The Historical lesbianism series include: some of the women who were famous for loving other women throughout time and information on lesbian topics in literature, art, music, sport, film and television.
Part 5: Film (1914 to 1990s)
1. A Florida Enchantment (1914)
A silent film in which, Lillian Travers, a wealthy woman about to be married, takes a magical seed which transforms the user into the opposite gender. Lillian’s transformation into Lawrence Talbot has also been read as a transformation into a butch lesbian. The film has increasingly been seen as one of the earliest film representations of homosexuality in American culture since its inclusion in Vito Russo’s ‘Celluloid Closet’.
2. The Motion Picture Production Code (1929)
The Code was a major benefit in the advocating of censorship. It decreed that there would be no “immorality” or “impropriety” on screen – only chaste kisses and heterosexual characters. The Code was also applied to actors’ private lives – homosexuality was especially grounds for blacklisting. The consolation of the movie industry into a few powerful studios rendered gay and lesbian actors particularly vulnerable. Many lesbian actresses retreated even deeper into the closet - dating or even marrying men, in order to appear heterosexual.
‘Lavender marriage’ was a term used in Hollywood circles - marriage between two members of the opposite sex in order to mask one or both parties’ homosexuality.
3. Mädchen in Uniform (1931)
A German film, from a novel by lesbian writer, Christa Winsloe, noted as the first feature film to be produced with an openly lesbian storyline. It remains a cult film among lesbians and was groundbreaking in a number of ways: for its all female cast; for its sympathetic portrayal of lesbian pedagogical eros and homoeroticism revolving around the passionate love of a girl for her teacher; and lastly for its co-operative and profit-sharing financial arrangements. It won the audience referendum for Best Technical Perfection at the Venice Film Festival in 1932.
Photo: Mädchen in Uniform – Video cover
4. Sewing Circles (1930s-1950s)
Lesbian actresses have played a significant role in Hollywood, both in the movies themselves and outside of them, as early as the silent film through the present. Their contributions however have rarely been recognized or spoken of openly. Many actresses of the 1930s to the 1950s were part of ‘sewing circles’ - a gay phrase used to describe discreet gatherings of lesbians in Hollywood.
5. The following ladies were whispered to be lesbians throughout their careers. The rumours are still unconfirmed:
Dame Judith Anderson (1897-1992)
An Australian actress generally regarded by theatre critics as the greatest classical actress produced by Australia. She won Tony and Emmy Awards and was nominated for a Grammy and an Oscar.
-Rebecca (1940)-Don’t Bother to Knock (1961)
Photo: Dame Judith Anderson by Carl Van Vechten
Elsa Lanchester (1902-1986)
This English born Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner was twice married and divorced.
-The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama (1925)
-Bride of Frankenstein (1936)
-Lassie Come Home (1943)
Photo: Elsa Lanchester in Bride of Frankenstein
Sandy Dennis (1937-1992)
Dennis was an American theatre and film actress who won an Oscar and numerous Tony Awards.
-Splendor in the Grass (1961)
-Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
-The Indian Runner (1991)
Photo: Sandy Dennis
6. Agnes Moorehead (1900-1974)
She appeared in more than 60 films and received several Academy Award nominations for her supporting performances. Her alleged lesbianism was widely assumed despite her reticence.
-Citizen Kane (1941)
-Bewitched - TV series (1960s)
-Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)
Photo: Agnes Moorehead - The Bat (1959)
7. Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968)
An American actress and talk-show host that was rumoured to be bisexual. She was linked romantically to many notable female personalities of the day including Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Alla Nazimova, Billie Holiday and Mercedes de Acosta.
-Stage Door Canteen (1943)
-A Royal Scandal (1945)
Photo: Tallulah Bankhead
8. Greta Garbo (1905-1990)
She was a Swedish actress during Hollywood’s silent film period and part of its Golden Age. She received an Honorary Academy Award in 1954 for her unforgettable screen performances. She was also ranked as the fifth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute in 1999. She lived a secluded private life and was speculated to be bisexual. She had relationships with among others, actress Louise Brooks and Mercedes de Acosta - a poet and playwright best known for her numerous lesbian affairs with Hollywood personalities and whose love affair with Garbo has been described as “the love of her lifetime.”
