Gay Sex in the 70s (2005)

A chronicle of gay culture in New York during the post-Stonewall, pre-AIDs era.

Director:

Joseph F. Lovett (as Joseph Lovett)

Stars:

Robert Alvarez, Alvin Baltrop, Barton Benes

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Alvarez	...	Himself - Hand in Hand Film Productions (as Bob Alvarez)
Alvin Baltrop	...	Himself - Photographer
Barton Benes	...	Himself - Artist
Tom Bianchi	...	Himself - Photographer
Mel Cheren	...	Himself - CEO, West End Records
Arnie Kantrowitz	...	Himself - English Professor, Activist, Writer
Larry Kramer	...	Himself - Writer, Activist
Lawrence Mass	...	Himself - Addiction Specialist, Writer (as Lawrence Mass M.D.)
Rodger McFarlane	...	Himself - Foundation Director, Writer, Activist
Susan Tomkin	...	Herself - Asst. to Bruce Mailman, The Saint & St. Mark's Baths
Richard A. Lynch	...	Himself
Ken Unger	...	Himself - Internist (as Ken Unger M.D.)

Storyline

Thirteen men and one woman look back at gay life and sex in Manhattan and Fire Island - from Stonewall (June, 1969) to the first reporting on AIDS (June, 1981). They describe the rapid move from repression to celebration, from the removal of shame to joy, the on-going search for "someone," the freedom before AIDS, the friendships, and brotherhood. They take us through cruising and sex in public places, the drug scene, the bars and the baths, the birth of entertainment and dance clubs, and starry nights on Fire Island. Photographs, home movies, newsreels, and film clips illustrate the story. A few contemporary "what did the 70's mean?" man-in-the-street takes end the documentary.

---

Plot Keywords:

fire island | gay | new york | dance club | cruising | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meleg szex a 70-es években

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lovett Productions, Frameline, Heartlove Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

---

Soundtracks

No Frills
(Instrumental)
Written by Kenton Nix
Published by Kenix Music (ASCAP) & Sugar Biscuit Music (ASCAP)
Administered by Bug
Performed by Taana Gardner
Courtesy of West End Records, a Division of Payback Industries, Inc.
by Arrangement with Bug

User Reviews

A perfect time capsule of a almost lost era!

This documentary gives us a look at the freedom and decadence that was a big part of gay culture between the repression of the 50s and 60s pre Stonewall era and the AIDS crisis of the 80's and 90's. What we had were the crazy 70s! The documentary acts as both a celebration of this period and as a cautionary tale about how too much excess can be dangerous and how many of the men discussed in the film had to eventually "Pay the piper".

There are some things to note for example. There seems to be more acceptance and tolerance of gays and lesbians in America now then there ever was even during the "sexual revolution" of the 70s. Back then if you were gay the only way you could truly live a free life was if you packed your bags and moved to a big city like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Chicago!