Before Stonewall

Before Stonewall is a unique piece because it was made in 1984, 15 years after Stonewall: It was still fresh in people's memory, it wasn't so long before.

Above all, it means that the people interviewed in the program were old enough to remember what the 20-30s were like, remember an experience in the army during the Second World War, remember life as a young gay person in the fifties. Most of those people wouldn't be able to be interviewed today: Most probably died of old age and many probably died of the greatest tragedy to ever affect the gay community a bit after the documentary was made: the aids epidemic.

Thus this documentary is invaluable to anyone interested in gay history, and one can really feel grateful that it was made back then, that someone decided to collect all those memories and amazing life experiences, or they would have been lost for ever.

An absolutely fascinating account of gay life in the United States before 1969, especially how WWII changed everything.

This collection of interviews, archival material, and history gives a clear picture of how gays and lesbians lived and interacted in this country before people "came out" publicly.

I was impressed with those who came out openly in the 50s and started the first gay and lesbian organizations and magazines. These were people of extreme courage.

The incorporation of gays and lesbians in the civil rights movement and the women's movement was thoroughly examined.

This film should be seen by all to have a better understanding of oppression in America, and how far we have come.

Have many pictures of our father (Louis Dumar) in silents - my sister has one of him in Salome in her guest bedroom. Just found out last year, from a German website, about the film's "all gay" reputation.

He died 50+ yrs ago, so no way to find out real scoop now.

I purchased a Video of the short version - apparently all that remains - of the film and have have had some good laughs showing it to friends. The costumes are great and the whole thing very much before it's time. Hope to find out more about it's history.

Our dad's brother (Gino Corrado) was also in the movies, and is credited with something 272 appearances from 1916 to the 1970's. Remember seeing him in "B" movies on TV as a kid.

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this wonderful documentary. The archival material alone -- film clips and still photographs of gay life in America between 1900 and the '60s -- is enough to make this film a treasure; but it is the interviews with survivors of the pre-Stonewall era that make Before Stonewall a priceless heirloom of gay studies and a must in the personal education of any socially conscious person interested in gay culture.

The Stonewall Uprising in 1969 is widely seen as the kickoff of the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Greta Schiller's "Before Stonewall" looks at the history of LGBT people throughout the 20th century. I would never have guessed that World War II turned out to be an earlier kickoff.

Since this documentary only goes up to Stonewall, it doesn't cover Harvey Milk (he got his own documentary that same year). A similar documentary is "The Celluloid Closet", about the depictions of LGBT people in cinema. All three documentaries are worth seeing to learn about LGBT history in the US. It sounds as though there's a sequel to this one, so I'll try to see that also.