I've always wondered if the portrait of Steven was just a face created by a artist, or if an actual person sat for the portrait. Does anyone know?
shareI was also curious if the portrait is modeled after someone...
Excuse me...is that Sex Panther you're wearing?
Since they show actual photographs of "Steven" earlier in the movie (they are in Tallulah Bankhead's room on a dresser, and then later we see her talking to one that she hides under her pillow), I would assume that the painted portrait we see later was modeled on the same actor/model who is in the photographs. Now who that might be, I could not tell you. But I thought he looked familiar.
shareI watched this movie again last night but still no clue as to who he is. By today's standards, to look at the photos his looks and hairstyle are very current. I'm not gonna give up...gotta find out who that guy is.
I think it kinda looks like a young Bruce Campbell myself. Sorta. Probably not...
The only flying mammel was the bat, before the invention of the catipult that is.
After looking at those photographs and portait of Steven, I thought the twist was going to different. I though the reason Steven killed himself was going to be because he turned out to be gay. I could swear that's what Pat was leading to when she confessed to Mrs. Trefoile the real reason Steven died.
Maybe if the movie was made in 1995 instead of 1965?
>>Oh, well that's different. Nevermind!<<
I thought the same thing after viewing this flick for the first time today. It's similar to SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER in a sense, especially with the freak mother-figure. My interpretation is that he probably was gay (and tormented), henceforth his suicide being his only viable alternative to a life he never thought he could live under society's conventions and his brutally religious upbringing.
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I'm not being facetious here, but I don't know how one could view that portrait and suspect the subject of being gay. It isn't like the Steven was wearing lipstick and a dress.
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To me, cincyguy90, the portrait of Steven looked like he's wearing make-up.
It wasn't exactly a rugged macho man painting.
>>Oh, well that's different. Nevermind!<<
That's the kind of awareness you'd expect in Cincinnati!
shareI'm sure you intended that comment to imply I'm a rube from a conservative city. Actually, I live in Los Angeles. My earlier comment meant that his portrait did not portray a sterotypical gay man of that era, at least not to me. When I viewed the film, it struck me that it was possible he was gay. But, not because of the portrait. Rather, I thought he might be gay because the Stephanie Powers character broke off their engagement before his death. Also, in the 1960s some subscribed to the theory that a suffocating mother could lead a son to become gay. That theory has been discarded over time but the film was a product of the 60s. Finally, I happen to be gay. Do you think that would qualify me as "aware" (whatever that means)?
shareI owe you an apology, Cincyguy. I *did* intend my comment for you (don't know why it showed up where it did). Your explanation makes perfect sense.
I understood your comment originally to mean that the son couldn't have been gay because he wasn't trying to be a woman. And that would have been a typical comment from the 1960s, but not the kind of thing you want to hear today.
I usually try not to be bitchy in bulletin-board comments, but I misread your note and was offended and snapped back. Thanks for clearing it up.
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what a crude comment. first off, not all gay men wear dresses and lipstick. second, they're talking about the reason for stephen's suicide, which could potentially make sense. i hadn't thought about it until i read those comments, but it is an interesting angle.
share"I thought the same thing after viewing this flick for the first time today. It's similar to SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER in a sense, especially with the freak mother-figure. My interpretation is that he probably was gay (and tormented), henceforth his suicide being his only viable alternative to a life he never thought he could live under society's conventions and his brutally religious upbringing."
"Maybe if the movie was made in 1995 instead of 1965?"
I felt the same way. It also may explain why Patricia decided that it was impossible to marry him.
I was thinking of Lady In A Cage, with Olivia de Havilland. Her son went away for the long weekend and he planned to kill himself because he was gay.
It's John Tesh
So, to sum it up in legal terminology: Get lost, you bum.
Don't think so: John Tesh was 13 at the time, while the photographs and the portrait are those of a man.
shareMs. Powers has been making the rounds of talk shows lately, at least Joy Behar's so far, promoting her new book, so maybe someone interviewing her will ask her who Steven was based on, if anyone.
shareI've long since forgotten the name, but a British horror movie magazine of the 60s titled "Shriek!" did provide the name of the person who provided Steven's likeness.
It ain't easy being green, or anything else, other than to be me
I was wondering myself who the the young man in this wonderfully done portrait was and who was the artist too . Sorry I don't have the answer to this one . Thanks GorgeousLynnie for your subject post .
shareThe portrait was clearly meant to imply that he was gay. That upturned collar? Pure stereotype of the '60s.
shareWonderfully done?
It really looked like a paint by number to me. I really like it though the style is timeless
Campy just like the movie
Conceive Deceive or Leave
https://disqus.com/home/channel/conceievedeceiveorleave/
It looks like the actor Dinsdale Landon to me.
shareI watched it last night. I got that Steven was gay when Pat says "Not only do I not consider myself Steven's wife, but if he hadn't died...I wouldn't have married him anyway..." Him being gay was the reason why they woudln't have married, and the whole religeous fanatic thing was most definitely why he kiiled himself, and I believe, Mrs. Trefoil, in denial, probably knows all of this. Probably knew right from the get go.
As for the portrait, yes, you see the exact portrait of Steven in her room early on, but it's only a headshot portrait that was expanded for the painting. The model was indeed, quite handsome. Wish we knew who he was/is.
Dinsdale.......
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