#Film History

[definitely-not-5urreal-w4nderer]

Especially troubling when mainstream media coming out of the United States tends to be aggressively individualistic, ignorant to other countries and cultures, and still often pro capitalism and uplifting "The American dream". When it comes to studio funded productions we're not exactly starting from a liberated baseline

Trump is appointing three washed-up actors as "ambassador to Hollywood" in order to bring back the "Golden Age of Hollywood". Which has historical precedent: there was an ambassador to Hollywood in the Golden Age, too. His name was Georg Gyssling and he was sent by Hitler to monitor the activities of Hollywood studios. To make sure their films didn't say anything anti-Nazi, resulting in many attempts at anti-fascist films being shut down by the Hays Code. Just a fun historical Hollywood fact there

[efemmera-archive]

Early Lesbian Film: A female bandit (Asta Nielsen), protects a young woman from a fellow bandit, then kisses her in Zapata's Gang (1914), Dir. Urban Gad

[esperderek]

Hbomberguy did a pretty good job pointing out how Somerton has tried to take up the air of modern queer creators, stealing the works they made to little or no money or exposure, and using them to bolster his own fame. It's a truly reprehensible act.

But I feel like it's also important to briefly touch on what he stole from the past.

The Celluloid Closet is a backbone text on queerness and cinema. Like, if you're at all interested in the subject, please read the book, and watch the doc. Yes, the language will be outdated. It was written in 1981 and the doc published in 1995. Language evolves. I was fortunate enough to both read the book and see the documentary in the early 2000s, when I attended university.

It was written by Vito Russo, who held a Masters in film and a desire to fight for queer rights after witnessing the Stonewell riots. The Celluloid Closet was first a live lecture presentation, then a book. He would try to get the book made into a documentary in the early years, and after he died, others picked up that torch to carry on his work and to pay respect to the man.

Vito Russo was also one of the co-founders of GLAAD. He was a co-founder of ACT UP. You may have, if you've watched documentaries or seen news stories about the AIDS crisis, seen parts of his speech, Why We Fight. He protested, advocated, and educated even as people he knew and loved died, and he himself was dying.

As Hbomberguy notes in his doc, he would go on to pass in 1990. This was a man who fought his ass off, even while dying, for a better tomorrow and better representation.

The fact that Somerton stole his work is beyond insulting to the queer history, and queer film history, that he purports to give a shit about.

[lackadaisycal-art]

Puttin on the riiiiiiiitz 🧟‍♂️

[nazrigar]

Dinovember 2024: Children of the Lizard King

For Dinovember, a tribute to the one, and only, Tyrannosaurus rex.

A creature whose impact on pop culture is SO prevalent, it's basically an ambassador species to the field of Paleontology.

From King Kong, to The Land before Time, to Jurassic Park, to Prehistoric Planet, there has been SO many interpretations of the dinosaur, and creatures that took influence FROM Tyrannosaurus rex, I could have filled the entire page with more, but I had to stop at 65 so that the flow and composition of the piece would work.

See if your favorite T.rex or T.rex inspired critter is here!

And of course, a special shout out to @tyrantisterror , whose big green fella up top helped inspire me to continue doing art!

[spirk-trek]

Star Trek Set Tour 12/?: (More) Miscellaneous Corridors

[garlandedspirits]

some rare and gorgeous mugshots photos of Conrad Veidt as Cesare the Somnambulist in the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari which I sadly don't know the original source or context for

[bobbyhasstardust]

often imitated, never surpassed

Original Creator: Laverre on TikTok

[whereserpentswalk]

Just saw a "feminist" video essay (by someone who just happens to only talk about feminism in relation to cishet white able bodied women) say that the Hays Code was good for women because it "prevented them from sexualizing women by preventing onscreen depictions of sex". Never before has a video said something that made me vocalize my disgust of it's takes, but this did it.

I didn't think I would have to say this but if you defend the Hays code you are horrible and not in any way progressive. And if you don't know what it is please look it up because it's probably the most important piece of history when it comes to all media analysis in the western world.

[the-bar-sinister]

One of the scariest parts of the Hays code was its implicit lesson that the law is completely inescapable, and that no criminal is worthy of sympathy, nor will avoid punishment forever.

This is a deliberately terrifying and demoralizing message when there are always going to be laws which are unjust, and doubly so when you are a member of a class of people whose very existence is criminalized. As for instance, queer people were at the time.

It's censorship which denies the possibility of escape, and denies the possibility of unjust authority.

