MovieChat Forums > Gods and Monsters (1998) Discussion > Gay subtext?

Gay subtext?

posted 19 years ago by BillyFisher
36 replies | jump to latest

I'm surprised there hasn't yet been a thread like this.

Poster 1

You'll think I'm weird, but someone told me this film had a gay subtext. Do you think Whale had a bit of a thing for the gardener? I have a theory that Whale was supposed to be a homosexual. Think about it: The naked men around the garden; the male-male full kiss on the lips; the scene where Whale grabbed for the guy's crotch; the way everyone kept calling him a homo; and the way he had other guys for lovers.

I might be overreacting, but I was sure there was a bit of a gay theme going on underneath. What does everyone else think?

Poster 2

You *beep* queers are all the same!!! You think there's a *beep* homo under every rock jesus!!! The caracter of jAmes whale was just a sweet old man who enjoyed another mans company. holy *beep* Can't we have a discussion round here without the queers having to bring there homo agenda into it? Jesus christ it was a movie about a guy who made good movies with frankenstein monsters and you have to sully his reputastion by saying he was gay only a *beep* queer would notice the bit where he grabbed the other guys cock anyway. You guys who always think their's a hidden gay subtext need to get a life jesus!!!

Am I right or am I right? Right? Right? Right?

[–] An_Hedonic 19 years ago

Say what? James Whale was gay? Something of a shocker and forces re-analysis of the movie in light of the enormity of the crime of homosexuality.

Robert
New Orleans, LA, USA

[–] Incitatusthehorse 19 years ago

Naaaaaaah.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] shallowmeans 19 years ago

Uh, hello? Unless I completely misread the whole movie, Whale was practically openly gay, and the movie dealt a lot with that. Was this "Poster 2" maybe watching a different movie? It was very blatant....no "sub" to it.

Though i'm quite certain Whale did not have a "thing" for the gardener. Other than for "eye candy purposes" at times, i guess you could say. Heh.

Oh no! The dead have risen - and they're voting republican!

[–] leslieng 19 years ago

I wouldn't say it was subtext. It was a big part of Whale's story-- his reminiscences of the war, his struggle with being gay in Hollywood and with his other friends who were not as out as he was. He might have had a thing for Clay, but I think it was confused in his mind with all the memories and flashbacks he was having.

[–] JMeix16 19 years ago

You...are...kidding? Please, tell me you're kidding.

If you missed the sarcasm, you need to move to a small green planet, somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, where people like you don't have to think so hard.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] brianmolkoisgod 18 years ago

Yes there is, that's the whole point!
James Whale is gay, and at the end where he wants Clayton to kill him he tries to use Claytons "masculinity" and sexuality against him, Whale knows that Clayton woudl probably try n kill him if he ever came onto him, so he pretends to come on to him to get Clayton angry so he'll kill him...
Clayton doesn't though because they have become close n he's learnt a lot about him n about life

if u actually listened to the convos in the film u'd understand this!!!

[–] Jelle Maarten Lof 18 years ago

LOL,
Billy Fisher, you rock

you sound like the only sane person on IMDB

But now that you mention it... There just MIGHT be a gay subtext to this movie... Come to think of it: you know that movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?? I had the same funny feeling about it... :)

[–] uutuus 18 years ago

This thread is almost as good as this one:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363589/board/nest/8296182?

[–] amatoanima 17 years ago

Haha- I love it.

Doesn't anyone read anything about the movies that they comment about?

Whale WAS about the only openly gay person in Hollywood in the 50s.

and yes wink* wink* I got the same funny feeling when watching Priscilla- ; )

The sarcasm is delicious...

: )

[–] snapeshagger 18 years ago

what is it with people? why do people find gay stars shocking? Yes James Whale was gay, He was openly gay and was in love with a guy called David, they were together for a long time before they split, this is in fact mentioned in the film.

With the gardener, the gardener did not exsist, this is a fiction story of what James Whale life might have been like just before he died.

the whole film basically says to other Gay people "you are not alone"

anything else?

[–] khmmo 18 years ago

his husband david was a procer at mgm

[–] rhcpblink 18 years ago

James Whale was a homosexual, obviously Gods and Monsters portrays this very openly. Also in his frankenstien films there are very subtle scenes containing gay subtext. He was not openly gay because in his time and era homosexuals were not accepted in society, especially if that person was in the spot light like James Whale.

[–] mrbluesky000 18 years ago

They're all gay. Ian McKellan is the first openly gay actor to be nominated for an Oscar for playing a gay character. Bill Condon is a homosexual. This film found a more mainstream audience than other "gay" movies have. Most of the films borderline camp ("Mommie Dearest", "Hedwig & the Angry Inch") and repel the traditional American movie-goer. *cough BIBLE BELT!*

[–] ChigurandSpice 18 years ago

That is hilarious! Very perceptive.

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