Hollywood pride A celebration of LGBTQ+ representation and perseverance in film

Film critic Duralde (coauthor, I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies) documents a century of LGBTQIA+ films and pioneers in this entertaining and essential encyclopedia. From one of the first film snippets, made in 1895 in Thomas Edison's laboratory and showing two men dancing together, up through the landmark Brokeback Mountain era and beyond, entries are organized chronologically and include significant films in the genre, along with the names of actors, directors, writers, choreographers, and others who made an impact. For instance, early silent greats Ramon Novarro and Alla Nazimova helped pave the way for 21st-century stars such as Colman Domingo and Elliot Page. The book shows the progression of LGBTQIA+ visibility in films, ranging from when the subject was prohibited in the days of early cinema (but alluded to with clever masking by creative filmmakers, including Alfred Hitchcock) to more clear character portrayals following the demise of the Production Code in the 1960s. The book continues through the 1990s to New Queer Cinema and beyond (including Moonlight, Call Me by Your Name, Tangerine, Fire Island, and Everything Everywhere All at Once). VERDICT Beautifully illustrated and engaging, this supremely well-written book will appeal to cinephiles and serve as a valuable, essential, and much-consulted resource.--Phillip Oliver