30 Gay DVDs

The following is a list of movies available on DVD and video that deal with gay themes. I have included a description of each movie from the description on the cover.

Hope you enjoy.

List compiled by Kevin Markwell

Another Country

Adapted from the highly successful stage play, Another Country was inspired by the life of Guy Burgess, Britain's most notorious traitor. Set in a public school in the 1930s, the film depicts the rigid system of privilege, hypocrisy and repression maintained by the English upper classes. When refusal to conform ends in public humiliation for the deeply idealistic Guy, the enemy within is born.

Beautiful Thing

A long hot summer on a housing estate in South London. Jamie is bunking off school whilst his mother Sandra juggles job promotion and her relationship with hippy-dippy boyfriend, Tony. Next door lives sassy Leah who spends her day listening to Mamma Cass. In the same block, Jamie's mate Ste, although sporty and popular at school is bullied by his drunken father. One day Ste seeks refuge in Sandra's flat and ends up sleeping head to toe with Jamie ... Hettie MacDonald's delightful feature debut charts the seemingly unlikely romance between Jamie and Ste, from first nervous glances to ingenious use of peppermint foot lotion!

But I'm a Cheerleader

Megan is popular, pretty, a model student, dates the captain of the football team and she's a cheerleader. However, she is horrified that her family and friends think of her as a homosexual and force her to attend a local homosexual rehabilitation camp. She becomes the perfect resident but she also develops a huge crush on a rebellios rich girl as rehab...

Can't Stop the Music

New York City DJ/songwriter Jack Morelli (Steve Guttenberg) needs just one big break to get his music heard and land a record deal. But with the help of his retired supermodel roommate (Valerie Perrine), and an uptight tax attorney (Bruce Jenner), they bring together six singing macho men from the Greenwich Village scene for an outrageously 80s adventure of fun, fantasy and disco fever. Welcome to the not-quite-so-straight story of the creation of the Village People in their one and only movie extravaganza.

Carrington

Starring Emma Thompson and Jonathon Pryce, Carrington is an emotionally complex, moving tale of lifelong love with unorthodox compromises, that is utterly enthralling entertainment. Amid the trendy, bohemian scene of London's famed Bloomsbury group, Dora Carrington a talented young artist first meets bon vivant and writer, Lytton Stratchey. The two creative souls are instantly attracted, although Stratchey's desires lie elsewhere. The unlikely pair joyously spends colourful days pursuing their arts - and discovering that love works in mysterious ways. But their blissful existence hangs in the balance when Carrington brings home a lover and they find themselves caught in a bizarre love triangle.

Edge of Seventeen

Set in the summer of 1984 in Sandusky, Ohio, it follows the coming-out of naive 17-year-old Eric at exactly the moment when gender-bending pop stars like Boy George and Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics were flaunting androgynous images. As the youth goes through his first rites of gay passage (after being callously used by the slightly older Rod who brings him out, he tries to retreat to heterosexuality with his closest female friend) he emerges as a poignant gay everyman.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

This is the story of 8 friends (2 gay lovers), 5 priests, 11 wedding dresses, 16 parents-in-law, 2000 champagne glasses and 2 people who belong to each other ... perhaps.

Get Real

There's no time quite as awkward as adolescence. Between the sky-high expectations of parents, the constant scrutiny of peers, and one's own raging hormones, something's got to give. And if, like Steven Carter, you also happen to be gay, navigating your way through adolescence can be like hiking through a minefield! Ben Silverstone stars as Steven Carter in this charming and compelling comedy that drew raves at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.

Gods and Monsters

Ian McKellen delivers a riveting, award-winning performance as Hollywood director James Whale. It's 1957 and Whale's heyday as the director of 'Frankenstein' and 'The Invisible Man' is long behind him. Retired and semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied only by images of his past. When his dour housekeeper Hannah (Lynn Redgrave) hires a handsome young gardener, Clayton Boon (Brendan Fraser), the flamboyant director and simple yardman develop an unlikely friendship. This powerful and poignant relationship will change their lives forever.

Head On

Ari (Alex Dimitriadis) is a 19 year-old growing up in cosmopolitan Melbourne ... he's into the nightlife, the clubs, music, drugs and sex ... which is what the book and the film centre on ... a weekend in the life of Ari. Ari is also a poofter who doesn't want to be gay. Throughout the film we are reminded of how difficult 'being yourself' can be ... pressures of family, friends and wanting to try everything are all evident in this flick. Ari just wants something, someone or anything to take him away from all that is his life.

In and Out

Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) was neat, poetic and clean. As far as the world was concerned, it could mean only one thing. One of his former students, played by Matt Dillon, became a Hollywood superstar and clumsily called Howard's sexuality into question - in front of millions of viewers on the Academy Awards telecast, no less. Instantly Howard's life in the sleepy town of Greenleaf, Indiana, is turned inside out. His students are astonished. Is it really true? Impossible, he's about to be married. But then again, he is neat, thin, teaches drama and loves those Barbra Streisand records ...

Longtime Companion

The first film to deal with AIDS, Longtime Companion chronicles the lives of a group of gay men whose lives change swiftly and dramatically - from carefree parties on Fire Island to trying to come to terms with the effects of AIDS on their friends and community.

