The Gay Deceivers (1969)

Forty years before CHUCK AND LARRY were pronounced anything, Danny and Elliot were THE GAY DECEIVERS.

To avoid being sent to Vietnam, Danny (Kevin Coughlin, star of MARYJANE and THE YOUNG RUNAWAYS) and Elliot (Larry Casey of THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE) appear before the draft board claiming to be a homosexual couple.

Although the boys are declared unfit for duty, a suspicious Army colonel (Jack Starrett of BLAZING SADDLES) decides to confirm their story... forcing the bosom buddies to lease a love nest on the queer side of town.

When their lifestyle costs Elliot his job at a posh country club and Danny the trust of his stewardess girlfriend, the pair begins to wonder if beating the draft is worth all the trouble.

THE GAY DECEIVERS is a rare theatrical film from TV veteran Bruce Kessler (THE A-TEAM, BAYWATCH NIGHTS) and features a larger-than-life performance by Michael Greer (FORTUNE AND MEN S EYES), one of Hollywood s first openly gay actors.

Praised for its merciless lampoon of American homophobia and condemned for setting back the gay rights movement, THE GAY DECEIVERS is a unique satire in the vein of TOOTSIE and VICTOR/VICTORIA, set against the backdrop of a Hollywood that no longer exists and societal prejudices that haven t changed in half a century. Product Description

Chance to see how mores have changed

I saw this film first run my freshman year in college. I probably was amused by it, since it is clever. Watching it again is a good lesson on how attitudes can change over time. The movies is 40 years old and tells the story of two straight men who want to avoid the Vietnam draft by acting gay. Michael Greer is the best in the film, he is gay and was able to be 'real' in the part. There is no heavy message here, more of a time capsule piece. July 16, 2008

You may not have to be gay to enjoy it but it helps...

This is a really fascinating look at the gay culture or how it was perceived circa 1969. A lot of the flamboyant clothes, mannerisms, interior decorating and attitudes are a bit exaggerated for fun but like all satires they are based on some facts. It is hard to imagine that this movie was intended for a large commercial audience but it actually was. The Vietnam war by 1969 was as popular as the current US occupation of Iraq is today. But unlike todays quagmire young men were drafted and made to serve regardless if they wanted in or not. All the characters and the "types" they represent get to be the butt of many a joke but the army gets it the worst in the movie although not really until the end. If you know any gay men from this time you will be in on a lot of insider jokes but there are lots a great moments in this movie to make it a pleasure. My favorite scene involves peonies and marigolds. April 19, 2008

A Landmark Film

"THE GAY DECEIVERS"

A Landmark Film



Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

"The Gay Deceivers" which came out in 1969 has been incorrectly seen by some a homophobic movie. I find that to be a far-fetched notion. It is a clever comedy that although it uses gay stereotypes it is not homophobic. The point of view is very gay and it has a lot of male semi-nudity for as movie made during that period. The gay guys depicted in the movie are nice and caring guys and laugh with them and not at them because they d not take themselves seriously. Even the last laugh of the movie is based upon how hypocritical the American system is. The movie, in fact, humanizes the most stereotypical of gay characters by poking fun in a gentle manner and the film questions the viewer about his own honesty and views on homosexuality. For a period piece, the film is excellent. Sure it is politically incorrect and contains all those things that we as gays complain about today but this is what makes the movie so funny. Remember it was made almost forty years ago. The film, to be sure, is dated but in actuality it makes fun of the straights and the preconceptions and misconceptions that they have about gay men and shows the intolerance of the world regarding gays. In the 60s, we were ignored by the movie industry unle4ss there was some terrible doom for us.
Watching this movie in the 2000s it seems small and very outdated but this is really a very funny movie and simultaneously it shows the sad reality of the society of when it was made. It is ad because we, as gays, would use our sexuality to escape being drafted. The movie which was made a little before the gay liberation movement got going, gives a very sensitive view of the gay community and lifestyle of the period. The stars of the show are Kevin Coughlin as Danny and Lawrence Casey as Eliot and they give intense, fresh and emotional performances as men who live with the threat of being sent to Vietnam over their shoulders. Personally I thought it was funny and very clever. Even more important, for a movie to admit that gays are anything else than sick people or any nonsense such as that, was a big step for Hollywood. We see straight guys becoming friends with their straight landlord and his lover even when their friends and families are malicious We have to give a little credit for the attempt to present gay characters as decent and kind people.
"The Gay Deceivers" is an underrated comedy masterpiece. It is unique and unparalleled and was years ahead f its time and has been grossly misunderstood by people of all sexual bents. It raises important social issues and dos so with grace, charm and simplicity.
All of the actors are good but the star of the show is Michael Greer who is wonderful as the swishy landlord. He is an extreme stereotype but does that matter? The role fits him to a tee and he performs beautifully. Look out for the Tom of Finland-like drawings on the walls of the gay bar and the clothes which look so funny now but were just right back then. This is q movie that belongs with the rest of the films that are part of the gay genre in cinema. It is one of the best and one of the most honest comedies about gay life in America in that period. If you consider yourself a movie buff, this is one you have to see. If you just like movies, this is a great one.
December 27, 2006

Dated, sub-par, sitcom-feel spoof

It would be okay to be a little dated if the story and writing had been tighter, more interesting, and if the movie had a better ending. I kept expecting something to happen or some change to occur, but it pretty much just lurches on with a one-joke storyline until it runs out of steam and is mercifully over.

There are a couple good scenes and some interesting moments, but the story wanders all over the place and never finds it's rhythm. It's interesting for its time, but still sub-par.

This isn't really a "gay movie" as it's really about two straight men pretending to be gay, even though they are somewhat homophobic. I guess it would have been too shocking to depict them as accepting, although they seem to make some progress toward the end.

Dated and not very involving or interesting (or funny.) I'd avoid this one unless you like older movies and feel like tolerating the homophobia. May 17, 2005

Michael Greer is Fabulous

I bought this movie trying to find something interesting and didn't expect to love it so much. I have been on a search to find something as intriguing to me as The Adventures of Sebastian Cole and this was it. Almost entirely due to the presence of Michael Greer. Since watching this film I have tried to find other Greer films without much success but this film shows was a great actor he was and how fabulous gay film can be! April 10, 2003

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