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Coming Out Under Fire

  • 1994
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
176
YOUR RATING
Coming Out Under Fire (1994)
DocumentaryBiographyHistory

A historical account of military policy regarding homosexuals during World War II. The documentary includes interviews with several gay WWII veterans.A historical account of military policy regarding homosexuals during World War II. The documentary includes interviews with several gay WWII veterans.A historical account of military policy regarding homosexuals during World War II. The documentary includes interviews with several gay WWII veterans.

  • Director
    • Arthur Dong
  • Writers
    • Allan Bérubé
    • Arthur Dong
  • Stars
    • Salome Jens
    • Phillis Abry
    • David Barrett
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    176
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arthur Dong
    • Writers
      • Allan Bérubé
      • Arthur Dong
    • Stars
      • Salome Jens
      • Phillis Abry
      • David Barrett
    • 4User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos

    Coming Out Under Fire (1994)
    Coming Out Under Fire (1994)
    Coming Out Under Fire (1994)
    Coming Out Under Fire (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Salome Jens
    Salome Jens
    • Narrator
    Phillis Abry
    • Self - Radio Technician, Women's Army Corps
    David Barrett
    • Self - Storekeeper, U.S. Navy
    Sarah Davis
    • Self - Aviation Machinist Mate, WAVES
    Herbert Greenspan
    • Self - Psychiatrist, U.S. Navy
    • (as Dr. Herbert Greenspan)
    Bruce Lee
    • Self - Intelligence Clerk, U.S. Army Air Corps
    Marvin Liebman
    • Self - Special Services, U.S. Army Air Corps
    Stuart Loomis
    • Self - Psychological Assistant, U.S. Army
    Tom Reddy
    • Self - Special Services, U.S. Marine Corps
    Alan Bergreen
    Alan Bergreen
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Victoria Hochberg
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Burr Middleton
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Rick Watts
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Pat Bond
    • Self - Medical Technician, U.S. Women's Army Corps
    • (scenes deleted)
    Max Cole
    • Self - Communications and Boat Officer in the Amphibious Force, U.S. Navy
    • (scenes deleted)
    • (as Ernest Max Cole)
    Elwood Burton Gerrits
    • Self - Pharmacist Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy
    • (scenes deleted)
    Nicolai Gioscia
    • Self - Psychiatrist, U.S. Army
    • (scenes deleted)
    Edna Rostow
    • Self - Research Associate, Dept of Psychiatry, Yale University Student Mental Health Clinic
    • (scenes deleted)
    • Director
      • Arthur Dong
    • Writers
      • Allan Bérubé(book)
      • Arthur Dong
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Pat Bond (interview date: September 30, 1990), Max Cole (interview date: March 29, 1993), Elwood Burton Gerrits (interview date: June 17, 1993), Nicolai Gioscia (interview date: February 27, 1993), and Edna Rostow (interview date: May 1, 1993) were all original interview subjects, but for various reasons, their interviews/scenes were not included in the final original film. However, upon release of the DVD, their interviews/scenes were added as 'additional interviews,' which could be found in the 'additional features' section of the DVD, along with 'historical documents,' 'extended scenes,' 'production notes,' and 'music selections.'
    • Crazy credits
      Beginning in World War II the military developed a discriminatory system that forced homosexual soldiers to hide who they were and punished them for telling the truth.
    • Connections
      Features Shades of Gray (1948)
    • Soundtracks
      I Don't Care
      Words by Jean Lenox

      Music by Harry O. Sutton

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Typical Over The Top American Reaction Just Like That Idiot Senators, McCarthy, Communist Witchhunt!
    I am neither Gay, Homosexual or Queer (whatever may be the chosen insult of stupid people.) It was atrocious - and still is today - how Gay servicemen and women were treated during WW2 by their own country. I'm very certain that in combat a German/Japanese soldier wouldn't be saying, "Hey! You can't shoot/kill me you queer faggot".

    I never have (and never will) understand what makes people, men in particular, so scared of another persons sexuality. Men like to watch girls perform sexually but they don't think men should; how's that for 2 faced bigotry. The reaction of one of the reviewers about this shows just how much intolerance still exists today. In fact the reviewer reckons that the modern day Gay servicemen are bigger, quote "Pussies" unquote than they were back then. People with that line of thinking are just sad morons and do not even know that some of the toughest people in history were Gay.

    This is a very well made documentary film and I would recommend it for everyone (especially Americans) if you want to see what corrupt, bible thumping 2 faced politicians are capable of doing to another human being. Yet another tale of inhuman treatment that has been a tradition of American culture! Its a shame that some of the straight/heterosexual veterans of WW2 were not interviewed, and how the ones who had their lives saved by Gay men felt about them afterwards. There are many untold story's of events like that happening; just like black soldiers and airmen learnt to adjust when white lives had been saved.

    As ever, humans still continue to act and display in their same worthless backward evolution misguided and uneducated and immoral ways.

    Some swearing but no sex!
    helpful•0
    0
    • silicontourist
    • Jun 12, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Berkeley, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • DeepFocus Productions Inc.
      • ITVS International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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