Changing Reels: Positive Gay/Lesbian Images in 1990s American Cinema

Year 2000, Issue: 11, 31 - 37, 01.04.2000

Victoria Amador

Abstract

Back in 1982, 20th Century Fox took a bold step where no major film studio had gone before by producing a movie entitled Making Love. Of course, films about lovemaking are old hat, but this one was unique in that the sex occurred between two attractive young men, Michael Ontkean and Harry Hamlin. The film was so bold in fact, that the producers prefaced it with an announcement literally pleading for tolerance from the audience. Despite the risk taken by the actors and the studio, the film was not a huge success and not even particularly interesting beyond the prurience factor. It gained attention solely because of the subject matter—a married doctor, Ontkean, married to Kate Jackson of Charlie’s Angels no less, struggles against his hidden homosexuality and finally comes out, leaving Jackson for Hamlin.

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