Another Gay Movie: An oral history

Contents:

• "I'M GOG TO GIVE THEM THE GAYT MOVIE EVER MA": AN ORAL HISTORY OF ANOTHER GAY MOVIE
• THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014/2:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014 / 2:41 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY BLOCKBTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"DANIEL WALBER","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OUT TAKE IS A BI-WEEKLY LUMN ON QUEER REPRENTATNS FILM. IT NS ON ALTERNATG THURSDAYS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OK, I’LL REPHRASE THAT. THERE’S SOMETHG UNNIABLY HOMOEROTIC ABOUT THE VERY NCEPT OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK. IT WAS TE BACK WHEN THEY WERE LLED “PEPLUM” MOVI (A WORD FOR TUNIC), AND ’S ABSOLUTELY TE TODAY. FROM 1958’S “HERCUL” WH STEVE REEV TO THE NEW “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL” STARRG KELLAN LUTZ, AND EVERYTHG BETWEEN, THE GENRE LIV AND BREATH THROUGH THE MCLED BODI OF OFTEN SNTILY-CLAD ACTORS. WE’RE THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS, ACTUALLY. ZACK SNYR’S ENTIRELY RIDICULO “300” WAS A SENSATN 2007, AND SCE THEN WE’VE GOTTEN SUCH DIVERSE ENTERTAMENTS AS TARSEM SGH’S “IMMORTALS” AND TV’S “SPARTAC.” AND NOW, 2014, WE’RE ANTICIPATG “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL,” THE ROCK’S “HERCUL,” “POMPEII” AND “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS THE EYE N SEE, GIANT SHOUTG MEN ELABORATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OLD WAVE OF PEPLUM MOVI, BACK THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S, WAS AN ENTIRELY UNTENTNAL GAY PHENOMENON. THE ABSURDLY SUCCSFUL ACTN MOVI, MA PRIMARILY BY ITALIAN STUDS, BEME CULT HS AMONG A VERY PARTICULAR AND THEN-IGNORED SEGMENT OF THE DIENCE. NONE OF THE ORIGAL “HERCUL” SERI PRENTED AN EROTICIZED PROTAGONIST AS SUCH, BUT THEY WERE EROTICIZED ANYWAY BY THE GAY MUNY THAT TOOK THEM , A MUNY THAT AT THAT TIME WAS STILL VERY MUCH A CLOSETED AND ABED MORY THE UNED STAT. THE PEPLUM BOOM WAS SET OFF BY THE SUCCS OF THE 1958 “HERCUL,” JT OVER A BEFORE THE STONEWALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NONE OF THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR PROTAGONISTS TO BE SEXUAL OBJECTS. THEY WEREN’T MA FOR WOMEN, CERTALY, AND THEY VERY EVINTLY WERE NOT SHOT WH THE MALE HOMOSEXUAL GAZE MD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW. NOT THAT MAJOR RELEAS ARE EVER MA WH GAY PEOPLE SPECIFILLY MD AS A TARGET DIENCE, BUT THE WIR CULTURE HAS ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE EXIST. NOT THAT THE DOMANCE OF THE STRAIGHT MALE GAZE IS GONE, BUT THE EXISTENCE OF BOTH GAY MALE AND FEMALE SIRE IS REGNIZED BY MOVI. SO, HERE’S THE QUTN: WHILE THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS ACCINTALLY STUMBLED TO GAY SIRE, IS POSSIBLE THAT THE NEW BATCH OF BIGGER-BUDGET HOLLYWOOD SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI ARE VG ?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELIEVE OR NOT, ’S HAS A LOT TO DO WH SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE BODY OF HERCUL (OR SAMSON, OR MACISTE, OR GOLIATH OR WHOEVER) WAS THE PRIMARY VISUAL DRAW OF THE ITALIAN PEPLUM FLICK, THE SOURCE OF THE ACTN. LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY PERSONAL FAVORE ANACHRONISTIC MS, 1963’S “HERCUL AND THE MASKED RIR.” THE FILM IS SET SPA THE 16TH CENTURY, BEE WHY NOT? HERCUL IS A BLON, HULKG GYPSY PLAYED BY ALAN STEEL, BUT THE PLOT IS MOSTLY ABOUT DON JUAN (THE ALMOST-AS-BEEFY MIMMO PALMARA). ACTUALLY, HERCUL HAS VERY LTLE TO DO EXCEPT ACT AS DON JUAN’S SUPPORT, SHOWG UP TO THROW THGS AROUND AND FLEX FOR THE MERA. ALAN STEEL, AS HERCUL, PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS AN ACTN MOVIE ABOUT SOMEONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE PLENTY OF MOVI WHICH HERCUL IS MORE CENTRAL TO THE PLOT, BUT THE ATHETICS ARE THE SAME. THE MERA IS OBSSED WH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MCLEMAN, AND THE WAY THAT HE MOV, BUT ’S DONE WHOUT EVEN A HT OF SELF-AWARENS. IN “THE FURY OF HERCUL” (1962), BRAD HARRIS AS HERCUL ACTUALLY SHOWS UP TO EVERY FIGHT SCENE WH AN EXTRA LAYER OF BODY OIL. THIS IS EVEN TE OF THE STEVE REEV FILMS, CLUDG THE 1958 ORIGAL. HIS MCL UPSTAGE THE ACTUAL