MovieChat Forums > Masquerade (1988) Discussion > Homoerotic? (Spoilers?)

Homoerotic? (Spoilers?)

posted 18 years ago by kellyjt
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Is it just me, or is the scene in this flick where Rob Lowe is in Doug Savant's house conversing with him while Savant is wearing nothing but whitey tighty undies very homoerotic?

With all of the twists and turns in this movie, I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out the two guys were lovers. This being a mainstream movie from the 80s, I don't think they would have gone there. But to me the scene was highly charged and tense, and not just because of what they were discussing.

I mean, Doug doesn't seem to make any attempt to cover up, and neither guy seems uncomfortable. I suppose there are a number of arguments against the homoeroticism, but I'm sensing it all over this scene.

I'm the type of guy that says, "The puddin' is delicious." -- LL Cool J

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[–] hrivera_patino 18 years ago

Believe or not, I agreed with you several years ago. I did a research paper in 1989 about the homoerotic content in "Masquerade" when I was in 10th-grade. I wrote that Rob Lowe and Doug Savant were lovers, and Meg Tilly was a decoy. Tilly was the one that came between them. They wanted to murder her to inherit all of her millions, but Lowe began to fall in love with Tilly leaving Savant in a jealous rage. The last scene was tough seeing Savant upset that Lowe died and NOT Tilly. Well, I wrote it moons ago, and I still must have it around. The chemistry between Lowe and Savant was totally INTENSE. At a scene, they almost kissed. And that scene with Doug walking around in his underwear- Rob is all smiles seeing his hunk in his undies. And later, it seemed they got it on. Well, I got an A on that paper, and my teacher applauded me on the content.

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[–] maximillian79 18 years ago

Good lord, you're right! In all the years I've been watching "Masquerade" I never really twigged that before - probably due to me focusing way too much on Meg all the time (hehehe!). But what about Lowe having sex with Kim Cattral? Is his character possibly bi-sexual OR could it be a similarly devised plan (she is in the sole inheriter of he rhusband's fortune) which is abandoned when Meg enters the stage?

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[–] BoSoxRule 17 years ago

Rent Deathtrap, it went there.

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[–] flcnesbitt 17 years ago

it's not just you.

Mike acted like a jealous lover IMHO.

if this film was done today, those 2 guys would've been probably been lovers scheming to get Olivia's $$$$$$$$$$

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[–] preppy-3 16 years ago

Yeah--it IS homoerotic. I saw it opening night in 1988. There were a large number of gay guys in the audience (us gay guys found Lowe real hot). When that scene came on you could actually FEEL the temperature in the theatre rise. Savant's creepy smile in that sequence had me expecting him to go up, kiss Lowe and have sex with him--LOL. But, as u said, no mainstream movie from the 1980s would have done that (maybe now they would). Walking out my friends told me they expected that to happen--and these are four str8 guys! So it's not just you--it's in there. It does add an interesting subtext to the film.

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[–] liamforeman 15 years ago

I was under the impression that the scene between the two was edited. I could have sworn I read somewhere that the scene contained a sexual liasion between them but obviously was cut for widespread release. If you sensed a chemistry and heat, it was probably because there was more to the scene. Doug Savant and Rob Lowe were at their physical and sexual peaks. Yummy.

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[–] preppy-3 15 years ago

I think you read misinformation. Trust me--if there HAD been a sequence shot with Lowe and Savant going at it (I'd love to see that:)) we would have heard about it. I know a lot about that movie and there was never any news about a gay love scene. I agree with you though--I wish there HAD been! LOL

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[–] gobears87 14 years ago

This theory only makes sense if both Tim (Rob Lowe) and Mike (Doug Savant) are bi. Mike's motivation for the whole let's-kill-Olivia plot is because he hates her. And that's because she strung him along (as an 11-year-old), told him she'd marry him, and then dumped him sometime between then and college. I.e., his love for her turned to hate, because she rejected him. (I realize there are also class tensions at play in their relationship.) Killing her was really about revenge - with the $300MM a juicy side benefit. But the cue to Mike's passion was being jilted long ago by Olivia.

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[–] Siel_O 15 years ago

i've also sensed that, how nice. :)
do you guys have recommendations for similar movies also with homoerotic themes?

Hugh Jackman + Patrick Wilson
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7846412

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[–] snoho 13 years ago

I thought the same on my first watch.
Its rather comical at times. It would be more entertaining if they went there a bit but I enjoy the very subtle hint. (whether intended or not)
Both Savant and Lowe were really good looking and at a fantastic peak. And Kim Cattrall, just. WOW. She was such a perfect beauty at that young age (still is) but damn.

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[–] Lady_Sleek 13 years ago

I thought something was up when they met in the boathousein the scene where the Cop said that Tim should kill Olivia, Tim said no because she was pregnant. The scene where they are close to the board before you see a certain piture, where the cop grabs Tim's hair and strokes his face. I thought that was a little weird... most men would grab the collar of the shirt or something - usually....

Interesting post by the way!

If they hadn't have done what I told them not to do, they's still be here now.

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[–] Lopsided55 11 years ago

Definitely. I thought they were going to kiss. It gives that scene and the three-way con a better backstory.

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