MovieChat Forums > The Werewolf Discussion > The Blogger is right, there is a gay s...

The Blogger is right, there is a gay subtext.

posted 14 years ago by RICKW1
8 replies | jump to latest

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If you've ever seen the film "The Celluloid Closet", the documentary that chronicles the dipiction of gays and lesbians throughout the history of film, it demonstrates how until very recently, all gay images in film were extremely negative. These films would include those with openly gay characters from films such as such as "Cruising" or "The General", both with terribly negative images of gays,and also those films where the homosexual characters are not always shown as explicitly gay, rather their "gayness", if you will, is merely "suggested". This film is a great example of the latter.
The "suggestion" of homosexuality is present in the characters of the two doctors who experiment and cause the "werewofery" of the central character. The two male doctors are presented as "a couple" with one being masculine and dominant and the other being quite effeminant and submissive.
Together this gay (sic) couple attack and destroy what is presented as the healthy, loving, "normal", heterosexual family by experimenting on the father of that family, namely Duncan.
If you've missed this not so subtle gay subtext involving the doctors, I recommend you take a look at "The Celluloid Closet", then view "The Werewolf" again.
Steven Ritch who wrote and stars as the werewolf has either deliberately or unconsciously, created what is obviously a gay subtext in the characters of the doctors, who as usual by the way, meet a ghastly end, thus "punishing" the big, bad, homosexuals once more. Watch "The Werewolf" again, the Blogger is quite right,- its' there

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] essayons7 12 years ago

I'm fairly certain that this argument doesn't hold water. But, if you wish to see things that way you are more than welcome to.

I believe it is more of the usual "scientists run amuck" viewpoint rather than a homosexual one.

I believe this argument says more about the person making it than it does about the film. Persecution complex, anyone?

[–] GrowTesk 11 years ago

Apparently there are thousands suffering from Persecution Complex, because they have found gay subtext in practically every classic film that has ever featured two male friends or co-workers. They don't seem to pick on lesbians quite so much.

Simply put, they see it because they WANT TO see it.
It's their choice to do so, but, I get sick of them trying to push their imagined fantasies on me, and they treat 'The Celluoid Closet" as if it were the gospel. Well, it isn't, but it sure has inspired a modern day witch hunt with classic films.

I am a longtime admirer of The Werewolf and consider it one of the best, if not THE best, of the classic werewolf films.
I have seen it several times, and concerning those two scientists, that's all I have ever seen....two scientists, not one dominant and one submissive gay scientist.

OP, give your complex a rest !
If you want to see 'gay' in a film, watch the wonderful Brokeback Mountain and cease your desperate searches through classic films.

[–] RICKW1 9 years ago

LOL...it sounds like you're the one with the persecution complex......no one is trying to rain on your sexual insecurities....just pointing out an obvious cultural subtext...whether it upsets you or not....it's there.

[–] sddavis63 11 years ago

Oh come on. This is an incredibly anachronistic comment. There's no "obvious gay subtext" in this movie. There are, however, those in the modern world who want to see "gay subtexts" in everything, and so they invent them out of anything they possibly can, so anytime there are two men in a film from this era or earlier, it becomes an "obvious gay subtext."

For what it's worth, as far as the two doctors are concerned, I didn't see either as being particularly either "masculine and dominant" or "effeminate and submissive." One was the boss, obviously, but you know what - we all have bosses whose instructions we have to follow, so unless you want to see an "obvious gay subtext" to the everyday realities of life, you're really pushing this one.

[–] RICKW1 8 years ago

.@ Sddavis63.....or perhaps.....if you are afraid to see " an obvious gay subtext" placed in what is trying to pass as an "everyday reality of life"- YOU'RE obviously pushing this one.

[–] KinksRock 8 years ago

Interesting, but I will pass on watching this crappy movie again.

Jaan Pehechan Ho

[–] Underdog_73 (759) 6 years ago

The blogger isn't right. Maybe you and he can can see the shrink together. You're both clearly fighting the homosexual orientation you were born with. Just accept it. You'll be happier.