[efemmera-archive]

A Comprehensive List of Pre-21st Century Lesbian Films

There seems to be a lot of interest in older/more niche lesbian film so I've been putting together this list. I'm going to keep adding to it as I find more films so feel free to let me know if I'm missing anything! Enjoy!

Quick disclaimer: Some of these films contain problematic elements such as racism, homophobia, sexism and so on. This list is not an endorsement of all these films, it is only for archival purposes. As I have not seen all these films I cannot provide accurate content warnings, so please do your own research before watching.

1880 - 1919

The Kiss (1882), Dir. Eadweard Muybridge [SHORT, SILENT, ZOOPRAXISCOPE]

Pierrette’s Escapades (1900), Dir. Alice Guy [SHORT, SILENT, HAND TINTED]

At the Floral Ball (1900), Dir. Alice Guy [SHORT, SILENT, HAND TINTED]

Midwife to the Upper Class (1902), Dir. Alice Guy [SHORT, SILENT, COMEDY]

The Jester’s Joke (1910), Dir. Walter R. Booth [SHORT, SILENT, COMEDY]

Zapata’s Gang (1914), Dir. Urban Gad [SILENT, CRIME, COMEDY]

Filibus (1915), Dir. Mario Roncoroni [SILENT, ACTION]

1920-1939

Manslaughter (1922), Dir. Cecil B. Demil [SILENT, DRAMA]

The Girl in Tails (1926), Dir. Karin Swanstrom [SILENT, COMEDY]

Wings (1927), Dir. William A. Wellman [SILENT, WAR, ACTION]

Pandora’s Box (1929), Dir. G.W. Pabst [SILENT, DRAMA]

Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), Dir. G.W. Pabst [SILENT, DRAMA]

Morocco (1930), Dir. Josef von Sternberg [DRAMA, ROMANCE]

Mädchen in Uniform (1931), Dir. Leontine Sagan [DRAMA, COMING OF AGE]

Queen Christina (1933), Dir. Rouben Mamoulian [DRAMA, PERIOD]

Fukujuso (1935), Dir. Jiro Kawate [SILENT, DRAMA]

The Tomboy (1936), Dir. Jean de Limur [DRAMA]

Girls’ Club (1936), Dir. Jacques Deval [COMEDY, CRIME]

1940-1959

Jenny Lamour (1947), Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot [CRIME, DRAMA]

Thirst (1949), Dir. Ingmar Bergman [DRAMA]

Caged (1950), Dir. John Cromwell [DRAMA]

Girl with Hyacinths (1950), Dir. Hasse Ekman [MYSTERY, NOIR]

Olivia (1951), Dir. Jacqueline Audry [DRAMA]

No Exit (1954), Dir. Jacqueline Audry [DRAMA]

La Garçonne (1957), Dir. Jacqueline Audry [DRAMA]

The Twilight Girls (1957), Dir. Andre Hunebelle [COMEDY, DRAMA]

Mädchen in Uniform (1958), Dir. Geza von Radvanyi [DRAMA, COMING OF AGE, REMAKE]

1960-1969

Blood and Roses (1960), Dir. Roger Vadim [VAMPIRE, HORROR, EROTIC]

Léon Morin, Priest (1961), Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville [DRAMA]

The Girl with the Golden Eyes (1961) Dir. Jean-Gabriel Albicocco [DRAMA]

The Children’s Hour (1961), Dir. WIlliam Wyler [DRAMA]

Walk on the Wild Side (1962), Dir. Edward Dymitrik [DRAMA]

Manji (1964), Dir. Yasuzo Masumura [DRAMA]

With Beauty and Sorrow (1965), Dir. Masahiro Shinoda [DRAMA]

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965), Dir. Russ Meyer [EXPLOITATION]

Daisies (1966), Dir. Věra Chytilová [AVANT GARDE, COMEDY, DRAMA]

The Group (1966), Dir. Sidney Lumet [DRAMA]

La Religieuse (1966), Dir. Jacques Rivette [DRAMA]

Belle De Jour (1967), Dir. Luis Bunuel [DRAMA]

The Fox (1967), Dir. Mark Rydell [DRAMA]

Les Biches (1968), Dir. Clauthde Chabrol [DRAMA, EROTIC]

The Killing of Sister George (1968), Dir. Robert Aldrich [DRAMA, EXPLOITATION]

Therese and Isabelle (1968), Dir. Radley Metzger [ROMANCE, DRAMA, EROTIC]

The Girl from Pussycat (1969), Dir. Smythe David [SEXPLOITATION]

Check to the Queen (1969), Dir. Pasquale Festa Campanile [DRAMA, EROTIC]