SPECIAL EFFECTS, NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS AN ENORMO MAKHIFT DRAGON THAT FALLS OVER AFTER A VERY SHORT FIGHT WH THE YOUNG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LEGACY OF THE OLD FILMS IS THEREFORE ONE OF GIDDY, NOCENT OBSSN WH THE MALE FORM. IT’S ALMOST REMISCENT OF PROFSNAL WRTLG, ANOTHER MCLE-OBSSED CULTURAL FORM THAT OFTEN CHOOS TO IGNORE THE EROTIC POTENTIAL OF S GREASE AND S TIGHT BRIGHTLY-LORED BRIEFS. AND PROFSNAL WRTLG IS STILL AROUND, LOUDLY. HAVE THGS CHANGED THAT MUCH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LOOKG OVER THE LAST , THE EVINCE IS MIXED. “TROY” WAS ABSOLUTELY PLIC THE EROTIC PRENTATN OF S MA CHARACTERS. IT FEATUR BRAD PT’S BODY, OFTEN RTG RATHER THAN FIGHTG, AND OCSNALLY MOSTLY-NAKED A TENT OF FURS. THAT’S TO SAY NOTHG OF THE RT OF THE ST. IT’S A SHAME THE MOVIE WAS SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, THE FLUENCE OF ZACK SNYR’S “300” CHANG THGS A B. NOT NTENT TO SIMPLY E THE EXAGGERATED MASCULY OF THE BODYBUILR PHYSIQUE AS A SPECIAL EFFECT, SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE ED ON THE MALE FORM. THE RULT IS A GROUP OF SPARTANS THAT PHYSILLY OVERWHELM, A FEVERISH FANTASY OF MASCULY. THE STUM REVEAL FAR MORE SK THAN ALMOST ANYTHG AN OLD HERCUL MOVIE, AND SNYR TOSS A FEW MOMENTS OF ACTUAL NUDY JT TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE NOTICED . IN A SENSE, “300”IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MORN SWORD AND SANDAL FILM THAT BOTH MATAS THE ACTN POTENTIAL OF THE EXCSIVELY BUILT MALE FORM AND RPORAT A NSCNS OF S EROTIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN AGA, THE SNYR’S EPIC OF WEIRD VLENCE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER IAS. IT’S EQUALLY TERTED THE GROTQUE, OPPOSG THE ENGEERED ADONIS OF SPARTA WH AN ARMY OF CREASGLY HORRIFIC PERSIANS. WHEN EPHIALT, MA REPULSIVE BY THE FILM WH PALPABLE GLEE, FALLY ENTERS THE PERSIAN ROYAL TENT TO BETRAY THE SPARTANS, HE IS MET BY A SICKLY Y THAT SEEMS TO INTIFY TRANSGRSIVE SEXUAL AND GENR IAS WH EVERYTHG DISGTG ABOUT PERSIA. THIS IS OPPOSED TO A SPARTAN GENR BARY OF ENRAGED MALE MCULATURE AND A LONELY LENA HEAY TO STAND FOR EVERYTHG FEME ABOUT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE ASSUM THAT THE SEQUEL WILL BE AK TO THAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RT OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF PEPLUM THIS YEAR? THIS WEEK WE GET THE NEW “HERCUL” AFTER ALL, A MOVIE WHICH SEEMS STED TO FALL SOMEWHERE THE MIDDLE. THE TRAILER HTS AT ELEMENTS OF THE “300” STYLE, EXAGGERATED FIGHTG MECHANICS TO PLEMENT THE EXAGGERATED PHYSIL PRENCE OF KELLAN LUTZ. BUT THIS IS ALSO GOG TO BE A LOVE STORY, AND ONE BUILT AROUND A MAN OM THE “TWILIGHT” STABLE OF BEEFK. LUTZ HAS ALREADY BEEN THE EROTIC OBJECT FILMS DIRECTED AT A PRIMARY FEMALE DIENCE, AND ONE N ONLY ASSUME THAT HIS STG WAS AT LEAST RMED BY THAT. THE MEDIA IS OBSSED WH HIS WORKOUT ROUTE, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO THAT IMPLY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE END OF THE DAY DO THIS MEAN ANYTHG? WOULD BE A VICTORY IF MAJOR STUD ACTN FILMS MORE EXPLICLY BEGAN MARKETG THEMSELV TO GAY MEN? I SUPPOSE ’D BE NICE, BUT I’M HARDLY GOG TO START MPAIGNG FOR MORE SHIRTLS LUTZ AS A CIVIL RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NVERSATN TO BE HAD AROUND MALE NUDY POPULAR CULTURE. IN MANY PLAC ’S TABOO, TOO MUCH OF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE MALE BODY N BE JT AS EROTILLY APPROPRIATED AS THE FEMALE. INTERTGLY, THE SAFT PLAC FOR MALE NUDY ON SCREEN APPEAR TO BE EDI OF RIDICULE AND THE SUPPOSEDLY HYPER-MASCULE WORLDS OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK, WRTLG, ETC. YET THAT’S A BLISSFUL IGNORANCE, ONE WHICH FALLS APART THE MOMENT YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH GAY MEN LOVED THOSE STEVE REEV MOVI. AND IF A FILM IS NSC OF THAT, I’D LIKE TO THK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE TERTG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED: THIS! IS! (STILL!) SPARTA! HOW "300" LOWERED THE BAR FOR SWORD & SANDAL MOVI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• 10 GREAT GAY AND LBIAN HORROR FILMS
• 'HACKS' STAR MEGAN STALTER TALKS VIRAL 'HI, GAY' VIO, QUEER REPRENTATN COMEDY
• GAYHIPHOP