-Anna Christie (1930)
-Anna Karenina (1935)
Photo: Greta Garbo as Anna Karenina (1935)
9. Louise Brooks (1906-1985)
The American dancer, model, showgirl and silent film actress is famous for pioneering the bobbed haircut. She starred in 17 silent films and authored a memoir ‘Lulu in Hollywood’. She became outspoken in her later years and reminisced about her affairs with women (including Greta Garbo) in her memoirs and conversations.
-Pandora’s Box (1928)
-Diary of a Lost Girl (1929)
-Prix de Beautré (1930)
Photo: Louise Brooks - Pandora’s Box
10. The Children’s Hour (1961)
An American drama film based on the 1934 play by Lillian Hellman. Two teachers, Karen Wright (Audrey Hupburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) open a private school for girls. One of the students is caught in a lie and punished and out of revenge accuses them of being lesbian. The two teachers’ reputation is destroyed. Martha later confesses that she felt more than friendship for Karen and upon hearing the false accusation, she finally realized that she loves her. The film won numerous Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Photo: The Children’s Hour DVD cover
11. The Killing of Sister George (1968)
This 1964 play was adapted as a radio drama and film. Starring: Beryl Reid as June, Susannah York as Alice “Childie” and Coral Browne as Mercy.
Sister George (June) is a character in a television soap opera ‘Applehurst’. June is an alcoholic who lives with Alice “Childie”, a childishly naive woman she often verbally and sometimes physically abuses. It has an explicit lesbian plot with scenes in a real-life London lesbian hangout the ‘Gateway Club’. The film received an X rating largely on the basis of a graphic sex scene between Alice and Mercy. Beryl Reid was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Drama.
Photo: The Killing of Sister George - Movie poster
12. Lily Tomlin (1939-present)
A lesbian actress and comedian, whose persistent advocacy for feminism and gay rights led many to suspect her lesbianism for decades (she came out in 2001). Tomlin has won multiple awards, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Awards. She has been involved in a number of feminist and gay friendly film productions and is in a relationship with writer Jane Wagner.
-The Celluloid Closet (1995)
A documentary film examining the history of how motion pictures, especially Hollywood films, portrayed LGBT characters in movies. It is based on the 1981 book by Vito Russo.
Photo: The Celluloid Closet Movie poster
Photo: Lily Tomlin 1991
13. Jodie Foster (1962- present)
The multiple Award-winning actress often play relatively butch on screen, but refuses to discuss her private life - especially her sexuality and the father of her two children. We are positively convinced she is lesbian however.
-Taxi Driver (1976)
-The Accused (1988)
-The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
-Nell (1994)
-The Brave One (2007)
14. The hunger (1983)
Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) and John (David Bowie) is a sophisticated New York vampire couple. Miriam seduces Dr Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon) and transfers some of her blood into Sarah’s veins while making love. Sarah becomes a vampire as well, but she is strong willed, not quite accepting the life Miriam has planned for her.
Photo: The Hunger – Kiss between Miriam and Sarah
Photo: The Hunger Movie
15. Guinevere Turner (1968-present)
Turner is an out lesbian actress, writer and director best known as the screenwriter of such films as American Psycho and The Notorious Bettie Page.
-Go Fish (1994)
She stared and produced this lesbian-themed independent drama film. The film tells the story of the interrelationships of a small group of lesbians friends in Chicago. The Narrative is broken up by a number of discussions on lesbian issues, dream sequences and free verse poetry. Go Fish was part of a wave of LGBT-themed films that appeared in the mid 1990s. The film won numerous international awards.
Photo: Go Fish DVD cover
-Chasing Amy (1997)
-Kiss me Guido (1997)
-American Psycho (2000)
-The L word – TV series (2004-2005)
She was a writer and story editor of the first two seasons and later appeared as Alice’s Screenwriter-ex-girlfriend, Gabby.
16. Film Festivals (1977-present)
There are several Gay and Lesbian film festivals throughout the world every year. The ‘San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival’ is the oldest film festival devoted to LGBT programming currently in existence. The first screening was in February 1977.
In 1994, the South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (OIA) was launched. They are currently the only LGBT film festival in Africa.
Si-lest’ © 2009
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