Love, Valour, Compassion

Leaving the city behind eight gay men gather at a sprawling airy Victorian house set on a private lake owned by choreographer Gregory (Stephen Bogardus) for simple weekends of rest and relaxation...but that's the least of what they experience. Before the summer is over, the circle of friends will fall in love and fall out of grace; they will hurt each other and forgive each other; they will form couples and break apart; celebrate strengths and give in to weaknesses, they will play jokes on each other and give a shoulder to cry to each other. And they will even don tutus, for a very good cause!

Mambo Italiano

Comedy. Canada. 'Maria and Gino's world is shattered when their son decides to get a place of his own ... Nino and Angelo are more than just room mates - they're (gasp) lovers! All hell breaks loose (Italian-style, of course). The boys must be shown the right path to acceptable behaviour. The battlefield is cleared and 'tutta la famiglia' goes to war!

Maurice

E. M. Forster's story set in pre-World War I England, studies a theme few period pieces dare mention - a young man's struggle with his homosexuality. It's a coming of age for two young men who meet at Cambridge and fall in love. Maurice (James Wilby) and Clive (Hugh Grant) struggle with the desires of their hearts and the rigid dogma of British class society.

More Tails of the City

More Tails of the City offers you more drama, more mystery, more love and the opportunity to spend some more time with all of your friends from 28 Barbery Lane. Enter their world once again and join them for the continuing ride of their lives! The lonely inhabitants of 28 Barbery Lane, San Francisco present an extravagant variety of sexual orientations and obsessions.

My Beautiful Laundrette

Set within the Asia community in London in the early 80s, My Beautiful Laundrette is an unusual love story concerned with identity and entrepreneurial spirit during the Thatcher years. Omar (Goron Warnecke) takes over the running of his wheeler-dealer uncle's laundrette with the intention of turning it into a glittering palace of commercial success. When he employs childhood friend and ex-National Front member Johnny (Daniel Day Lewis) they become lovers as well as working partners. However, complications soon ensue as the anger of Johnny's deserted gang begins to build and Omar is forced to face increasingly difficult family issues.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Go bush with Bernadette, Mitzi and Felicia aboard the lavender bus called 'Priscilla' as they head for Alice Springs with a drag show ... it's cabaret unlike the locals have ever seen before.

Querelle

Adapted from Jean Genet's homoerotic novel, the final film of director Fassbinder's career is a surreal tale of sex and murder that has become a cult favourite. Brad Davis stars as Querelle, an enigmatic, drug-dealing sailor on shore leave in the port of Brest. Amidst the sultry, highly charged atmosphere, he embarks on a journey of sexual self-discovery. With its striking iconic imagery, set against the orange glow of a permanent sunset, Querelle is a dreamlike experience and a unique piece of film making.

Stonewall

A movie based on the riots at the Stonewall Tavern, New York in 1969 which occupy an important place in the mythology of gay male culture.

Tales of the City

Based on the first of the series of books by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City chronicles the lives of Mouse, Mary Ann, Mona, Brian and the enigmatic Mrs Madrigal who live in the enigmatic Mrs Madrigal's boarding house at 28 Barbery Lane, in San Francisco.

The Birdcage

Robyn Williams stars as Armand, the outlandish owner of a wild Miami Beach nightclub, whose partner, Albert (Nathan Lane) is also the star attraction at the club. Based on the stage musical La Cage aux Folles.

The Broken Hearts Club

In an endearing and very funny coming-of-age story, Dennis (Timothy Olyphant) can't quite decide if his friends are a blessing or a curse. Once you meet them, you will understand why. A close-knit group of four friends share the emotional roller-coaster of life, relationships, the death of friends, new beginnings, jealousy, fatherhood and professional success. At various stages of life's disarray, these young men share humorous and tragic relationships and always have each other to rely upon.

The Priest

Vivid and uncompromising journey into the tortured world of a young Catholic priest as he struggles with his celibacy, his own sexuality and the confidentiality of the confessional.

The Ritz

A The Ritz (a gay bathhouse in New York), the rates are low, the décor is rococo art deco and the clientele is convivial. As Cleveland sanitation company owner Gaetano Procio reasons, this is the perfect place to hide his murder-minded brother-in-law, Carmine. But what Gaetano and his fellow bathhouse patrons get is an exercise in wild, manic mayhem.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an 'erotic nightmare beyond any measure.' Richard O'Brien's sinfully twisted salute to horror, sci-fi, B-movies and rock music - a 'sensual daydream to treasure forever'. Starring Tim Curry as Dr Frank'n'furter, Barry Bostwick as Brad and Susan Sarrandon as Janet.

The Sum of Us

>Harry Mitchell (Jack Thompson) is a ferry-driving, beer drinking, straight down the line widower. His son Jeff (Russell Crowe) is an athletic 20-something plumber who happens to be gay: a fact that his broad-minded dad has accepted with ease. For a father and son who live together, they get along like a house on fire, even if they do make an odd couple. While both are the best of friends each is lonely and searching for that special someone.

Torch Song Trilogy

Harvey Fierstein recreates his role as the unmistakable Arnold Beckoff in this film adaptation of the smash Broadway play. Both funny and poignant, Torch Song Trilogy chronicles a New Yorker's search for love, respect and tradition in a world that seems not especially made for him. Armed with a keenly developed sense of humour and piercing wit, Arnold tests commonly accepted terms of endearment and confirms that happiness is well worth carrying a torch for.

Wild: 6 Gay Short Films

A compilation of six short Australian gay films including Invitation; Mrs Craddock's complaint; Crayfish; Chrsyalis; Exposed and Vicious Mink.

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