"I'M GOG TO GIVE THEM THE GAYT MOVIE EVER MA": AN ORAL HISTORY OF ANOTHER GAY MOVIE

In a time when “gay g-of-age stori” were still synonymo wh “g out stori, ” Stephens envisned a lorful fantasy world where the closet didn’t even exist and his characters uld stead worry about what any other teen worried about: Havg sex.

Tastels or not, Another Gay Movie was groundbreakg s pictn of the msy sex liv of gay men, and s ankns has ma a fg (and tnal!

In celebratn of the film’s 15th anniversary, a “Director’s Cut” re-release provis an opportuny to reach new dienc, which rais the qutn: Will a provotive product of s time like Another Gay Movie still feel relevant today, or will jt feel offensive? Club also had the honor of rng director Todd Stephens wh his Another Gay Movie st for the first time over 15 years. At the tail end of the , filmmaker Todd Stephens found succs wh the gay g-of-age feature Edge Of Seventeen, which he wrote for director David Moreton.

THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014/2:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014 / 2:41 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY BLOCKBTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"DANIEL WALBER","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OUT TAKE IS A BI-WEEKLY LUMN ON QUEER REPRENTATNS FILM. IT NS ON ALTERNATG THURSDAYS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OK, I’LL REPHRASE THAT. THERE’S SOMETHG UNNIABLY HOMOEROTIC ABOUT THE VERY NCEPT OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK. IT WAS TE BACK WHEN THEY WERE LLED “PEPLUM” MOVI (A WORD FOR TUNIC), AND ’S ABSOLUTELY TE TODAY. FROM 1958’S “HERCUL” WH STEVE REEV TO THE NEW “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL” STARRG KELLAN LUTZ, AND EVERYTHG BETWEEN, THE GENRE LIV AND BREATH THROUGH THE MCLED BODI OF OFTEN SNTILY-CLAD ACTORS. WE’RE THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS, ACTUALLY. ZACK SNYR’S ENTIRELY RIDICULO “300” WAS A SENSATN 2007, AND SCE THEN WE’VE GOTTEN SUCH DIVERSE ENTERTAMENTS AS TARSEM SGH’S “IMMORTALS” AND TV’S “SPARTAC.” AND NOW, 2014, WE’RE ANTICIPATG “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL,” THE ROCK’S “HERCUL,” “POMPEII” AND “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS THE EYE N SEE, GIANT SHOUTG MEN ELABORATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OLD WAVE OF PEPLUM MOVI, BACK THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S, WAS AN ENTIRELY UNTENTNAL GAY PHENOMENON. THE ABSURDLY SUCCSFUL ACTN MOVI, MA PRIMARILY BY ITALIAN STUDS, BEME CULT HS AMONG A VERY PARTICULAR AND THEN-IGNORED SEGMENT OF THE DIENCE. NONE OF THE ORIGAL “HERCUL” SERI PRENTED AN EROTICIZED PROTAGONIST AS SUCH, BUT THEY WERE EROTICIZED ANYWAY BY THE GAY MUNY THAT TOOK THEM , A MUNY THAT AT THAT TIME WAS STILL VERY MUCH A CLOSETED AND ABED MORY THE UNED STAT. THE PEPLUM BOOM WAS SET OFF BY THE SUCCS OF THE 1958 “HERCUL,” JT OVER A BEFORE THE STONEWALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NONE OF THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR PROTAGONISTS TO BE SEXUAL