ZeitGAYst

2013 Academy Awards: A Post Mortem

The 2013 Oscars telecast was a rather tedious affair, largely characterized by the audience's awkward reaction to host Seth MacFarlane's borderline tasteless attempts at humor.  On what it is considered our big night, our Super Bowl, gays were mentioned three times:

• The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles appeared on stage;

• After the chorus' appearance, MacFarlane told William Shatner (who was visiting from the future) that he wasn't a member of the chorus, to which Shatner replied, "Oh, trust me, in July 2015 you join the chorus".

• Later in the telecast MacFarlane announced that the musical Chicago was being honored for winning Best Picture 10 years ago, "because we're afraid the show wasn't gay enough yet."

 

By far, the highlight of the night for me was Dame Shirley Bassey, who appeared at the end of a tribute to 50 years of James Bond movies and performed the theme from Gold Finger.  It was a very electric performance (such expressive use of her hands and arms!) and the audience gave her quite a reception.  Later, at the end of the "In Memoriam" tribute, Barbra Streisand came on stage and, in tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, sang The Way We Were.

I loved hearing last year's Best Actor winner, French actor Jean Dujardin, pronouncing the names of the Best Actress nominees.

Although it was a nice surprise to see the Gay Men's Chorus of LA on stage, unfortunately, it was during the frat boy number I Saw Your Boobs. (Whose sprightly melody I can't get out of my head.)  I don't know what the connection was between the two.  Mercifully, they were on screen just 15 seconds.  And Although I'm not certain, I believe they may also have provided background vocals for Adele later in the telecast. 

 

Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum did a very nice Astaire/Rogers dance number at the beginning of the show, performed to The Way You Look Tonight.  And Catherine Zeta Jones killed during her All That Jazz number. 

Beards (the facial hair type) were the look for men as evidenced by Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman, Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Bryan Cranston, Chris Pine, Justin Theroux and Ann Hathaway's husband.  (I lost count at ten.)

Melissa McCarthy's and Paul Rudd's banter fell embarrassingly flat (and like last year, her gown resembled a shapeless sack); Daniel Radcliffe and Kristin Stewart had no chemistry whatsoever; the usually stunning Nicole Kidman looked a bit wilted; and Rene Zelwegger looked uncomfortable when she appeared on stage with her fellow cast members from Chicago.

 

Thankfully, 75-year-old Jane Fonda looked incredible because her gown was bound to draw attention due to its florescent-yellow color.  And co-presenter, Michael Douglas (68 years old), also looked great.

In closing, one thing I'll say in Seth MacFarlane's favor is that he has a very nice speaking and singing voice.

To read my comments from last year's Oscar telecast, double click here.

 

 

 

 

Madonna Wins a Golden Globe for "Evita" (January 19, 1997)

On January 19, 1997 Madonna won a Golden Globe for Best Leading Actress in a Musical/Comedy for her portrayal of Eva Peron in the movie Evita.  In a role she seemed born to play, she beat out Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Debbie Reynolds and Frances McDormand.  Looking quite chic, Ms. Ciccone was a study in quiet reserve as she gave her acceptance speech (after all, she was now a serious actress!).

 

 

 

 

Too often Madonna gets a bum rap for her acting ability (let's not forget that Meryl Streep was in She Devil), but she's given a number of good performances.  For instance, I liked her in Desperately Seeking Susan; Dick Tracy (pictured, far left); A League of Their Own (near left); and the documentary Truth or Dare.  Of course, she's also made her mark musically with hit songs such as Get Into the Groove; Crazy for You; and This Used to be My Playground.  (And in 2012 she won her second Golden Globe for the song Masterpiece from the movie she directed WE).  At the 1991 Oscars Madge performed Sooner or Later from Dick Tracy and it was notable for being one of the few times she displayed nervousness as her hands were visibly shaking during the peformance. 

 

After her triumph at the Globes it was disappointing that Madonna failed to get an Oscar nomination.  However, two months later the original song "You Must Love Me" from Evita won the Oscar for Best Song which she performed - with no shaking this time.  So, don't cry for her ...

 

 

 

Rock Hudson Marries (November 9, 1955)

A week before he turned 30, strapping movie star Rock Hudson married his agent's secretary, Phyllis Gates.  The wedding took place on November 9, 1955. In Hollywood it was understood that this was a marriage of convenience, arranged in order to thwart tabloids such as Confidential Magazine from revealing his homosexuality.  The marriage produced no children and the couple divorced three years later.

