Gods and Monsters ⁞⁞ Queer Classics
In 1998, the Academy Award-winning drama Gods and Monsters premiered. The film acted as a biopic exploring the final months in the life of famous British film director James Whale (Ian McKellen), known for directing the classic 1930s horror films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Having spent his Hollywood career openly gay, Whale is presented deep into his retirement, recuperating from a stroke at his home, under the care of his housekeeper Hanna (Lynn Redgrave). Whale also appears to be on the outer rim of the entertainment elite, having burned many of his social bridges, with the exception of his ongoing friendship with his former lover David Lewis (David Dukes), who pays him a visit to his home on the fateful day that Whale spies the arrival of the handsome Clay (Brendan Fraser), a young man hired by Hanna to handle gardening and landscaping tasks on Whale's estate.Whale becomes immediately enamored and it isn't long before he seeks out Clay as inspiration for his artwork, a passion he is desperate to hold onto in his aging years.
While Clay is at first unaware of Whale's homosexuality, his interest in Whale's Hollywood past makes him open to Whale's offers of conversation and even acting as a model for his drawings. For Whale, Clay's presence triggers memories of his past serving in the military during World War II, a time that was mentally and physically tragic for him, causing his emotions to stir. Despite Hanna's open disapproval of Whale's multiple encounters with young men due to her fears that they will take advantage of him, it does not stop Whale from pursuing his interests, including getting young stardom-chaser Edmund Kay (Jack Plotnick) to strip down to his underwear in exchange for an interview. As Whale's relationship with Clay deepens and he is further drawn into Whale's circle, he finds conflict between their growing friendship and his tightly-held sense of masculinity. All the while, Whale battles his own depression. When Whale's emotional state becomes more warped by intrusive thoughts from his past as a boy (Brandon Kleyla), a director, and a soldier, it leads to a physical outburst that changes both men forever, culminating in Whale's suicide.
Queer Classic Film Facts:
- The film was based on the 1995 novel Father of Frankenstein, written by Christopher Bram.
- The film scored three Academy Award nominations. Ian McKellen was nominated for Best Actor and Lynn Redgrave was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Writer/director Bill Condon won the Academy Award for
- Five of James Whale's original drawings are shown inside the character's home during the film.
- The title of the film comes from a line of dialogue in Bride of Frankenstein: "To a new world of gods and monsters."
- Gods and Monsters won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film (Wide Release) in 1999.
- While the film draws on key imagery from Whale's films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, his directing career included several other notable films including The Man in the Iron Mask, The Invisible Man, Hell's Angels, and Show Boat, all released in the 1930s.
- Brendan Fraser plays the fictitious character of Clayton Boone for the film. He is a straight ex-Marine who rejects Whale's advances. Fraser would later win an Academy Award for playing gay in his role as Charlie, an overweight shut-in in the drama The Whale.
- The film features fictionalized versions of several other real people who knew Whale from his time in Hollywood, including director/producer George Kukor, Elizabeth Taylor, Boris Karloff, and Princess Margaret.
- In addition to McKellen, the film's cast also included out gay actors Jack Plotnick and David Millbern.
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