The Queer Movie Poster Book [Paperback]

Jenni Olson (Author), Bruce Vilanch (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2004

Films about "the love that dare not speak its name" have been around for decades, but only recently have they formed an out-and-proud genre. In the first overview of its kind, The Queer Movie Poster Book traces the history of gay film through its posters and promotional art. Sometimes alluring, sometimes lurid, often coded, the posters speak volumes about the social mores of the times and the struggle for queer identity. Historian Jenni Olson includes over 150 posters -- from Wallace Beery drag follies to the latest indy productions -- which showcase the varied spectrum of queer cinema. Fascinating sidebars discuss dykesploitation films (typically made by straight men for straight men), gay porn (an overlooked means to social liberation in its own right), and films with transgender themes (studded with pulled-from-the-headlines movies). From the earnest to the campy, The Queer Movie Poster Book constitutes a vibrant feast of popular art and a valuable document of gay film culture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jenni Olson is one of the world's leading experts on queer film. A filmmaker currently developing her first feature, she lives in San Francisco.

Bruce Vilanch is lead writer for the Academy Awards ceremonies, and one of the most sought-after jokesmiths in the entertainment industry. He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811842614
• ISBN-13: 978-0811842617
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,776,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, wicked, smart, & entertaining gay lesbian film book, September 13, 2004

By 

Thomas Rielly "Media Addict" (New York City USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Queer Movie Poster Book (Paperback)

Filmmaker and queer film archivist and historian Jenni Olson returns to print with this dazzling visual tour through the history of marketing Queer films to mostly straight, and eventually gay and lesbian audiences.

Starting in 1915! and moving to the present day, the beautifully designed QMPB chronicles the evolution of imagery and words used to convey queer-themed films to the ticket buying public, from the homophobic to the homoerotic, from the exploitative to the honest, and from the cryptic to the comic.

You'll find many recurring visual themes such as the the torn image (Victim), the shameful downward glance (The Children's Hour), is he or isn't he? (The Fourth Sex, The Gay Deceivers), the optical illusion lesbian line drawing (The Killing of Sister George, The Fox), the nelly visual tell (The Leather Boys, La Cage aux Folles), the insert photo of insignificant character of the opposite sex to make the film seem less gay (Desert Hearts) and the mother of all movie poster phalluses (Querelle, Prick up your Ears). Written themes include exclamation marks! ... elipses, double entendres, cliches, stereotypes, first person self-loathing ("I couldn't live in a man's body! and "I don't want to live the rest of my life as a man...") and lurid alliteration ("Powers and Passions without Precedent in Motion Pictures). Chapters include Dykesploitation, Early Gay Porn, Queers of Color, and Guys with their Shirts Off.

Olson packs each page with fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes that illuminate each illustration. Sure to be under the Christmas tree and on the coffee table of every film lover gay and straight alike, QMPB takes you on a powerful journey through Hollywood, Bollywood, underground cinema and the indie scene where one picture encapsulates thousands of frames of celluloid.

Also, be sure to get Olson's companion DVD, Homo Promo (2004) which offers many of the same film's coming attractions. Olson's first feature film, The Joy of Life, bows in 2005.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book, April 5, 2011

By 

Wayne M. Malin "Preppy" (Malden MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Queer Movie Poster Book (Paperback)

Entertaining and very interesting book that shows movie posters for gay or lesbian films from 1915 up to 2000. It's broken up into categories--Dykesploitation, Early Gay Porn, Bi, Trangender etc etc. Within the categories it's chronological. While I AM giving this book a 5 I do think the author shows a LOT more lesbian posters than gay male. I'm not accusing her of sexism but really...she skips some landmarks. Where's "Jeffrey"? Where's "Love! Valour! Compassion!"? Where's "Trick"? Where's "Urbania" (although that might have come out too late for the book)? Still I am glad this book is out there. I'd like to see an updated version with a larger section on male gay films.