Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997)

Director:

Joe Mantello

Writers (WGA):

Terrence McNally (play)
Terrence McNally (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Eight men. One summer. Figure it out.

Plot:

Gregory invites seven friends to spend the summer at his large, secluded 19th-century home in upstate New York...

Plot Keywords:

Swan Lake | Tony Award Source | Countryside | Homosexuality | Racism

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Alexander	...	Buzz Hauser
Stephen Spinella	...	Perry Sellars
Stephen Bogardus	...	Gregory Mitchell
Randy Becker	...	Ramon Fornos
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Arthur Pape
Justin Kirk	...	Bobby Brahms
John Glover	...	John Jeckyll, James Jeckyll

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexuality and strong language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #34857) | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Beauharnois, Québec, Canada

Company:

Krost/Chapin Productions

Trivia:

The play was originally produced off-Broadway, New York City, on 11 October 1994, by the Manhattan Theatre Club, with funds provided by ATandT.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The action takes place in the Northern Hemisphere, over Memorial Day, yet a character mentions seeing the constellation Orion, which is not visible from there at that time of year.

Quotes:

Perry: One thing you are NOT is a big queen.
Arthur: You're right, I'm butch; I can catch a ball, I genuinely like both my parents, and I hate opera. I don't know why I bother being gay.

Movie Connections:

References The Red Shoes (1948)

Soundtrack:

Dance of the Four Little Swans

The Gay 'Stand by Me'

I have to wholehearted disagree that this film is disappointing. I found the characters interesting and deep. Yes - the gay men approach stereotypical roles in some instances, but they are developed over the course of the summer in a manner that mimics the boys in "Stand by Me". We see the changes in the relationships between nearly every pairing of the eight men. Some are in relationships; some were. Some hate each other; but they nearly all care about one another. This is the kind of movie that makes you reflect on your own human interactions. You don't have to be HIV+, a choreographer, a yuppie, a broadway queen, or even gay to see yourself in these characters. This is a fine exhibition of love, lust, friendship, and life.