The Others (1969), Dir. Renzo Maietto [DRAMA]

1970-1979

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970), Dir. Jaromil Jires [AVANT GARDE, DRAMA, COMING OF AGE]

Midnight Virgin (1970), Dir. Shogoro Nishimura [DRAMA, EROTIC]

The Conformist (1970), Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci [POLITICAL DRAMA]

Multiple Maniacs (1970), Dir. John Waters [COMEDY]

The Dark Side of Tomorrow (1970), Dir. Jack Deerson, Barbara Peeters [DRAMA]

Nightmares Come at Night (1970), Dir. Jesús Franco [DRAMA]

The Vampire Lovers (1970), Dir. Roy Ward Baker [VAMPIRE, HORROR, EROTIC]

The Shiver of the Vampires (1971), Dir. Jean Rollin [VAMPIRE, EROTIC]

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay (1971), Dir. Bruno Gantillon [EROTIC]

Daughters of Darkness (1971), Dir. Harry Kumel [VAMPIRE, EROTIC]

Vampyros Lesbos (1971), Dir. Jesús Franco [VAMPIRE, EXPLOITATION, EROTIC]

Daughter of Dracula (1972), Dir. Jesús Franco [VAMPIRE, EROTIC]

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972), Dir. Chor Yuen [MARTIAL ARTS, DRAMA, EROTIC]

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972), Dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder [DRAMA]

The Beguines (1972), Dir. Guy Casaril [DRAMA, EROTIC]

Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman (1973), Dir. Roger Vadim [DRAMA, EROTIC]

Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (1974), Dir. Richard Blackburn [HORROR, COMING OF AGE]

Vampyres (1974), Dir. Jose Ramon Larraz [VAMPIRE, EXPLOITATION, EROTIC]

Je Tu Il Elle (1974), Dir. Chantal Ackerman [DRAMA]

Successive Slidings of Pleasure (1974), Dir. Alain Robbe-Grillet [HORROR, AVANT GARDE, EROTIC]

Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975), Dir. Peter Weir [MYSTERY, DRAMA]

Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives (1977), Dir. Mariposa Film Group, et. al [DOCUMENTARY]

Bilitis (1977), Dir. David Hamilton [EROTIC]

Alucarda (1977), Dir. Juan López Moctezuma [VAMPIRE, HORROR, EXPLOITATION]

Fascination (1979), Dir. Jean Rollin [VAMPIRE, HORROR, EROTIC]

See Here My Love (1979), Dir. Hugo Santiago [MYSTERY, DRAMA]

1980-1989

Simone Barbes or Virtue (1980), Dir. Marie-Claude Treilhou [DRAMA]

Personal Best (1982), Dir. Robert Towne [SPORTS, DRAMA]

Scrubbers (1982), Dir. Mai Zetterling [DRAMA]

The Living Dead Girl (1982), Dir. Jean Rollin [ZOMBIE, HORROR]

Audience (1982), Dir. Barbara Hammer [DOCUMENTARY]

The Hunger (1983), Dir. Tony Scott [VAMPIRE]

Lianna (1983), Dir. John Sayles [DRAMA]

La Pirate (1984), Dir. Jacques Doillon [DRAMA]

Desert Hearts (1985), Dir. Donna Deitch [ROMANCE, DRAMA]

Anne Trister (1986), Dir. Lea Pool [DRAMA]

Kamikaze Hearts (1986), Dir. Juliet Bashore [DOCUFICTION]

Working Girls (1986), Dir. Lizzie Borden [DRAMA]

I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987), Dir. Patricia Rozema [COMEDY]

No No Nooky T.V. (1987), Dir. Barbara Hammer [COMEDY, SHORT]

1990-1999

The Company of Strangers (1990) Dir. Cynthia Scott [DOCUFICTION]

Salmonberries (1991), Dir. Percy Adlon [DRAMA]

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Dir. David Lynch [HORROR, AVANT GARDE]

Nitrate Kisses (1992), Dir. Barbara Hammer [DOCUMENTARY]

Flaming Ears (1992), Dir. A. Hans Scheirl, Dietmar Schipek, and Ursula Pürrer [AVANT GARDE, SCI-FI]

Fresh Kill (1994), Dir. Shu Lea Cheang [SCI-FI, AVANT GARDE]

Heavenly Creatures (1994), Dir. Peter Jackson [CRIME, THRILLER, BIOPIC]

Go Fish (1994), Dir. Rose Troche [COMEDY, DRAMA, ROMANCE]

