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Dance • Film * Literature • Fashion • Internet by Brian M. Mycr Q-Notes Staff Frankenstein-, The Old Dark House; The Invisible Man; The Bride of Fran kenstein; Show Boat. Although this may sound like one of those “which item doesn’t belong” games, there is a common element to all five of these ’30s films — they are the enduring legacy of director James Whale. Whale, an Englishman who started on the British stage, came to Hollywood in 1930 and, with the release o( Frankenstein in 1931, estab lished himself as a premiere horror filmmaker. Though Whale remained a hot property for the next several years, after the spectacular failure of 1937’s The Road Back (on which Whale claims to have lost all ardsdc control), his popu larity as a director took a nose dive. ' By the mid-1940s, Whale had removed him self dmost entirely from the business that had made him a star and turned his attention to painting. In 1957, following a stroke that left him in a state of constant mental disorienta tion and deterioration, he drowned in his own swimming pool. Was it suicide, murder or just an accident? Gods and Monsters, a new film adapted from Christopher Bram’s imaginative novel Father of Frankenstein, speculates upon the last days of Whale and gives us an enter- out in hollywood 1998 in review by William Horn Special to Q-Notes January • Four GLBT-themed films. Out of the Past, Divine Trash, 2by4 and High Art Kcttvc awards at the Sundance Film Festival. • Detective Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor) comes out as bisexual on NBC’s crime-drama Homi cide: Life on the Streets. • HBO premiers Gia, a biographical drama about a lesbian supermodel. The television movie is later nominated for six Emmy Awards. • ABC buries an episode of the critically acclaimed drama Nothing Sacred. The never- aired episode centers on a gay priest with AIDS. • Rap star Queen Pen’s “Girlfriend,” a song about a liaison with a woman from the per spective of her female lover, is released. February • ABC puts Ellen on a six-week hiatus. • Former Judas Priest rocker Rob Halford comes out on MTV. • Ms. magazine names singers Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls and Ellen DeGeneres “Women of the Year.” March • Ellen tapes its finale in Los Angeles with guest stars like Woody Harrelson, Linda Ellerbee, Phil Donahue, Bea Arthur and Jenni fer Aniston. • Primary Colors premiers with Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates portraying a lesbian. April raining scenario. There is always a double-edged sword in bringing a novel to the screen and Gods and Monsters is no exception. For James Whale fans, the film will come up a litde short, but for fans of Ian McKellen, who stars as the tortured ge nius, the payoff is extraordinary. The “speculative” (read: fictionalized) aspect of the script postulates a fether/son relation ship between Whale and his lawn cutter. Clay Boone (Brendan Fraser). Although Whale is gay (the director lived outside the closet long be fore Ellen, Anne or even McKellen), Clay is not, so their connection is stricdy platonic. In Clay, Whale finds a willing audience for his stories and a means to work through a painful event from his past. In Whale, Clay finds a sympa thetic figure to replace the cold, harsh father who never understood him. While the primary focus of Gods and Mon sters is the central relationship, the movie also has a great deal to say about the process of film- making. We see a flashback to the creation of a classic scene from The Bride of Frankenstein (in which actress Rosalind Ayres bears a striking resemblance to original “bride” Elsa LanChester); experience a lavish Hollywood party given by director George Cukor {The Philadelphia Story, A Star Is Bom); and listen with rapt attention as Whale tells stories of his triumphs and tragedies behind the camera. The “gods and monsters” of the title comes from The Bride of Frankenstein in which the See MONSTERS on page 21 • The Object of My Affection opens nation wide. GLAAD and GLSEN applaud the movie for bringing audiences “an important message about friendship, family and gay teachers.” • George Michael comes out on CNN after being arrested on a lewd conduct charge in 'Beverly Hills. • Ellen and San Francisco public television station KQED’s documentary The Castro are honored with Peabody Awards. • Ellen, In & Out, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NYPD Blue, Janet Jackson, Advertising Age magazine and GLORadio, among others, win 1998 GLAAD Media Awards at three ceremo nies in New York, Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Judith Light, kd lang and Bob and Harvey Weinstein (Miramax Films) are