A Revealing Look at Trailers That Deal With Sexuality

Jenni Olson, who describes herself as the “curator” of the 64-minute “Homo Promo” (at the Nuart tonight and Tuesday only), has come up with a terrific idea in stringing together 25 trailers for films from “Tea and Sympathy” (1956) to “Henry & June” (1990) that deal with gays, lesbians or bisexuals or have camp appeal. Her program will no doubt elicit lots of laughs, but it does have its serious, revealing and, above all, encouraging aspects.

The opening moments are truly appalling, for you’re reminded how serious films such as “Tea and Sympathy,” directed by Vincente Minnelli, and “The Children’s Hour” (1962), directed by William Wyler, were promoted so luridly, especially “The Children’s Hour,” in which the accusation of lesbianism is described as “too evil to be false, too shocking to be true.”

As the years go by, we see gay themes being treated with less sensationalism and greater sensitivity. Amusingly--but typically--some trailers are better than the films they’re promoting: the notorious “Cruising” (1980), the ultra-campy “Can’t Stop the Music” (1980) and the silly vampire picture “The Hunger” (1983). Moments from “Can’t Stop the Music,” “The Boys in the Band” (1970) and even quick glimpses of the bar scenes from “Cruising” have an unexpected poignancy simply because they have an uninhibited or carefree pre-AIDS sensibility. (Because “Homo Promo” is little more than an hour long, it should have been paired with one of the 25 films in the trailers to give audiences their money’s worth).

It’s amazing to recall how carefully and thoroughly Fox felt that it had to prepare audiences for “Making Love” (1982), in which a young married man comes to terms with his homosexuality. We’re warned in this trailer that the material, for all the honesty and sensitivity the studio claims for its treatment, might still be too strong for some viewers. The sad irony is that the studio, were it releasing the film today, might well decide that the same cautious approach would be appropriate.

Information: (310) 478-6379.

A Worthy Pair: Because many of the venues that regularly present alternative cinema are closed for the holidays, it’s worth taking note of the offerings of two local repertory theaters that present a steady diet of imaginative programming.

The Vagabond, 2509 Wilshire Blvd., is presenting an array of ideal family fare. Tonight, it’s “White Christmas” (1956), with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen plus all those Irving Berlin songs--and a brand new 35mm print. Closed for Christmas Eve, it will show Christmas Day through New Year’s Eve a blockbuster Judy Garland double feature, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Meet Me in St. Louis,” both in restored Technicolor prints. Information: (213) 387-2171.

Meanwhile, the New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., will screen tonight and Christmas Eve two of John Frankenheimer’s best films: the dazzling, eerily prophetic political thriller “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), and “Seconds” (1966), a suspenseful sci-fi thriller in which middle-aged John Randolph is recycled as handsome Rock Hudson. Marcel Carne’s 1945 masterpiece, “Children of Paradise,” screens Christmas Day and Thursday. If you missed the recent warm Italian domestic period comedy, Pupi Avati’s “The Story of Boys and Girls,” you will have another chance to see it Friday and Saturday, along with the less impressive “Everybody’s Fine,” with Marcello Mastroianni. Information: (213) 938-4038.