The Celluloid Closet (1995), Dir. Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman [DOCUMENTARY]

The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995), Dir. Maria Maggenti [COMEDY, DRAMA]

When Night is Falling (1995), Dir. Patricia Rozema [DRAMA]

BloodSisters: Leather, Dykes, and Sadomasochism (1995), Dir. Michelle Handelman [DOCUMENTARY]

Bound (1996), Dir. The Wachowskis [CRIME, THRILLER]

The Watermelon Woman (1996), Dir. Cheryl Dunye [ROMANCE, DRAMA, COMEDY]

Irma Vep (1996), Dir. Olivier Assayas [DRAMA]

Gia (1998), Dir. Michael Cristopher [BIOPIC]

High Art (1998), Dir. Lisa Cholodenko [DRAMA]

Election (1999), Dir. Alexander Payne [COMEDY]

Being John Malkovich (1999), Dir. Spike Jonze [COMEDY, FANTASY]

But I’m A Cheerleader (1999), Dir. Jamie Babbit [ROMANCE, COMEDY]

Adolescence of Utena (1999), Dir. Kunihiko Ikuhara [ANIME, DRAMA, COMING OF AGE]

[fleursfairies]

i think its really funny when people say that it's unrealistic for will AND mike AND robin AND vickie to all be gay in the 80s cuz clearly they have never even looked back to the past. people in the 1900s were gay as hell! and heres some examples

james dean (1931-1955) bisexual !

marlon brando (1924-2004) bisexual !

rock hudson (1925-1985) very gay

leslie gore (1946-2015) lesbian

dusty springfield (1939-1999) lesbian

norma tanega (1939-2019) lesbian

(dusty springfield and norma tanega dated)

elton john obviously (1947-present) gay

freddie mercury obviously (1946-1991) gay

george michael obviously (1963-2016) gay

david bowie obviously (1947-2016) bi

crazy that david and elton were born the same year and george and david passed the same year

john lennon (1940-1980) bi im pretty sure unless yoko was lying for some reason

joan jett (1958-present) bi but google ai wants to argue with me about it

janis joplin (1943-1970) bi

whitney houston (1963-2012) bi?? maybe

debbie harry (blondie) (1945-present) bi (or ex bi LMAO)

billie holiday (1915-1959) bi

im lovin all the bi people

andy fraser (free) (1952-2015) gay

i do NOT like boy george at all but unfortunately hes an iconic gay artist and i have to add him (1961-present) gay 🙄

ray and dave davies from the kinks (1944+1947-present) ima just say that theyre both bisexual cuz its a bit confusing

art garfunkel (1941-present) bi. i just found this out like last year but ive always known in my soul. simon and garfunkel are like frog and toad or bert and ernie. you just know.

4/5 members of the b-52's are queer

little richard obviously (1932-2020) gay

mick jagger (1943-present) bi? probably? idk but please go watch the mick jagger david bowie dancing in the street music video its the gayest thing ive ever seen

pete townshend (the who) (1945-present) pansexual

chuck panozzo (styx) (1948-present) gay

lou reed (velvet underground) (1942-2013) prooobably bi but google is giving me super confusing answers that are different since the last time i checked

morrissey 🙄 (this smiths) (1959-present) im diagnosing him as pan cuz all google says is "humansexual"

pete burns (dead or alive) (1959-2016) queer

jane wiedlin (the gogos) (1959-present) bi

june millington and alice de buhr of the band fanny are gay and nickey barclay is bi. (alice is one of my biggest drummer inspirations and i totally forgot she was gay)

neil tennant (pet shop boys) gay

wait guys im so confused. is madonna not gay??? huh???

katharine hepburn, ian mckellen, divine, rupaul, andy warhol, frankie goes to hollywood, soft cell probably, tab hunter, stephen fry, anthony perkins, sal mineo, sister rosetta tharpe, billie joe armstrong, drew barrymore, jodie foster, fiona shaw, angelina jolie, etc

i have more but im tired

but these are just some people that are confirmed queer. i could go ooon and ooon and ooon about "not gay" people doing gay ass things

if you're going to make silly statements about the past please actually do a bit of research

not to mention the lesbians and the same sex kiss in the 1927 movie wings

[wronghands1]

[north-pole-picture-co]

New (old) Amundsen film just dropped!

I love this so much. The setting, the architecture of the house, Rex the dog, of course—I’ll bet he was a very good boy. Not to mention Roald looks pretty sharp in that suit!

[spirk-trek]

Arlene Martel as T'Pring, S2E1 of Star Trek, 1967