 

Of course any discussion about Rock Hudson wouldn't be complete without mentioning the movie Pillow Talk (the second highest grossing movie of the 1950's).  Here's his racy (by the standards of 1959) split-screen bathtub scene with Doris Day:

 

 

 

At around the same time Liberace was battling similar gay rumors with the print media as Hudson, but rather than marry he sued for libel and won cases in the UK (Daily Mirror newspaper) and the US (Confidential).   

Rock Hudson Dies From AIDS (October 2, 1985)

Two months after Rock Hudson revealed that he was battling AIDS, the actor died from its ravages on October 2, 1985.  He was one month shy of his 60th birthday.  Doris Day and Elizabeth Taylor, two of his former co-stars, stood by his side and provided emotional support in his final months.  Hudson's death was somewhat of a one-two punch to the general public because 1) he had AIDS and 2) it was revealed he was gay.

 

 

Hudson's death began the next chapter in the nation's unfolding AIDS nightmare because, after four years, it finally put a face on the deadly scourge.  Then when celebrities such as Arthur Ashe, teenager Ryan White and actress Amanda Blake (Gunsmoke's "Miss Kitty") succumbed it brought home the message that heterosexuals weren't immune.  Later, Magic Johnson and Greg Louganis would become ambassadors for living with HIV (both revealed they tested positive for HIV in the 1990's). 

 

So Rock Hudson is now probably best known, especially among younger generations, for dying of AIDS rather than being one of the most popular movie stars of the late 50's and early 60's.  Shortly before he died Hudson addressed this legacy and said he was fine with it if it increased awareness of the disease and the importance of protection.

 

Between the time of Hudson's death and the early 1990's well known gay men in the fields of fashion, acting, music and choreography would be among the thousands to die of AIDS.  Many would be considerably younger than Hudson.  1986 saw the death of fashion designer Perry Ellis.  And this was the only beginning as Liberace, Freddie Mercury, Michael Bennett, Robert Reed, Alvin Ailey and Robert Mapplethorpe were some of the other famous faces struck down in ther prime.

 

 

 

Faye Dunaway Chews the Scenery in "Mommie Dearest" (September 19, 1981)

The movie Mommie Dearest is based on the tell-all book by Joan Crawford's adopted daughter Christina.  It opened he weekend of September 19, 1981, a little more than four years after Crawford's death at the age of 77.  Faye Dunaway, acclaimed for her roles in Bonnie & Clyde (1967), Chinatown (1974) and Network (1976), portrayed Crawford.  Her over-the-top performance is what made the movie a camp classic but it was said to have ended her career as a leading lady.   

 

I always enjoyed a video shown at the bar Splash that repeatedly showed the scene where Joan slaps a fresh Christina (see video clip below).  It was often shown together with a scene from Dynasty in which Krystle slapped Alexis.

 

   

The movie is a wall-to-wall campfest of quotes.  Among my favorites: 

• Joan to contractors in her new apartment in Manhattan after she married Pepsi CEO Alfred Steele: "Tear down that bitch of a bearing wall and put a window where it ought to be!"

 

• Joan to Christina at her birthday party: "Is that the present you like best?  Then that's the present you can keep.  We'll take the rest to the orphans who don't have anything."

 

• Joan to her maid who finds her cleaning the bathroom floor: "Helga, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt."

 

• "Tina, get me the ax!"

 

• Joan to Christina: "I don't ask much of you girl.  Why can't you give me the respect I'm entitled to? Why can't you treat me in the way that I'm treated by any stranger on the street?"  Christina: "Because ... I am ... NOT ... one ... of ... your ... fans!!!"  (Commence choking of Christina by Joan).

 

• Joan to Christina: "I should have known you'd know where to find the boys and the booze."  

 

Because of their overuse, the "no wire hangers" and "don't fuck with me fellows" quotes aren't particular favorites of mine. 

 

 

The Death of Marilyn Monroe (August 5, 1962)

Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home on the morning of August 5, 1962.  She was 36.  Although the official cause of death was from an overdose of barbiturates there's always been speculation that she was murdered because of her ties to both President Kennedy and his brother Bobby.  (She famously sang "Happy birthday, Mr. President" at Madison Square Garden less than three months before her death.)

 

I was only 5 years old at the time but remember sitting in the living room when my dad came upstairs from the basement to tell us the news he had heard about Monroe's death.  I probably remember at such a young age because Marilyn was so widely known - or perhaps it was my nascent gay gene stirring to life?   

