Before Stonewall (1984)

The history of the Gay and Lesbian community before the Stonewall riots began the major gay rights movement.

Directors:

Greta Schiller, Robert Rosenberg

Stars:

Rita Mae Brown, Red Jordan Arobateau, Ann Bannon

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rita Mae Brown	...	Narrator
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Red Jordan Arobateau	...	Himself - writer
Ann Bannon	...	Herself - university professor
Lisa Ben	...	Herself - former secretary
Gladys Bentley	...	Herself (voice)
George Buse	...	Himself - newspaper reporter, former Army Chaplain
Carroll Davis	...	Himself - performer
Martin Duberman	...	Himself - historian and playwright
Allen Ginsberg	...	Himself
Barbara Gittings	...	Herself - gay activist
Barbara Grier	...	Herself - publisher
Mabel Hampton	...	Herself - dancer, former domestic worker
Harry Hay	...	Himself - political activist
Dorothy Hillaire	...	Herself - Native American activist (as Dorothy 'Smilie' Hillaire)
Evelyn Hooker	...	Herself (as Dr. Evelyn Hooker)

Storyline

New York City's Stonewall Inn is regarded by many as the site of gay and lesbian liberation since it was at this bar that drag queens fought back against police June 27-28, 1969. This documentary uses extensive archival film, movie clips and personal recollections to construct an audiovisual history of the gay community before the Stonewall riots.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | lesbian | stonewall riot | drag queen | drag | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Details

Official Sites:

Press kit

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community

Company Credits

Production Co:

Before Stonewall Inc., Center for the Study of Filmed History

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Call Her Savage (1932)

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Soundtracks

"America"
(uncredited)
aka "My Country 'tis of Thee"
Music from "God Save the King"
Traditional
Played when the soldiers are returning from WWII
Also performed as "God Save the Queens" at the Black Cat Club reunion

User Reviews

A Landmark Documentary

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this wonderful documentary. The archival material alone -- film clips and still photographs of gay life in America between 1900 and the '60s -- is enough to make this film a treasure; but it is the interviews with survivors of the pre-Stonewall era that make Before Stonewall a priceless heirloom of gay studies and a must in the personal education of any socially conscious person interested in gay culture.