The Celluloid Closet (book)

1981 book by Vito Russo

The Celluloid Closet

First edition cover

Author| Vito Russo
Language| English
Subject| History of homosexuality in film
Publisher| Harper & Row

Publication date

| 1981
Pages| 276
ISBN| 0-06-013704-5

The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies is a non-fiction book by film historian and LGBT activist Vito Russo, first published in 1981 by Harper & Row.[1][2] The book examines the history of depictions of homosexuality in film, particularly in Hollywood films, from queer coded to overt portrayals. A revised edition of the book was published in 1987, with 80 additional pages.[3][4]

The book was released after two books of the same subject Parker Tyler's 1972 book Screening the Sexes and Richard Dyer's 1977 Gays and Film,[5] even though Russo complained at the time of the release that no gay writer had produced any meaningful criticism of homosexuality in the movies.[6]

The Celluloid Closet book was prefigured by a live lecture/film clip presentation of the same name, which Russo first presented in 1972 and would go on to deliver at colleges, universities, and small cinemas. After Russo's death in 1990, The Celluloid Closet book was adapted into a 1995 documentary film of the same name directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.[7][8]

## Reception

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Demian of the Seattle Gay News wrote that, "Vito Russo brings to his book the same wealth of political and social history that he used in creating his lecture and film show", and concluded: "The Celluloid Closet is a great book to browse through. The writing is direct, clear, and entertaining. The book is another piece of history reclaimed. Vito Russo has created an exciting volume out his great love of cinema and out of his gay pride."[9]

## See also

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* History of homosexuality in American film
* Media portrayal of LGBT people

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Taylor, Robert (June 23, 1981). "Film historian wants gays to get the picture". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. p. C-1. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Taylor, Clarke (August 9, 1981). "Fear in Filmdom's Crowded Closet". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 21. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ Cidoni, Mike (September 25, 1987). "Film historian: Homosexuals come out of celluloid closet". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. 8A. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Yagoda, Ben (November 19, 1987). "Gays Are Ill-Served by Hollywood". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 54. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (1981-08-04), "The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies", Soho News, retrieved 2010-02-25
6. ^ Adnum, Mark (August 24, 2011). "Book review: The Celluloid Closet, by Vito Russo". Bright Lights Film Journal. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
7. ^ Walters, Berry (March 10, 1996). "Documenting Hollywood's homophobia". The San Francisco Examiner. p. B-9. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Britton, Bonnie (May 24, 1996). "Hollywood's gays step out of 'The Celluloid Closet'". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D-3. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Demian (June 4, 1982). "Russo's book shows socio-political history". Seattle Gay News. Seattle, Washington. p. 17. Retrieved June 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.

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