The Celluloid Closet (book)

The Celluloid Closet is a non-fiction book written by Vito Russo, published in 1981, exploring the history of homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community in American film. The book analyzes how gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters and themes were portrayed on screen, often in stereotypical, negative, or coded ways, particularly during the Hays Code era. Russo argues that Hollywood's depiction of LGBTQ+ individuals reflected and reinforced societal prejudices, often presenting them as villains, comic relief, or ultimately doomed characters.

The book is structured chronologically, examining films from the silent era to the 1970s. It highlights instances of censorship, self-censorship, and the use of subtext to represent same-sex desire. Russo meticulously documents numerous examples of homophobic tropes and harmful representations within mainstream cinema.

The Celluloid Closet became a landmark work in film studies and LGBTQ+ history. It helped to raise awareness about the impact of media representation on societal attitudes towards homosexuality and inspired further research into LGBTQ+ representation in film and television. The book's analysis remains relevant in understanding the evolution of queer representation in media and the ongoing struggle for accurate and diverse portrayals. A documentary film based on the book, also titled The Celluloid Closet, was released in 1995.