Cool Manchester

Ask most people, even today, to name some of hollywood's sexiest men, and name's like Marlon Brando and James Dean will still crop up, some 60 year's after they first set flame to the silver screen.What might come as a surpirse (or not, depending on how 'switched' on your are) is that both Dean and Brando were quite open about being bisexual, although those interviews were most certainly NOT the one's broadcast on the BBC.

Brando, who's most public interview about his sexual conquest's was held with biography writer Gary Carey around the time of the PR campaign for strange and wonderful western 'The Missouri Break's, had this to say ;

"homesexuality is so much in fashion it no longer makes news, like a large number of men, i too have had homosexual experiences and i am not ashamed. I have never paid much attention of what people think about me.."

Given that this interview date's from the mid 70's, when the world had David Bowie and glam rock thrust upon them everytime they opened a news paper or turned on the TV, it was perhaps a little easier to discuss it without fear of being ridiculed, but as Brando state's, and i believe him, he really didnt care what people thought of him.

But what about other actor's who were also either bisexual or exclusively gay ?

After a little research many name's crop up, some may surpirse you, some definately wont.

Burt Lancaster, Rock Hudson, Leonard Bernstein, Montgomery Clift, Robert Wagnor, Peter Fonda, Errol Flynn, Yul Brynner, Paul Newman, Tony Curtis and Steve Mcqueen all experimented with the same sex. The list just goes on and on. However, such was the strength of the PR machine, many of these men were never questioned in main stream media until later on in life about sexuality.

The sad thing is, many young people growing up in the 50s and 60s could've benefited from knowing about such high profile actor's dating other men, yes it was a dangerous political time, but even just rumour's would have maybe lifted the spirits of some young men (and women) suffering awful homophobia.

Although for from surprising to me, it does appear than the 'cream of the crop' of 50s era leading men were bisexual, if not completely gay, and one assumes thing's havent really changed. Let's face it, hypothetically if such actor's as Richard Gere, John Travolta, Matt Dillon and Tom Berringer came out, would people really stop buying their film's ?

For me, i think personal choice is important, and i dont agree with the 'outing' process, it can do more harm than good and is basically a selfish act. I just think it's odd that in this day and age, actor's earning million's from each movie/DVD release cannot be honest role models, instead of instilling a false image to the youth of today, of what 'real' men should behave like.

Yes of course it's easier to be outwardly gay in 2011 than it was in 1952, teenage soap shows are full of gay imagery that today seem's normal, but lets not forget it wasnt all that long ago that show's like 'Brookside' were considered 'cutting edge' in showing a lesbian kiss.

The time's may have changed, but the golden era of 'gay' is still very much with us.

AB.

I know that a lot of people will be out at Manchester Pride this weekend but don't forget Doctor Who returns Saturday night for the rest of series 6 [32] and I'm getting rather excited about it all

This series has been one of the best in a very long time. I'm a  fan of the "new" series [ie 2005 onwards] but my heart will always belong to the "classic" era and I wasn't sure how the Moffat/Smith era would pan out. However, despite a couple of dodgy moments [lego daleks!] I honestly think that Matt Smith is up there with Tom Baker and William Hartnell when it comes to classic portrayels of The Doctor.

Be warned, in the next few weeks I will probably go in to Doctor Who overdrive, not only is the Doctor back but Torchwood is reaching its conclusion, Sarah Jane Smith will be back for her final stories and there are some cracking DVDs coming out in time for Christmas!

PLEASURE OVERLOAD!

Blackpool actor, comedian and onstage controversialist David Hoyle is set to make a new film here in manchester early next year.

A gay icon and massive influence to many after his Channel Four show The Divine David, hoyle has kept on working on his live shows, and has only just finished a brilliant run of show's at the Soho Theatre.

Hoyle's most recent film 'Uncle David' earned him rave reviews across the globe, with the movie being shown in film festivals as far afield as Tel-Aviv.

In this new movie, david will be playing a Psychiatrist who doesnt have his patients better interests at heart.

As ever with the wonderful world of david hoyle, the film will surely have a dark humour lurking beneath the serious drama, and promises to be one of manchesters most hotly tipped indie films of next year.

For more information on the movie, please visit the film's production website at http://www.eromenosmedia.com

AB.