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PRIVATE AFFAIR, INC. Russo Predicts the -Break in Image That Will Succeed with a Mass American Audience Will Probably Come Through a Film Like Cabaret Frontrunner

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PRIVATE AFFAIR, INC. Russo Predicts the -Break in Image That Will Succeed with a Mass American Audience Will Probably Come Through a Film Like Cabaret Frontrunner RUSSO~------ History of a Nameless Minority in Film."' continued from page 1 Even under that cover the program drew never explained." the ire of the state governor and blasts from European films were not made under the Manchester Union Leader. these restrictions, however, and audiences "That got me started. Obviously began to accept such movies as Victim, something had to be done. My aim was to Taste of Honey and The L-Shaped Room, point out to people-especially gay people Can I Have Two Men Kissing? Russo says. When Otto Preminger decided -:-how social stereotypes have been created MATLOVICH ----- never shown, it will be worth it. Ten years to do Advise and Consent the Code finally by the media. The Hollywood images of gay from now people are going to see it and say, continued from page 1 gave way before the pressure of a powerful people were a first link to our own sexuality 'Is that all there was to it?"' the audience was given an insider's view in­ The presentation of the film relies heavily to NBC fears about presenting a positive on the hearing which ehded in Matlovich's image of gays to a national audience. dismissal from the service. Airmen testify "The film has been in the closet. When repeatedly that Matlovich was an outstan­ NBC is ready to come out of the closet, ding soldier and instructor and that his then the rest of America will have a better openly gay life-style would not affect their understanding of gays," Paul Leaf, direc­ ability to continue to work successfully with tor and producer of the .show, told the au­ him. dience. The process of Matlovich's coming out Earlier Leaf, who also directed Judge received sensitive treatment, highlighting Hill and the Scotsboro Boys, told the Blade the previous years of repression and that he was chosen by NBC to make the pic­ aloneness that characterized much of ture because of his success in dealing with Matlovich's life. Matlovich's work as an in­ issue-oriented programs. structor in race relations, particularly on "At the end of the film you have to feel the black civil rights struggle, provides the that an injustice is being committed," Leaf main context for his decision to stand for said. "I certainly feel that way and I hope his own rights as a gay person. the audience feels that way. The over­ At the request of both Matlovich and whelming evidence in terms of Leonard's NBC, the show carefully sidestepped por­ value as a soldier is clear." traying images of gays that emphasized Matlovich, until recently a Washington their sexual preferences over other aspects resident active in gay politics and civil of their personality. For NBC this also rights, returned from San Francisco to talk meant that no men would be seen kissing at the show's premiere. In a Blade inter­ one another. view, Matlovich said he expected continued "I asked, 'Can I have two men kissing?? difficulties in getting the program aired. They looked at me in horror. I think they Vito Russo --- - ,.,. were really afraid of their board of directors and their sponsors. 'No, we couldn't go director. The gay character, however, still about which society taught us nothing that far,' was the decision,'' Leaf said. ended with the obligatory suicide. positive,'' Russo says. Leaf said he gave particular attention to It was in 1967 that Russo first began his But in faulting Hollywood, Russo says the casting in the Matlovich role. Several ac­ own work on the image of gays in film. gays have been willing accomplices to the tors turned the part down, Leaf said, citing Working at the time at the Museum of stereotyping and self-hatred that the "blurring of identity" that sometimes Modern Art in New York, Russo was given characterized so much of past films. takes place when actors take certain parts. the opportunity of providing some film "The image was that there were no gay Brad Dourif, a star in One Flew Over the material for a special program at the people. It was something you did and not Cuckoo's Nest, was the final choice. University of New Hampshire at Durham. something you were. Our simple invisibility "I wanted everyone to know that it could "We couldn't use the word homosexuali­ has caused the kind of image we have,'' be anyone,'' Leaf said. "It goes beyond ty in telling people what the program was Russo says. "Even today films will not sexuality. It would have nothing to do with about,'' Russo recalls. "We called it, 'The reflect the reality of the gay situation until jobs or everyday life if that's all it showed." we are visible in America. Ninety percent of Matlovich, who served as a script consul­ us are in the closet and that's what they're / tant but was not present for actual filming, showing.'' : ~ expressed satisfaction with the end product. caused a sensation itself several years ago. Russo thinks one sign of change to a photo by David Da.hlquist While television audiences may have a "I've relinquished all rights to review the more positive image can be seen in the reac­ Leonard Matlovich and Brad Dourif, prior long wait for the Matlovich story, a book book," Matlovich said. "He's going to in­ tion of Anita Bryant and anti-gay rightists. to filming. on Matlovich will be started this summer. terview everyone and try to show the real _ "She's hollering that there should not be Merle Miller, whose book on Harry me. I think its going to be real exciting." positive images of gays in the media and "I think Anita Bryant is going to try to Truman held a prominent position on the For Matlovich the next step is a return to she's getting hysterical about it. Obviously stop this. This is probably going to be their national best seller list for months, has sign­ San Francisco, where he hopes to take an it must be happening. It's happening for the test case in their effort to influence televi­ ed a contract and will begin work shortly. active role in local politics. Meanwhile his first time. But it's not going to happen sion programming. I feel that even if they Miller's own public declaration of his court appeal of the Air Force decision is still overnight," Russo says. get enough controversy to stop just one homosexuality, written in a women's pending in the U.S. District Court of Ap­ "The truth is there is no real market. It sponsor, it will be worth it. Even if it's magazine article as a letter to his parents, peals in Washington, D.C. still has not been proven people will come out of their homes to see a movie with gay characters. No movie about gays has ever really made a lot of money,'' Russo says. "We're still a subject, So far I've only come up with one or two characters in films· A who just happen to be gay rather than about being gay. One is in The Man Who Fell To Earth, the other is in Fape to Face. " PRIVATE AFFAIR, INC. Russo predicts the -break in image that will succeed with a mass American audience will probably come through a film like Cabaret Frontrunner. "That's the way it's going to Disco - happen simply becuase of our idea of American masculinity. It will be a gay A place to meet, dance, and have a g(_)od time! athlete, fireman, cop or whatever." The mood is changing, however, and Russo says the increased visibility of gays Offering the Finest in Disco by Germane & Co. plays the major part. "In 1968 Jane Fonda was quoted as say­ ing that 'she liked the movie because there -Live Entertainment- wasn't any homosexuality in it.' By the time Fun with Dick and Jane was made, Fonda insisted on a script change to delete a sec­ "Our Affair Is Your Affair'_' tion that belittled a gay character and had it rewritten so that the gay character came out Wolfe & Aliceanna St., Baltimore 732-6219 on top in the situation." (Fells Point) "That kind of change isn't going to hap­ pen to everyone," Russo admits. "But that's where we're aiming." Available for your "Private Affair" - Birthday Parties, Whatever . .
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