Jim Andris, Facebook

A NATURAL THING

(from Prime Time, June, 1977, p.29.)

The town of Maplewood will perhaps never be the same. It may never recover from the hundreds of joyous gay people who went to a benefit showing of "A Very Natural Thing," sponsored by the St. Louis Task Force on Human Rights to raise money to combat Anita Bryant. Large crowds attended both showings, and there was a strong sense of community and good feeling. In between the two showings, the street In front of the theater was filled with gays. It was a beautiful sight to see gay men and women, blacks and whites, all together.

This was the first St. Louis showing of "A Very Natural Thing," a movie which explores being gay and gay relationships among males. The major character starts out as a romantic with his first lover, and he expects the relationship to last forever. He is crushed when it ends, but learns and grows from the experience, and is more cautious and realistic when entering into his next relationship. Although sexual acts are shown in the movie, most of them are in the context of deep affection, something which raises the movie above the average porno film. The cinematography was generally good and often excellent. The acting was adequate for the physical scenes, which included a delightful Central Park parody of “Love Story," but fell short in the dialogue, where it often seemed mechanical and stilted, with the actors reading through their lines with little emotion. In general, however, the movie gives a very favorable view of gay life and is enjoyable.

Interspersed with the plot are scenes and interviews from the Gay Pride March in New York In 1973. This was a celebration of gayness, and the people interviewed were joyous and proud--a fitting message for gay people to remember during the struggle with Anita Bryant.

Marvin H. Kabakoff