awarded special honors. • ABC cancels the groundbreaking sitcom Ellen. May • The Indigo Girls perform a special con cert in Columbia, SC after a local principal cancels a performance by the duo because they are lesbians. • The Opposite of Sex opens nationwide and becomes the most successful independent film of 1998. • After five seasons, the finale of Ellen airs on ABC — except on KXXV-TV in Waco, TX where management instead airs a rerun of Seinfeld. • Lifetime Television premiers an episode of Intimate Portraits that profiles actress Judith Light. The program includes footage ftom the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, where Light sits on the board. • People magazine names Anne Heche one of their “50 Most Beautiful People.” It marks See HOLLYWOOD on page 21 • To eslal)lish and nur- lurc a nolwork of busi ness and professional re sources. • To entourage fellow ship and support among business, professional and charitable pursuits. • To provide and pro mote positive role mod els in the Cay and Les bian community. 1255-C LAST bLVD SUIK 201 cnAeLom nc 26203 7 0 4-503 3 0 7 5 Wednesday, January 6 Social at Liaison’s 5:30pm Monday, January 18 Meeting at the Holiday Inn Uptown TVavel, Personal & Business with Beverly McIntyre Pink Fairy IVavel & IGLTA Call today for reservations: (704) 565-5075 C^SfeoTrE CENTER CITY 230 N. College Street Charlotte Q-Notes ▼ January 9,1999 T PAGE 17 9 9 Chorlolle Goy & Lesbian Film Series PRESENTED OUTCHARLOTTE An unflinching comedy which charts the lives of seven friends — gay, straight, lesbian, positive. Latino, white, black and uberblond. lyfsdaii,FebfyafylG A Litany foi Survival: The Life and Work of Audie Loide 7:00pm An epic portrait of the eloquent, award-winning Black, lesbian, poet, mother, teacher and activist, Audre Lorde. ^ Chocolate Babies 9:lSpin A rag-tag clique of dazzling HIV-r African-American and Asian super queers form a terrorist gang and attack conservative politicians. ^ IbyrsdQy,HS5 Fun in Shorts! Enjoy a dozen short films, 4-15 minutes in length, by independent filmmakers from the United States and Canada. Tbyrsdai|.Gpfilg2 The Transformation 7:fl0pm The Transformation explores the life of Ricardo, a former homeless prostitute and transvestite, as he undergoes an attempt to transform himself from a homosexual to a heterosexual. \Ui4t I ^ Both a moving diary and informative documentary. Dear Jesse parallels the experiences of Tim Kirkman, a gay filmmaker returning to his native f North Carolina with a stinging indictment of Senator Jesse Helms. Includes new footage of an interview with Matthew Shepard. TbyrsdQy,Hay 27 tl/nk A gay My Best Friend's Wedding. A screwball comedy about marriage, 1 neck braces. The Partridge Family, and the hilarious fate of young gay men and their fretting heterosexual friends. ^ Ot'i, Ut Ute. IdJaien. SISpiD A sexy feel-good comedy masquerading as a Steel Magnolias-sxy\e potboiler. The setting is conservative Azalea Springs where underneath classy wealth, big hair and country clubs lies a hotbed of sexual frustration. ' TbyfsdoyJyye24 7:00pm This film is set in India, a conservative and proudly sexist society where some women are often more like servants than equal ,« partners. Out of this gender-oppressive environment comes an original and emotionally charged drama about forbidden love between two women. To be announced 9:I5pm What will be the last film of the 1999 series? Will it be Homo Heights? How about Fag Hag? Maybe All the Rage? Buy Season Tickets! • 1999 Film Series Pass: Only $40! Save $20 off single ticket prices! • Buy a five-pack and save! 5 film tickets for $25! Use one ticket for 5 different films, or bring your friends to the same film and use your five- pack in one night! You choose how you want to use! (Seating is first-come, first-served. Some venues have limited seating.) • Single tickets are $6, and will be on sale 1/2 hour prior to each film. Season tickets on sale through OutCharlotte or at White Rabbit Books & Things, 834 Central Avenue. Cfiaflolle Goy Lesijifld Film Series PRESENTED BY OUTCHARLOTTE fliursilaii. January 28 [21} Relax, It's Just Sex -7 8>c 9:15pm 704/563-2699 fax: 704/569-8190 www.outcharlotte.org e-mail: director@outcharlotte.org A Litany for Survival - 7pm Chocolate Babies -9:15pm lliUfS(!ay,Har{;l!25[HK] Fun in Shorts - 7 Sc 9:15pm Hiyfsilay.8pfil22|HH] The Transformation - 7pm Dear Jesse -9:15pm !lJUfsilay.H8y27[PI] I Think I Do - 7pm It's in the Water -9:15pm Hiorsijay.ilyne24[pr| Fire - 7pm To be announced - 9:15pm ^ [PI] Parli Terrace [HM] Mini Museum ^ All fillms, dates, times and locations subject to change.
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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