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Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, 1910-1969 Paperback – October 29, 2002

by William J. Mann (Author)

4.6 67 ratings

The first full accouning of the role of gays and lesbians in Hollywood argues that homosexuals were in fact a protected class in the film industry who had considerable power to shape the art and business of movie-making. Reprint.

Print length

448 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

October 29, 2002
Dimensions

5.54 x 0.95 x 8.36 inches
ISBN-10

0142001147
ISBN-13

978-0142001141
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William J. Mann is the author of Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Hanes, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star. An award-winning journalist, he was the publisher of Metroline, the acclaimed New England news-magazine, and is a contributor to Architectural Digest and The Advocate.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; First Edition (October 29, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0142001147
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142001141
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.54 x 0.95 x 8.36 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,883 in LGBTQ+ Demographic Studies
- #3,672 in Movie History & Criticism
- #7,023 in Literary Criticism & Theory

Customer Reviews:
4.6 67 ratings

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William J. Mann

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I live in two of the most beautiful places on the planet ' Provincetown, Massachusetts, with its exquisite light and ever-shifting dunes in the summer and the fall, and Palm Springs, California, with its majestic mountains and invigorating desert air in the winter and the spring. I am indeed blessed.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

67 global ratings

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Customers find the book interesting to read, informative, and provocative. They also say it covers new territory with wit and is well-written.

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Enjoyability Content

9 customers mention "Enjoyability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, fascinating, and filled with wonderful stories. They also say it's excellent.

"...It is all enthralling and provides a long needed important volume in Hollywood history...." Read more

"...I was born in the late 40s in that area of the world, and so interesting to read about all the things that went on both before, during, and after I..." Read more

"...Not a book for those looking for fresh gossip or innuendo, but entertaining, as well informative and well-documented, nonetheless." Read more

"Great and fascinating book! William Mann delves deep into Hollywood to tell the stories that no one else would." Read more

8 customers mention "Content"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative, detailed, and fascinating. They also say the book covers new territory with wit. Readers also mention that it's well researched and well written.

"...A very informative book, research extensive, it covers new territory with wit and style dealing with something new in Hollywood history; it is an..." Read more

"...PR and secrets of gay Hollywood and gives us a look at a sexy, provocative world. I couldn't put this book down...." Read more

"...looking for fresh gossip or innuendo, but entertaining, as well informative and well-documented, nonetheless." Read more

"Huge fan of this author. Really a pleasure to read such a well researched history." Read more

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Amazon Customer

EXCELLENT HISTORICAL WORK ON HOW GAYS HELPED MAKE HOLLYWOOD!

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2001

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If Neal Gabler's "An Empire of Their Own" dealt with "How the Jews Invented Hollywood," then William Mann's "Behind the Screen" could be also be called "How Gays and Lesbians made Hollywood!" Mann's book is a serious chronological of the golden age and the people who created it; they just happened to be gay. A very informative book, research extensive, it covers new territory with wit and style dealing with something new in Hollywood history; it is an excellent read. Mann's interviews are astute with survivors of this golden age, a history of a Hollywood movie gay life, that was both creative and glamorous, never to be seen again. It covers the totality of a gay experience in studio era Hollywood and Mann has captured the influence of these men and women behind the screen. Not just movie stars, the book deals with gay directors, that reads like a who's who of Hollywood's creative best, along with the gay set and costume designers who gave Hollywood a look and influenced the taste of the entire world. The material is rich and covers gay producers, character actors, writers, cameramen, agents, executives, etc. It is all enthralling and provides a long needed important volume in Hollywood history. It also chronicles gays who played a part in union organizations, at a time when the studio bosses only concern was profit and greed, along with mentioning their meritorious service during World War II. It makes such contemporary military follies as "don't ask, don't tell," an insult to the memory of these valliant Americans. It is greatly recommended to anyone interested in the movies and how people with great taste and style, something so lacking today, influenced an entire period of our culture.

32 people found this helpful

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Richard Powers

History.... BUT an interesting history.

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

Take me a while to catch up, but love this book. I was born in the late 40s in that area of the world, and so interesting to read about all the things that went on both before, during, and after I left the area. It has introduced me to some of the names I had heard of from my parents (who had some ties to the industry). Thoroughly enjoyed this book, thank you.

3 people found this helpful

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Tom O'Leary

Fascinating & Filled With Wonderful Stories

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2006

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This book is another winner by William Mann. His research and attention to detail is mind boggling. He takes us behind the PR and secrets of gay Hollywood and gives us a look at a sexy, provocative world. I couldn't put this book down. It is proof that if it weren't for gay men and lesbians Hollywood would have been lost and the movies we now treasure as classics would never have been made. Bravo again, Mr. Mann.

4 people found this helpful

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Richard A. Jenkins

Excellent overview, though muddled in its analysis

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2001

Verified Purchase

This book does an admirable job of documenting gay Hollywood. Not just the stars, but the directors, clothing designers, set decorators, etc. The shifting climate for gays in Hollywood is documented along with its apparent impact on gay people working in the industry. The one drawback is the muddled summation of what it all means---the author takes a romanticized, separatist view, in which the more closted eras in Hollywood are seen as building community and doing more for gay identity. I rather doubt that people who lived through that would feel the same way and his own research seems to contradict this analysis. Not a book for those looking for fresh gossip or innuendo, but entertaining, as well informative and well-documented, nonetheless.

14 people found this helpful

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Todd Anderson

Quick delivery. Sadly the cover was not the original artwork depicted.

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

Huge fan of this author. Really a pleasure to read such a well researched history.

One person found this helpful

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Mathew Scheidelman

Fascinating Look at the creative people in Hollywood

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2018

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So many gay men and women made huge contributions to the magic of Old Hollywood but were anonymous or forced to live a double life to do what was simpler for others. Brings to the front just how important Gays and Lesbians were to Hollywood.

2 people found this helpful

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Fist Full of Dollars

Great and fascinating book

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great and fascinating book! William Mann delves deep into Hollywood to tell the stories that no one else would.

One person found this helpful

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S.J. Morrison