Tag: 1970s

Episode 44: That Certain Summer (1972)

Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen play a gay couple living in San Francisco. When Hal’s teen son comes for a visit, Hal debates whether to come out to him. That Certain Summer was made for the ABC movie of the week in 1972. It frightened the censors but proved a success for the network. My guests and I give it a fresh look.

For more information check out Matt Baume’s video essay from 2023.

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Episode 30: The War Widow (1976)

A repressed housewife falls for a worldly photographer during the Great War. The War Widow is one of the first lesbian films to feature a happy ending. It premiered on PBS on October 28, 1976 as part of the Visions series of original teleplays. In 2021 it was restored for the UCLA Film & Television Archive. My guest and I discuss the tropes that would appear in later “Lesbian Period Dramas.”

This episode includes spoilers.

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Episode 27: Coming Out (1979)

Should the LGBT+ community assimilate or rebel? Lewis, a closeted writer, argues for assimilation in an anonymous editorial. His friends push against his conservative views. Coming Out aired in 1979 as part of the BBC’s Play for Today series. The argument still resonates today.


This episode includes spoilers. Coming Out can be watched on Britbox.

I couldn’t find a trailer. But here’s a relevant gay protest song from that same year.

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Episode 25: Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Harry Styles recently starred in My Policeman. A film about a man juggling relationships with a woman and another man. This inspired me to revisit John Schlesinger’s classic Sunday Bloody Sunday. One of my guests was seeing it for the first time. The other saw it when it premiered in 1971.

This is our season three finale. Rainbow Colored Glasses will be taking a hiatus while we work on some other projects. Thank you for listening.

This episode includes spoilers.

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Episode 24: It Is Not the Homosexual… (1971)

We discuss a short film with a long title: It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives. Activist Rosa von Praunheim read Berlin’s gay community for filth. His political manifesto remains timely.  

This episode includes spoilers and explicit language.

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Episode 20: Penda’s Fen (1974)

Penda’s Fen aired on with the BBC’s Play for Today series on March 21, 1974. David Rudkin’s screenplay follows a gay teen on an Alice in Wonderland style journey through England’s pagan past. My guest and I attempt to parse Rudkin’s thoughts on religion, sexuality, social conformity and rebellion.

This episode includes spoilers.

The Incubus

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