OBJECTS. THEY WEREN’T MA FOR WOMEN, CERTALY, AND THEY VERY EVINTLY WERE NOT SHOT WH THE MALE HOMOSEXUAL GAZE MD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW. NOT THAT MAJOR RELEAS ARE EVER MA WH GAY PEOPLE SPECIFILLY MD AS A TARGET DIENCE, BUT THE WIR CULTURE HAS ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE EXIST. NOT THAT THE DOMANCE OF THE STRAIGHT MALE GAZE IS GONE, BUT THE EXISTENCE OF BOTH GAY MALE AND FEMALE SIRE IS REGNIZED BY MOVI. SO, HERE’S THE QUTN: WHILE THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS ACCINTALLY STUMBLED TO GAY SIRE, IS POSSIBLE THAT THE NEW BATCH OF BIGGER-BUDGET HOLLYWOOD SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI ARE VG ?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELIEVE OR NOT, ’S HAS A LOT TO DO WH SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE BODY OF HERCUL (OR SAMSON, OR MACISTE, OR GOLIATH OR WHOEVER) WAS THE PRIMARY VISUAL DRAW OF THE ITALIAN PEPLUM FLICK, THE SOURCE OF THE ACTN. LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY PERSONAL FAVORE ANACHRONISTIC MS, 1963’S “HERCUL AND THE MASKED RIR.” THE FILM IS SET SPA THE 16TH CENTURY, BEE WHY NOT? HERCUL IS A BLON, HULKG GYPSY PLAYED BY ALAN STEEL, BUT THE PLOT IS MOSTLY ABOUT DON JUAN (THE ALMOST-AS-BEEFY MIMMO PALMARA). ACTUALLY, HERCUL HAS VERY LTLE TO DO EXCEPT ACT AS DON JUAN’S SUPPORT, SHOWG UP TO THROW THGS AROUND AND FLEX FOR THE MERA. ALAN STEEL, AS HERCUL, PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS AN ACTN MOVIE ABOUT SOMEONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE PLENTY OF MOVI WHICH HERCUL IS MORE CENTRAL TO THE PLOT, BUT THE ATHETICS ARE THE SAME. THE MERA IS OBSSED WH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MCLEMAN, AND THE WAY THAT HE MOV, BUT ’S DONE WHOUT EVEN A HT OF SELF-AWARENS. IN “THE FURY OF HERCUL” (1962), BRAD HARRIS AS HERCUL ACTUALLY SHOWS UP TO EVERY FIGHT SCENE WH AN EXTRA LAYER OF BODY OIL. THIS IS EVEN TE OF THE STEVE REEV FILMS, CLUDG THE 1958 ORIGAL. HIS MCL UPSTAGE THE ACTUAL SPECIAL EFFECTS, NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS AN ENORMO MAKHIFT DRAGON THAT FALLS OVER AFTER A VERY SHORT FIGHT WH THE YOUNG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LEGACY OF THE OLD FILMS IS THEREFORE ONE OF GIDDY, NOCENT OBSSN WH THE MALE FORM. IT’S ALMOST REMISCENT OF PROFSNAL WRTLG, ANOTHER MCLE-OBSSED CULTURAL FORM THAT OFTEN CHOOS TO IGNORE THE EROTIC POTENTIAL OF S GREASE AND S TIGHT BRIGHTLY-LORED BRIEFS. AND PROFSNAL WRTLG IS STILL AROUND, LOUDLY. HAVE THGS CHANGED THAT MUCH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LOOKG OVER THE LAST , THE EVINCE IS MIXED. “TROY” WAS ABSOLUTELY PLIC THE EROTIC PRENTATN OF S MA CHARACTERS. IT FEATUR BRAD PT’S BODY, OFTEN RTG RATHER THAN FIGHTG, AND OCSNALLY MOSTLY-NAKED A TENT OF FURS. THAT’S TO SAY NOTHG OF THE RT OF THE ST. IT’S A SHAME THE MOVIE WAS SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, THE FLUENCE OF ZACK SNYR’S “300” CHANG THGS A B. NOT NTENT TO SIMPLY E THE EXAGGERATED MASCULY OF THE BODYBUILR PHYSIQUE AS A SPECIAL