Every spring the fine folks at Three Dollar Cinema bring us a mini film festival all tied, (sometimes quite loosely) around a theme…this spring, for their 5th annual spring film series, they present us with “Innocence Lost: Hard Lessons, Soft Lighting and Wild Times!” a fest of four classic gay themed titles tied together by common themes of same-sex carnality, the loss of virginity and the threat of violence in the act of love…sounds NAAAAAASTY! The series kicks off on Saturday, April 3rd with “Fortune and Men’s Eyes”, the 1971 prison drama based on the play of the same name (which originally starred Don Johnson and was produced by Sal Mineo), about a new young inmate who has to learn the “ropes” the hard way as he navigates the social layers of the penal system…(all these puns are fully intentional). Directed by Harvey Hart and starring Wendell Burton as the new meat on the block and acclaimed out gay actor Michael Greer as “Queenie”, the new kid’s cellmate and confidante, Fortune and Men’s Eyes is both gritty and campy and a must see for the gay film fan. It’s not available on DVD so this is a rare opportunity to check out this gay classic. It plays ONE NIGHT ONLY, Saturday, April 3rd at 7pm at Northwest Film Forum.
And, following that fine film, prepare yourself for Cher’s film debut in the classically bad 1969 howler, “Chastity” the film title she chose to name her daughter (now son)! It plays Thursday, April 8th and it’s followed by the German Lesbian Classic, “Mädchen in Uniform” on Saturday the 17th and the series concludes with Radley Metzger’s Bisexual smut classic “Score” with a young Casey Donovan (appearing under his real name, Cal Culver) in the leading role of a randy young bisexual who agrees to some swinging with his naughty wife. Casey Donovan of course went on to be one of the first major gay porn stars. They are promising to show the unrated version, so expect to see some full frontal nudity…you’ll have to leave the kids at home…All films are at the Northwest Film Forum and we’ll go into more detail on each film as it gets closer to their screening. Check them all out.
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
