Free Movies You’ll Probably Skip

Posted on | July 29, 2010 | 34 Comments

Thursdays this summer at the Atlas Performing Arts Center [in Washington, D.C.] will be Gay 101 – a series of films one must see to be a card-carrying gay man. While most are not gay-themed, all are embraced by the gay and lesbian community. Classics such as All About Eve, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? will share the screen with campier choices including Mommie Dearest and Valley of the Dolls.

The films will be screened in the Sprenger Theatre, the Atlas’ largest black box space. . . . “We want the Atlas to be a fun destination for the Capitol Hill and H Street Northeast community this summer. We like to think of it as an indoor version of an outdoor movie festival.” said Scott Kenison, Chief Operating Officer of the Atlas. “Only our festival will have air conditioning and best of all, no mosquitoes!”

Schedule:

July 1   Breakfast at Tiffany’s
July 8 Auntie Mame
July 9 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
July 15 La Cage Aux Folles
July 22 Valley of the Dolls
July 29 Where the Boys Are
Aug 5 All About Eve
Aug 12   Suddenly, Last Summer
Aug 19 Cabaret
Aug 26   Mommie Dearest
Sept 2 Steel Magnolias

Category: Culture, Gays, Movies

Comments

34 Responses to “Free Movies You’ll Probably Skip”

Moe Lane
July 29th, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

What, no Top Gun?
Moe Lane
July 29th, 2010 @ 5:24 pm

What, no Top Gun?
BLBeamer
July 29th, 2010 @ 9:31 pm

Moe, you beat me to it.

And why isn’t “A Single Man” listed? A movie by, for and about gays! What’s a fella got to do to earn his gay card, anyway?

It’s got Julianne Moore in it, too.

So that must be worth something.
BLBeamer
July 29th, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

Moe, you beat me to it.

And why isn’t “A Single Man” listed? A movie by, for and about gays! What’s a fella got to do to earn his gay card, anyway?

It’s got Julianne Moore in it, too.

So that must be worth something.
Red
July 29th, 2010 @ 10:29 pm

“What, no Top Gun?”
Bwahahahahahahaha!
Red
July 29th, 2010 @ 6:29 pm

“What, no Top Gun?”
Bwahahahahahahaha!
Victor Morton
July 29th, 2010 @ 10:33 pm

Um … I’ve seen 10 of these 11. And most are at least good, with a couple being cold masterpieces.
Victor Morton
July 29th, 2010 @ 6:33 pm

Um … I’ve seen 10 of these 11. And most are at least good, with a couple being cold masterpieces.
Victor Morton
July 29th, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

And damn … the one I HAVEN’T seen is the one playing tonight, when I’ve already made plans.
Victor Morton
July 29th, 2010 @ 6:35 pm

And damn … the one I HAVEN’T seen is the one playing tonight, when I’ve already made plans.
Dave C
July 29th, 2010 @ 10:41 pm

Hey, I have Breakfast at Tiffany’s on DVD!
Dave C
July 29th, 2010 @ 10:41 pm

My brother has ‘Where the Boys Aren’t’ volume 1 through 23.
Dave C
July 29th, 2010 @ 6:41 pm

Hey, I have Breakfast at Tiffany’s on DVD!
Dave C
July 29th, 2010 @ 6:41 pm

My brother has ‘Where the Boys Aren’t’ volume 1 through 23.
Bob Belvedere
July 29th, 2010 @ 11:15 pm

And you discovered this how, Stacy?
Bob Belvedere
July 29th, 2010 @ 7:15 pm

And you discovered this how, Stacy?
BLBeamer
July 29th, 2010 @ 11:16 pm

I’ve seen 6 of these. With the exception of All About Eve, I consider none of them masterpieces, but they were all interesting.
BLBeamer
July 29th, 2010 @ 7:16 pm

I’ve seen 6 of these. With the exception of All About Eve, I consider none of them masterpieces, but they were all interesting.
Live Free Or Die
July 29th, 2010 @ 11:58 pm

No Victor Victoria?
Live Free Or Die
July 29th, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

No Victor Victoria?
Estragon
July 30th, 2010 @ 4:49 am

Seen them all, and think most are exceptional.