EFFECT, SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE ED ON THE MALE FORM. THE RULT IS A GROUP OF SPARTANS THAT PHYSILLY OVERWHELM, A FEVERISH FANTASY OF MASCULY. THE STUM REVEAL FAR MORE SK THAN ALMOST ANYTHG AN OLD HERCUL MOVIE, AND SNYR TOSS A FEW MOMENTS OF ACTUAL NUDY JT TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE NOTICED . IN A SENSE, “300”IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MORN SWORD AND SANDAL FILM THAT BOTH MATAS THE ACTN POTENTIAL OF THE EXCSIVELY BUILT MALE FORM AND RPORAT A NSCNS OF S EROTIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN AGA, THE SNYR’S EPIC OF WEIRD VLENCE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER IAS. IT’S EQUALLY TERTED THE GROTQUE, OPPOSG THE ENGEERED ADONIS OF SPARTA WH AN ARMY OF CREASGLY HORRIFIC PERSIANS. WHEN EPHIALT, MA REPULSIVE BY THE FILM WH PALPABLE GLEE, FALLY ENTERS THE PERSIAN ROYAL TENT TO BETRAY THE SPARTANS, HE IS MET BY A SICKLY Y THAT SEEMS TO INTIFY TRANSGRSIVE SEXUAL AND GENR IAS WH EVERYTHG DISGTG ABOUT PERSIA. THIS IS OPPOSED TO A SPARTAN GENR BARY OF ENRAGED MALE MCULATURE AND A LONELY LENA HEAY TO STAND FOR EVERYTHG FEME ABOUT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE ASSUM THAT THE SEQUEL WILL BE AK TO THAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RT OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF PEPLUM THIS YEAR? THIS WEEK WE GET THE NEW “HERCUL” AFTER ALL, A MOVIE WHICH SEEMS STED TO FALL SOMEWHERE THE MIDDLE. THE TRAILER HTS AT ELEMENTS OF THE “300” STYLE, EXAGGERATED FIGHTG MECHANICS TO PLEMENT THE EXAGGERATED PHYSIL PRENCE OF KELLAN LUTZ. BUT THIS IS ALSO GOG TO BE A LOVE STORY, AND ONE BUILT AROUND A MAN OM THE “TWILIGHT” STABLE OF BEEFK. LUTZ HAS ALREADY BEEN THE EROTIC OBJECT FILMS DIRECTED AT A PRIMARY FEMALE DIENCE, AND ONE N ONLY ASSUME THAT HIS STG WAS AT LEAST RMED BY THAT. THE MEDIA IS OBSSED WH HIS WORKOUT ROUTE, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO THAT IMPLY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE END OF THE DAY DO THIS MEAN ANYTHG? WOULD BE A VICTORY IF MAJOR STUD ACTN FILMS MORE EXPLICLY BEGAN MARKETG THEMSELV TO GAY MEN? I SUPPOSE ’D BE NICE, BUT I’M HARDLY GOG TO START MPAIGNG FOR MORE SHIRTLS LUTZ AS A CIVIL RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NVERSATN TO BE HAD AROUND MALE NUDY POPULAR CULTURE. IN MANY PLAC ’S TABOO, TOO MUCH OF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE MALE BODY N BE JT AS EROTILLY APPROPRIATED AS THE FEMALE. INTERTGLY, THE SAFT PLAC FOR MALE NUDY ON SCREEN APPEAR TO BE EDI OF RIDICULE AND THE SUPPOSEDLY HYPER-MASCULE WORLDS OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK, WRTLG, ETC. YET THAT’S A BLISSFUL IGNORANCE, ONE WHICH FALLS APART THE MOMENT YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH GAY MEN LOVED THOSE STEVE REEV MOVI. AND IF A FILM IS NSC OF THAT, I’D LIKE TO THK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE TERTG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED: THIS! IS! (STILL!) SPARTA! HOW "300" LOWERED THE BAR FOR SWORD & SANDAL MOVI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

