or verbal description.
The New Republic
Stanley Kauffmann
It's interesting to see how gay and lesbian themes began to be treated openly in films, but it's fascinating to see how -- earlier -- those themes were used subtextually in films that make no overt reference to the real subject.
Entertainment Weekly
Ken Tucker
The Celluloid Closet is a first-rate work of cinematic criticism, tracing the ways in which, despite cultural disapproval, gay images, ideas, and implications have slipped into the medium.
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