
Reel Charlie Speaks
By Philip Bahr
reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/reel-charlie-speaks-podcast/
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Reel Charlie SpeaksMar 12, 2023

All About My Mother (1999)
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I'm your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time. Spoilers ahead.
In episode 12 I explore the Spanish female friendship film, All About My Mother from my favorite living director Pedro Almodovar.
Show Notes and links:
All things Almodovar on Reel Charlie: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/category/directors-pedro-alomodvar/
The Guardian ranks Almodovar's films: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/12/pedro-almodovar-films-ranked
Architectural Digest on the most iconic designs in Almodovar's films: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/most-iconic-design-moments-pedro-almodovar

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I'm your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 11 I explore the drag queen road trip movie, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. With drag queens under attack throughout the United States, it's time to look at this classic film which won the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Drag = Love.
Show Notes and links:
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/priscilla
The Finally scene from Priscilla: https://youtu.be/kevJJDQloNE
Drag Show bans on The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/commentisfree/2023/mar/10/drag-show-bans-tennessee-lgbtq-rights
DeAundra Peek on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL62A6D23BAA3B9ADD
Reel Charlie's Op Ed on drag and drag shows: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2023/02/05/can-we-talk-about-drag/

Hitchcock
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I'm your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 10 I explore two classic films from the master, Alfred Hitchcock. First up, Rope (1948), followed by Strangers on a Train (1951). Both films boast lesbian and gay writers, both star bisexual actor Farley Granger, and both feature queer male relationships during a time when Hollywood was contained by the Hays Code.
Currently the films are available to stream on various platforms for a rental fee and on disk from your local library. Perfect reason to hold on to your disk player.
Corrections: Not sure why I kept wanting to say Bruner instead of Bruno. I lived in New York City during the 1990's, not the 2000's. I Confess is the name of the Hitchcock film where Montgomery Clift plays a priest.
http://www.alfredhitchcock.com/life-and-legacy/filmography/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Hitchcock
https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/87065%7C10493/Alfred-Hitchcock/#filmography
https://ew.com/movies/every-alfred-hitchcock-movie-ranked/
Reel Charlie's review of Rope: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/rope-the-masterpiece-collection/
Reel Charlie's review of Strangers on a Train: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/strangers-on-a-train-blu-ray/
Reel Charlie's all things Hitchcock: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/category/directors-alfred-hitchcock/
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/reel-charlie-speaks-podcast/
Music by Daddy_s_Music from Pixabay

Making Love (dir. by Arthur Hiller, 1982)
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I'm your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 9 I explore the classic gay male film, Making Love from 1982. In addition to discussing the plot, I also talk about the film as melodrama, the fallout for the male actors, and why this movie often gets ignored in the queer canon of films.
Currently Making Love is unavailable to stream. Perfect reason to hold on to your disk player.
Corrections:
The director's name is not Arthur Hill, but Arthur Hiller.
Personal Best is a very important LGBTQ film from this time period.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/making_love
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/making-love-1982
https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2012/07/14/how-making-love-changed-us
https://communication.ucf.edu/screenwriter-barry-sandler-talks-about-film-making-love/
https://ew.com/movies/harry-hamlin-making-love-role-ended-film-career/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOl5reHeqTw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo1MGPTjrVQ
Reel Charlie's 2015 review of Making Love: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/making-love/
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/reel-charlie-speaks-podcast/
Music by Daddy_s_Music from Pixabay

The Watermelon Woman (dir. Cheryl Dunye, 1996)
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I'm your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 8 we explore the classic New Queer Cinema film, The Watermelon Woman (1996), the first feature film from black lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunye.
https://thewatermelonwoman.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Dunye
https://www.jingletownfilms.com/cheryl-dunye
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/reel-charlie-speaks-podcast/
Music by Daddy_s_Music from Pixabay

Favorite Holiday Films
In episode 7 of Reel Charlie Speaks, the podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie, a film and television review blog, I explore all things holiday films and television episodes. Starting from the present and working my way backwards, I end up in the mid-20th Century asking that age old Reel Charlie Speaks question, does this movie stand the test of time?
Check out Reel Charlie's favorite holiday films and television.
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/

Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life
In episode 6 of Reel Charlie Speaks, the podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie, a film and television review blog, I explore all things Louise Hay focusing on her seminal book, You Can Heal Your Life which transformed the way I look at my life and the world. I discuss my own spiritual journey from childhood to the present.
Other books:
Patterns of the Whole Volume I: Healing and Quartz Crystals: Journey With Our Souls
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
The Chakras
Emmanuel’s Book
Handbook to Higher Consciousness
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Anatomy of the Spirit
My spiritual mentor and former step-mother-in-law Priscilla Normandy Greenwood.
Explore everything spiritual on Reel Charlie.

Reluctant Halloween
In episode 5 of Reel Charlie Speaks, the podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie, a film and television review blog, I explore all things Halloween from the perspective of someone who’s not a huge Halloween lover, nor am I a huge viewer of gore and violence. So this episode reveals some of the best movies and television where the focus is on camp and suspense, rather than blood and guts.
Browse everything Halloween on Reel Charlie.
Correction: I know The Shining‘s star is Jack Nicholson, not Lemmon, although maybe that would have been funnier.

Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City
In Episode 4 of Reel Charlie Speaks, I explore everything Amistead Maupin including a deep dive into his 9-part book series, Tales of the City. Maupin’s book and particularly the Tales series has made a lasting impact on my life and his character of Anna Madrigal is my favorite fictional character of all-time. I also discuss his stand-alone books, the various Tales adaptations and the beautiful legacy Maupin has created with his work.
Click for more Reel Charlie Speaks.
Read more about Armistead Maupin.
Purchase Armistead’s books or find them in your local public library.

Coming Out
In Episode 3 of Reel Charlie Speaks, I explore my own coming out. What made it brave for 1978. How fortunate I was to be in a family who never fought back and never abused me. How most everyone came around over the years. Fortunate is an understatement. And how different it was from all the ways folks come out today as the gender and sexuality umbrella of terms expands and individuals redefines themselves.
Read Reel Charlie reviews on some of my favorite coming out films over the past 60 years:
Beautiful Thing
Brother to Brother
But I’m a Cheerleader
Carol
Far from Heaven
Freier Fall (Free Fall)
God’s Own Country
The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love
Jongens (Boys)
Latter Days
Love, Simon
Maurice
Moonlight
My Beautiful Laundrette
Rafiki
Save Me
Victim

HIV AIDS Films
It took two months instead of one, but I am publishing the second Reel Charlie Speaks podcast. In Reel Charlie Speaks, I focus on a classic piece of work and discuss what it meant to me when I first discovered it and how it has stood the test of time. Today I reflect upon six HIV AIDS films from my list of the best HIV AIDS Films I’ve compiled over the years.
Read Reel Charlie film reviews on each of the titles discussed in this episode:
Adventures of Felix (currently not streaming in the U.S.)
Before I Forget (currently not streaming in the U.S.)
Blue (streaming on Kanopy)
How to Survive a Plague (streaming on Amazon Prime and SlingTV)
Parting Glances (streaming on Plex, Amazon Prime, and Philo)
Zero Patience (streaming on The Criterion Channel)

Dancer From The Dance
Reel Charlie introduces a new monthly audio program – a podcast which explores one work from the past. I discuss the story, and what I thought the first time I watched/read/saw it, and now today what I think. Reel Charlie Speaks inaugural Episode 1 highlights Andrew Holleran’s 1978 seminal gay male novel, Dancer From The Dance. Join me for a half hour of fun.
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/reel-charlie-speaks-podcast/
https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/