 

Like Marilyn, Judy Garland and Princess Diana would be canonized by gay fans upon their premature deaths in 1969 and 1997, respectively.  (Eva Peron, who also died young at the age of 32, became somewhat of a gay icon years later when the musical Evita opened in the late 70's, but this fascination is likely due to Patti LuPone's performance.)  

 

My favorite Marilyn movie lines are from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which she played the dim golddigger Lorelei Lee:

• "I love conversation, don't you?"
• "Ooh, look, round windows!"
• "Dorothy, please, a woman never admits her feet hurt." 
• "Thank you, ever so."

The Death of Tormented Actor Montgomery Clift (July 23, 1966)

The vast majority of troubled entertainers who have died prematurely, many of whom are gay icons, have been women, e.g., Marilyn, Judy, Billie and Dinah.  One of the few men on this list is actor Montgomery Clift.  He was found dead in bed in his New York apartment the morning of July 23, 1966; he was 45.  The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but a major contributing factor was the cumulative effect of pain killers and liquor.  During the first half of the 1950's Clift was considered one of Hollywood's finest actors, but his life went into a tailspin after he was seriously injured in a car accident in 1956. 

 

He made 18 movies during his career and was nominated for an Oscar four times - but never took a statue home (Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton were each nominated seven times without winning).  The movies were:

• The Search (1948)
• A Place in the Sun (1951)
• From Here to Eternity (1953)
• Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

   

Long before his accident Clift abused pills and booze.  Additionally, he was a closeted homosexual in the habit of picking up strangers and male hustlers, often finding himself in trouble that had to be cleaned up by his agent or movie studio.  He was moody, insecure and an outsider to Hollywood's A-list.  However, he counted Elizabeth Taylor as a close friend (they appeared together in A Place in the Sun; Suddenly Last Summer; and Raintree Country. 

 

Marilyn Monroe Sings "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to JFK (May 19, 1962)

Marilyn Monroe was one of many well-wishers from the entertainment world who paid tribute to President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962, on the occasion of his 45th birthday.  (Actually, his birthday was ten days later.)  However, because of her slinky "va-va-voom" gown and breathy singing of "Happy Birthday", only Marilyn's appearance is remembered.  Curiously, First Lady Jackie Kennedy wasn't among those in attendance that evening.  (Ironically, she died on this very date in 1994).

 

Looking back, this performance was quite audacious for its time.  (And it's been a part of every gay man's repertoire ever since.)  Back then, however, who knows how long it took for Marilyn's performance to be communicated to the general public.  Perhaps her appearance was muted to a degree because she was one of a roster of performers that night, among them Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Maria Callas (pictured).   

 

That evening Marilyn was very late for her appearance and in a creepy bit of foreshadowing, master of ceremonies Peter Lawford (one of the president's brother-in-laws) introduced her as the "late" Marilyn Monroe.  Shockingly, less than three months later she would be dead.  To view this classic performance, double click here.

 

 

 

Joan Crawford Marries Pepsi President Alfred Steele (May 10, 1955)

Alfred Steele was Joan Crawford's fourth, and last, husband (it was his first marriage).  She was 50, he 54 when they married in Las Vegas on May 10, 1955.  Steele died of a heart attack four years later.  (Interestingly, all of Crawford's marriages lasted four years.)  Besides being Alfred's spouse, Joan also served as a tireless worldwide ambassador for the soft drink.  (At the time of their marriage Crawford's adopted daughter Christina was 15.)   

 

Crawford's marriage to Steele was portrayed in the movie Mommie Dearest, which resulted in two classic scenes.  In the first, Crawford (played by Faye Dunaway) is overseeing the renovation of her and Steele's Manhattan apartment and orders the builders to "Tear down that bitch of a bearing wall and put a window where it ought to be!".  Then, when the Pepsi board of directors tries to remove her from the board after Steele's death, Joan has one of the most memorable lines of the entire movie:  "Don't fuck with me fellas, this ain't my first time at the rodeo!"

 

 

Grace Kelly Becomes Princess Grace (April 19, 1956)

Twenty-five years before the wedding of Charles and Diana another fairytale wedding had the world aflutter as 26-year old Oscar-winning movie actress Grace Kelly married 32-year old Prince Rainier III of Monaco.  (Three months after their nuptials the last of her eleven movies, High Society, was released.)

 

Unlike Diana's tumultuous life, Princess Grace's with Prince Rainier was seemingly a happier one.  However, like Diana, Princess Grace died young (age 52) in a car accident - but under different circumstances.  Princess Grace was behind the wheel when she suffered a stroke and the car plunged down an embankment.  Her death came a year after Diana's marriage and Princess Diana represented England at the funeral.