The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

Never heard of Maupin before. NetFlix suggested it to me and I said why not. It starts as a regular documentary. Boring. I was about to close the window and it started to give more about Maupin. The guy is fun! Amusing. So, once more, I said why not. And it turned out to be quite a pleasant experience. A nice story with a nicely done arc. And if I had seen it back in 2018, I would have said 8 out of 10 stars is enough for a well polished biography. But I have seen it in 2021, after the Governments of the world started the Covid measures. 10/10. Thank you for examining that San Francisco!

1/11/18. Maupin shares his life on paper and his southern roots and how they were influenced by his life as a gay man. You can tell he has made peace with himself during a time when being gay was not so acceptable while he was growing up. Being a literary icon made his story-telling interesting to listen to.

This documentary,part of Queer Film Fest is a gem,so enjoyable and informative and Director Jennifer J Kroot has captured the Tales and Times of Armistead Maupin beautifully and nostalgically. If you visited a straight club or bar and asked who Armistead Maupin is I doubt many people would know of him but for us in the GLBTQI Community he represents the vital years of Gay Liberation from the late 1970's ,1980's and on , not because he was a rampant anarchist or demonstrator but because he introduced us to the beloved characters of his Tales of the City and his beloved city of San Francisco and gave us stories of friendship love and adventure that we could relate to. The documentary shows his early years and family history before coming out and the times he has lived through the Stonewall Riots , AIDS at its height that wiped out many of the Gay population of San Francisco and many of his friends . It's great to see the original cast members such as the now world renowned actress Laura Linney , who played Mary- Anne Singleton and Olympia Dukakis who was the magical mysterious transgendered Anna Madrigal recall their experiences of the series and their affection for Armistead. I recalled a treasured San Francisco moment in 1995 on our first trip when we were at Fisherman's Wharf and a double decker bus pulled up and out popped a chorus of glittery glamorous drag queens . They alighted from their bus and proceeded to a brilliantly lit Carousel did a few sparkly rounds then got back on the bus and took off into the night. I remember thinking this was an Armistead Maupin Tales of the City moment and it made me smile to think that San Francisco is Sydney's sister city.

This documentary has all the pluses. Excellent use is made of original footage from the 70's onward. A good cross-section of interviews with Maupin's friends, family and acquaintances bring the man "to life" and confirm the positive impact he has on so many different levels worldwide.

The challenges of a gay man raised in a conservative, Southern household with Confederate roots, was a real eye-opener. I was surprised to learn that Maupin (in trying to please his parents and family tradition)ended up being invited to the White House during the Vietnam war, where he shook hands with none other than Nixon. Maupin's complete about-turn afterward, is fascinating to absorb. His friendship with Rock Hudson was another stunner. Footage from PBS Tales of the City is also interwoven to good effect (as well as the most welcome presence of Laura Linney reflecting on those times and her sustained friendship with Maupin). Don't miss this!

Not only was I amazed by Armistead Maupin's life story, his charming candor, and the characters he's created; I also loved the portrait of San Francisco through time. The historical footage, and the recent footage came together in a way that told an authentic and beautiful story of the city I grew up near and now call home. It was especially amazing to see this film on the big screen at the Castro Theatre---I hope they screen it again because I would go see it again!