” I was really tryg to fd a wir dience, but, back those days, the feelg was that most gay stori were only seen by gay dienc.

Todd Stephens on the set of Another Gay MoviePhoto: Chris Stephens/Breakg Glass PicturMch Morris, “Griff”: For some historil ntext, this was the peak [Gee W. Todd Stephens: I was my unrwear foldg lndry wh my now hband, Tim [Kaltenecker]—we’ve been together for a ln years—and somehow the ia jt popped to my head: “What about a gay Amerin Pie? So I knew the genre, and I thought that was a great way , to spoof all the gay films that I loved.

At the time, so many gay films took themselv so serly, and so much of the nflict was the very fact of beg gay—cludg Edge Of Seventeen. So I wanted to make a movie where beg gay wasn’t the nflict, ’s jt the teenagers tryg to get laid like any other teenager wants to do.

10 GREAT GAY AND LBIAN HORROR FILMS

For once, gay kids wouldn’t have to translate that stuff to their lived Stephens: I was fely pullg spiratn om the c humor that was big edy at the time, and that’s a different si of me.

I’m a Gemi, so I have that more ser, heartfelt si—that’s where Edge Of Seventeen and [the upg] Swan Song me om—but that’s the part of me that got hurt bee of the Gypsy ’83 rejectn, so that’s why I wrote Another Gay Movie. We were dog somethg that we weren’t sure we uld get away Another Gay Movie wrten, Stephens and his llaborators ma plans to stage live readgs of the script at queer film ftivals, both as dry ns for the joke-heavy dialogue, and to build buzz among dienc and potential fanciers. At that pot, they were jt askg me to do the live readg at the Philalphia Gay And Lbian Film Ftival 2004.

'HACKS' STAR MEGAN STALTER TALKS VIRAL 'HI, GAY' VIO, QUEER REPRENTATN COMEDY

” I probably would have done anyway right out the gate movie, but there was an easg to that ma a big proven self an dience favore, Another Gay Movie was ready to make the move om stage to screen. The creative team worked hard to stretch their funds and build the gay fantasy world of their dreams, all a historic neighborhood south of Stephens: So I had partnered up wh TLA, which still exists; they were this big distributor of gay films, and they were actually puttg the movi to theaters.

He pletely unrstood and supported Another Gay Movie one-hundred percent, and he really helped fd a big chunk of the money to make the movie Blechman: It was a most budget, paratively, but pennt queer cema has not had that kd of budget sce. It’s like this subverted nostalgia world where ’s like, “What if the gay teen really uld jt worry about gettg laid like everyone else?

]Jarod (Jonathan Chase) and Griff (Mch Morris) get playful by the poolPhoto: Chris Stephens/Breakg Glass PicturMeanwhile, Another Gay Movie still need to round out s st. While a few big nam passed on the opportuny, others were eager to play, imbug the film wh more gay ’s Parents (Stt Thompson and Lypska)Photo: Chris Stephens / Breakg Glass PicturTodd Stephens: Stt Thompson and Lypska were part of some of the st readgs, so we were lucky to have them for the film too, as Andy’s parents.

GAYHIPHOP

But I thk he was workg on velopg an Amerin show at the time, which is hilar to thk he would make Another Gay Movie his troductn to Amerin dienc. Jonathan Chase: We started wh the fortabily bar pretty high bee we rehearsed at some blackbox space, or some rental space, and they were shootg a gay porn next door. Usually sets that move that quickly are strsful bee there’s no time to waste—you’ve got to get everythg spot on—but was such a fun (Jonah Blechman) shar some big news wh his mother (Stephanie McVay)Photo: Chris Stephens/Breakg Glass PicturIn what beme one of Another Gay Movie’s most memorable scen, Stephens uldn’t rist spoofg the most predictable of queer cema trop, the g out scene.

He took spiratn om his own work, Edge Of Seventeen, stagg Ni’s emotnal nfsn to his mother the exact same way as the drama’s emotnal climax—but wh a hilar Stephens: The whole pot of Another Gay Movie was that I didn’t want beg gay to be part of the nflict—I didn’t want any of the characters to have shame about that. So to [spoof] that scene— uld only work if was as heartfelt and vulnerable as ’s (Michael Carbonaro) morng gets terpted by his parents (Lypska, Stt Thompson)Photo: Chris Stephens/Breakg Glass PicturLike many of the teen edi of s time, Another Gay Movie was not aaid to show some sk.