The Gay Deceivers

The Gay Deceivers is a 1969 gay-themed comedy film directed by Bruce Kessler. The film, which has a twist ending, derives much of its humor through the use of stereotypes. According to gay film historian Vito Russo in his book The Celluloid Closet, co-star Michael Greer, who played the flamboyantly gay Malcolm and who was himself gay, tried to work with the screenwriter and director to minimize the negativity of the characterization and present Malcolm in a positive light.[2]

For the 1926 film starring Lew Cody and Carmel Myers, see The Gay Deceiver. For other uses, see Gay deceiver.
The Gay Deceivers
Directed byBruce Kessler
Produced byJoe Solomon
Written byGil Lasky (story)
Abe Polsky (story)
Jerome Wish
StarringKevin Coughlin
Brooke Bundy
Lawrence P. Casey
Jo Ann Harris
Michael Greer
Music byStu Phillips
CinematographyRichard C. Glouner
Edited byReg Browne
Renn Reynolds
Distributed byFanfare Films Inc.
Release date
  • July 2, 1969 (1969-07-02)
[1]
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The Gay Deceivers follows Danny and Elliot, two friends who try to get out of the draft by pretending to be gay. They're placed under surveillance by the Army and have to keep up the pretense. They move into a gay apartment building and try to blend in with the residents, all the while trying to maintain their romantic relationships with women and not get caught by the Army.

The twist is that even after the pair is caught, they are not inducted into the military. The Army investigators assigned to watch them are themselves gay and are trying to keep straight people out of the Army.

Cast
Actor Role
Kevin CoughlinDanny Devlin
Brooke BundyKaren
Lawrence P. Casey (Larry Casey)Elliot Crane
Jo Ann HarrisLeslie Devlin
Michael GreerMalcolm
Sebastian BrookCraig
Jack StarrettColonel Dixon
Richard WebbMr. Devlin
Eloise HardtMrs. Devlin
Jeanne BairdMrs. Conway
Michael KopchaPsychiatrist
Joe TornatoreSergeant Kravits
Robert ReeseReal Estate Agent
Christopher RiordanDuane
Douglas HumeCorporal
David OsterhoutStern
Marilyn WirtSybil
Ron GansFreddie
Rachel RomenDorothy
Tom GrubbsPaul
Louise WilliamsBunny
Randee Lynne JensenSheryl
Meridith WilliamsPhil
Harry SodoniGeorgette
Leonore StevensLaverne
Trigg KellyJacki
Tony EpperVince
Anthony De Longis(uncredited)
Jonathan KramerGay neighbor dating army officer (uncredited)
Candice RialsonGirl in bikini (uncredited)

Production

It was the film debut of Candice Rialson.[3]

Release

The film opened in Atlanta and San Francisco on July 2, 1969.[4][1]

Home media

The Gay Deceivers was released on Region 1 DVD on May 2, 2000.

References
  1. The Gay Deceivers at the American Film Institute Catalog
  2. Russo, Vito. The Celluloid Closet. Harper & Row, ISBN 0060908718, pg. 186
  3. Vagg, Stephen (November 26, 2019). "The Cinema of Exploitation Goddess Candice Rialson". Diabolique Magazine.
  4. "'Deceivers' Dual Preem". Variety. July 2, 1969. p. 5.


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