Hollywood's rainbow: Hollywood Pride author Alonso Duralde

The Cinematography Podcast Episode 279: Alonso Duralde

Hollywood has long been a place of glamour and storytelling, but its history with LGBTQ+ representation is complex and ever-evolving. Film critic Alonso Duralde dives deep into this fascinating world in his new book, Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film.

Hollywood Pride is a history of queer Hollywood in chronological order, starting from the very beginnings of cinema in 1895 and journeying all the way to 2022. It’s not just about the movies themselves; Alonso delves into the lives of the artists – actors, directors, writers, and more – who have shaped Hollywood, both on and off screen. “The book is a look at how queer history evolved over those decades, off the screen and in society,” Alonso explains. “And then how that was reflected in the movies.”

Each chapter focuses on a specific period, highlighting the key LGBTQ+ figures and films of that era. It explores not only positive portrayals but also the coded messages and subtext that emerged during times of censorship, like the Hays Code era. Alonso argues that even negative portrayals hold certain significance. “Even negative inclusion is at least visibility and a reminder that we exist,” he says. “It’s not the greatest reminder, but it’s better than nothing.”

The book examines Alfred Hitchcock’s films, some of which are very homophobic, but still offer a glimpse of LGBTQ+ characters.There are also unexpected gems celebrated in the book, such as 1999’s The Mummy, a film that has resonated with the bisexual community. By the 1970’s, Dog Day Afternoon and Midnight Cowboy could more openly deal with gay characters, if not in the best light.

Alonso especially enjoyed writing about Salome, Caged, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Ed Wood’s Glen or Glenda, and by the 1990’s, the era of the New Queer Cinema movement. While celebrating the strides made in LGBTQ+ representation, Alonso acknowledges there are still many stories waiting to be told. “It feels like I was skimming the surface of a very deep topic,” he says. But even a glimpse into this rich history is a valuable step forward, offering a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences in cinema and beyond.

**WIN A COPY OF HOLLYWOOD PRIDE! Like, Follow and Comment on our post for this week’s episode on Instagram, Facebook or Threads and we will pick a winner**

*Winner must be within the continental U.S.!*

You can find Hollywood Pride as a book, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Find Alonso Duralde: Instagram: @alonso.duralde

Listen to our previous interview with Alonso Duralde about his Christmas film book, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas.

Close Focus: The Creative Arts Emmys happened over the weekend. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! The cinematography winners of the Creative Arts Emmys:

Sam McCurdy, Shogun

Robert Elswit, Ripley

Gary Baum, How I Met Your Father

Andrew Wehde, The Bear

Michael Cheeseman, Life Below Zero

Thurston Theilow, Girls State

Outstanding Documentary: Jim Henson: Idea Man

Ben’s short end: This Aged Great, both a podcast and a YouTube channel, especially the episode The Thing with Two Heads.

Alana’s short end: The podcast Shell Game hosted by Evan Ratliff who created a virtual clone of himself using AI.

Illya’s short end: Terminator Zero, an anime series of Terminator, is a very fresh and original take.