The City of Southfield and the Southfield Community Foundation
SIN Entertainment
present
ICE COMPANY OF 1996
SILVER ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR!
Southfield Sports Arena
26000 Evergreen Rd. at Civic Center Dr. (north of 10 Mi. Rd.)
Wed., April 24, 7:30 p.m. • Fri., April 26, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 27, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.
Sun., April 28, 1:30. & 5:30 p.m.
'The Celluloid Closet'
TICKETS: $8 rinkside • $7.50 loge • $7 upper rinkside
(ask about discounts for seniors 65 & older and children under 12)
Unrated
about indecency in the movies — ies Whoopi Goldberg, Susan
had barred depictions of homo- Sarandon, Tom Hanks, Tony Cur-
t seems that everyone has a sto- sexuality, or sexual perversion as tis and Shirley MacLaine, among
ry to tell nowadays. And occa- it was called. So Hollywood began others, provide valuable insights.
sionally, as is the case with the to employ subtle hints of homo-
Gore Vidal (Suddenly Last
film documentary The Cellu- sexuality, undetected by the film Summer, Ben-Hur), Quentin
loid Closet, this story deserves to censors, and most often used Crisp, Susie Bright and Ron
be heard.
them to make screen villains more Nyswaner (Philadelphia) are just
Based on a book by author Vito menacing.
a few of the authors and screen-
Russo and produced by Rob Ep-
Screen psychopaths of the '40s writers who share their opinions
stein and Jeffrey Friedman (see included the evil Mrs. Danvers in as well.
the interview with Friedman in Hitchcock's Rebecca and gay
In addition, for film junkies,
today's Entertainment Profile), psychopathic murderers
The Celluloid Closet sheds
the film recounts the 100-year his- Leopold and Loeb in
new light on some old
tory of homosexuals in motion plc- Hitchcock's The Rope.
MOVIES
classics. Do you know for
> tures. It combines 120 movie clips
Each film era mimics
instance, about the ho-
with on-camera interviews.
the prejudices and perceptions of mosexual themes in Rebel With-
Homosexuality is a film topic the times. The conservative '50s, out a Cause, The Maltese Falcon,
that the mainstream media has for instance, inspired Hollywood Spartacus and Ben-Hur?
always shied away from, and to present homosexuality as a dis-
These films, like all films, at-
which the public, in the past, has ease (the neurotic Lauren Bacall tempt to capture the essence of
been reluctant to learn about.
character in Young Man With real life, and homosexuality,
Closet, therefore, offers a fresh a Horn), and gays as "tragic whether accepted by the public or
perspective; it is absolutely com- outsiders" (the Tom
pelling.
Lee character in Tea
Lily Tomlin is our primary and Sympathy. These
guide down an often dishearten-
stereotypes endured
ing memory lane, a journey that on film even through
begins in 1895, the first time ho- the tumultuous youth
mosexuality (two men dancing) movement of the '60s.
was depicted on film in a primi-
Only in the poly-
tive, experimental reel produced ester '70s, in ground-
at Thomas Edison's studio.
breaking films like The
;_=, From there, we watch as sel- Boys in the Band and
dom-seen history unfolds. Films Cabaret, were gays fi-
of the 1910s and '20s made fun of nally shown for what
gay men; an example is the burly they were and are: Martha (Shirley Maclaine) confesses her love for Karen
stagehand in the Chaplin film multidimensional hu- (Audrey Hepburn) in The Children's Hour(1962).
Behind the Screen who parodies man beings. After an
an effeminate pansy.
'80s regressive dip, when evil, not, has always been present. It
The '30s saw the introduction murderous characters were often is no surprise therefore, that gays
of the "Sissy," Hollywood's first also homosexual (Cruising), films have always been depicted on the
N„
,_D- e , r ay stock character. Comic, fop- in the early '90s began to present silver screen, even though often
pish and effeminate, the "Sissy" not only complex gay characters in a negative context.
was subliminally perceived as ho- but gay issues and problems as
Has Hollywood finally come to
mosexual.
well (Philadelphia).
terms with homosexuality?
By the mid-'30s, however, the
While the history and film clips
"I thought The Birdcage meant
film industry's Hays Code — a are interesting, the people who well," said screenwriter/produc-
self-imposed code in response to present them offer commentary er/director Jeffrey Friedman in
widespread public complaints that is intriguing. Film luminar- an interview featured in today's
Profile section. "It seems to me
that the filmmakers were clearly
4, he simultaneously puzzles British. The acting, while noth-
trying to make a film on the side
and pleases Jane, who has no idea ing spectacular, suffices to draw
of the gay people and rooting
how to react. She ends up doing the proper emotional responses
1
against the right-wing bigots ...
the only sensible thing: she se- from the audience. Anna Paquin,
(but) Nathan Lane's character is
cretly falls in love with him, a love a talented young actress, gives a
a direct descendant from the sis-
t hat cannot be reciprocated be- commendable performance, and
sy characters of the '30s."
cause of Rochester's high station Gainsbourg, tough but reserved,
l and other love interests — most adequately portrays Eyre's sexu-
i
C.‘.)
notably, Blanche Ingram (Elle al confusion. Hurt and Plowright
—Dan
Zimmerman
N,-1-acpherson).
are also satisfactory in their re-
Does Jane have a chance spective roles.
amidst these social barriers, fe-
So, now that you're done re-
male competitors and those reading all the old Austen novels,
strange noises in the attic?
check a Bronte out of the library.
Outstanding
Though the rolling British Or, if reading 19th-century ro-
untryside makes for some stun- mance novels is not your thing,
Very Good
IOC') N) -
' g scenery, Jane Eyre is a pret- then go see a pretty good film in-
straightforward presentation.
stead. (!). 1h
Good
ery word spoken is emphati-
y dramatic and emphatically
Fair
—Dan Zimmerman
I
Bagel Barometer
ct
,
GALA PERFORMANCE
to benefit the Providence Hospital
Craniofacial & Reconstructive Surgery Institute
starring:
GARY BEACOM and G1A GUDDAT
with special guests
Ari Jakarian and Akop Manukian
Thursday, April 25 • 7:15 p.m.
TICKETS:
$15 upper rinkside and loge • $200 table for 4*
(*includes wine, cheese, show program & afterglow)
fea]
For tickets or information. urri
Southfield Sports Arena, (810) 354-9357
PHOTO COURTESY O F SONY PICTURES CLASSICS.
Sponsored by the City of Southfield Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Now OPEN
THE NEW
HAKATA
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
111
(Formerly Nipponkai)
Authentic Japanese Dining
Lunch and Dinner
Featuring Elegant Cuisine at Reasonable Prices
In An Atmosphere of Gracious Warmth
• Private Japanese Booths
• Sushi Bar
• Cocktails, Including Sake
Open 7 Days
C
Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11:30-2 p.m.
Dinner: Mon.-Sat. 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
32443 Northwestern Hwy.
Between Middlebelt & 14 Mile
737 7220
Fax: 737 7223
-
-
—J
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•cr
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