THE ADVENTURES OF KING PAUSOLE. Filmed in France in 1932, with Emil Jannings. Based on the Pierre Louys novel, this starred 366 models and dancers from the Folies bergeres; among these near-nude and nubile nymphs was one disguised as a male ballet dancer, with whom the King’s daughter Aline had a romance even after discovering that they were of the same sex.
ALL ABOUT EVE took the Academy Award in 1950. There is a very lesbian situation used to introduce the main protagonist into the movie; later events proved the woman only pretending lesbian-type devotion, but the inference, in the beginning, is clear and unmistakable. (GD)
THE BARKER 1928. A short silent picture which was banned in many cities because it featured a scene in which a very butchy type in men’s pajamas got into bed with a fluffy blonde type; caused a lot of critical hoop-la. (GD)
THE CHILDREN’S HOUR, a film based on the Lillian Hellman play reviewed in this Checklist, bears a question mark; will someone who has seen the picture please let us know whether lesbian content was implicit in the movie?
CHILDREN OF LONELINESS, outright anti-homophile propaganda, was mostly male-oriented, but did contain a gay night-club scene, and picture and office butch whose offer of affection and protection drove one girl to a psychiatrist’s couch—where she was counselled against “abnormal love”.
DARK VICTORY. 1939, recently shown on TV, concerns a talented, charming woman (Bette Davis) dying of a brain tumor; her constant companion and secretary is clearly in love with her, and there were numerous beautiful and heartbreaking scenes, some of which would be impossible in a movie not dealing with such a sad situation.
CLUB DES FEMMES (Girl’s Club in English) an admirable French film starring Danielle Darieux, reviewed at length in THE LADDER. The lesbian element is treated explicitly and with taste and charm.
ESCAPE TO YESTERDAY, a French film with one brief sequence in a cabaret, where recognizably lesbian types were portrayed.
MAEDCHEN IN UNIFORM, a classic German film of the thirties, reviewed at length in J H Foster’s book, starring Hertha Thiele as Manusia and Dorothea Wieck as her teacher. The film has recently been re-made but has not yet reached the USA.