The only reservations might be about the poor conversion of Suddenly, Last Summer from stage to screen, and I wouldn’t say Valley of the Dolls is any great movie, although it was fine social comment at the time it was made.

I’d also question the inclusion of Steel Magnolias. Perhaps Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil instead?

Moe ~ Made me do a spit-take with that, you rotter . . .
Estragon
July 30th, 2010 @ 12:49 am

Seen them all, and think most are exceptional.

The only reservations might be about the poor conversion of Suddenly, Last Summer from stage to screen, and I wouldn’t say Valley of the Dolls is any great movie, although it was fine social comment at the time it was made.

I’d also question the inclusion of Steel Magnolias. Perhaps Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil instead?

Moe ~ Made me do a spit-take with that, you rotter . . .
Rae
July 30th, 2010 @ 5:31 am

Aug 26 Mommie Dearest

Christina Crawford lies!

Daughter Dearest
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/03/crawford200803

As much as I hate to admit it, Moe Lane wins the thread.
Rae
July 30th, 2010 @ 1:31 am

Aug 26 Mommie Dearest

Christina Crawford lies!

Daughter Dearest
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/03/crawford200803

As much as I hate to admit it, Moe Lane wins the thread.
Andrew Sullivan
July 30th, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

Why does the good film festival have to be in DC when I am in P-Town?
Andrew Sullivan
July 30th, 2010 @ 9:32 am

Why does the good film festival have to be in DC when I am in P-Town?
Celebrity Gossip and News
July 30th, 2010 @ 10:33 am

‘Dinner for Schmucks’: a Hit or Down To the Pit?…

I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Victor Morton
July 30th, 2010 @ 6:36 pm

I assume Mr. Beamer has not seen CABARET (the other masterpiece in that group beside the one he names).

I must say, other than the fact its a musical starring Liza Minnelli (aside: what kinda gay film festival has not a single Judy title), what exactly is gay-friendly about CABARET? It portrays Nazism as both a product of and a reaction to permissive sexuality, including the lavender variety. I saw it again about a year ago and Sally Bowles is a 2010-typical flighty libertine party girl revelling shallowly in the deep moral muck surrounding her. I couldn’t believe I was watching a 40-year-old film set 40 years farther back with such a *contemporary* character. Nostradamus ain’t got nothin on Bob Fosse.
Victor Morton
July 30th, 2010 @ 2:36 pm

I assume Mr. Beamer has not seen CABARET (the other masterpiece in that group beside the one he names).

I must say, other than the fact its a musical starring Liza Minnelli (aside: what kinda gay film festival has not a single Judy title), what exactly is gay-friendly about CABARET? It portrays Nazism as both a product of and a reaction to permissive sexuality, including the lavender variety. I saw it again about a year ago and Sally Bowles is a 2010-typical flighty libertine party girl revelling shallowly in the deep moral muck surrounding her. I couldn’t believe I was watching a 40-year-old film set 40 years farther back with such a *contemporary* character. Nostradamus ain’t got nothin on Bob Fosse.
dustbury.com » Magic and make-believe and an audience
July 30th, 2010 @ 2:39 pm

[…] Stacy McCain says I might skip this particular film festival: Thursdays this summer at the Atlas Performing Arts Center [in Washington, D.C.] will be Gay 101 — a series of films one must see to be a card-carrying gay man. While most are not gay-themed, all are embraced by the gay and lesbian community. Classics such as All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? will share the screen with campier choices including Mommie Dearest and Valley of the Dolls. […]
BLBeamer
July 30th, 2010 @ 6:58 pm

Mr. Morton, I am sorry to say Cabaret is one of the 5 I have not seen. I will defer to your superior taste and accept that it too is a masterpiece, but certainly it can’t be as masterpieceful as All About Eve?

George Sanders was simply fabulous in that film.
BLBeamer
July 30th, 2010 @ 2:58 pm

Mr. Morton, I am sorry to say Cabaret is one of the 5 I have not seen. I will defer to your superior taste and accept that it too is a masterpiece, but certainly it can’t be as masterpieceful as All About Eve?

George Sanders was simply fabulous in that film.
Bob Belvedere
July 30th, 2010 @ 7:29 pm

What no Douglas Sirk films!
Bob Belvedere
July 30th, 2010 @ 3:29 pm

What no Douglas Sirk films!