What is the First LGBT Movie?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Early LGBT Influences in Film
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1894)
Different from the Others (1924)
Significance
Introduction
Representation of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) experiences in film has evolved dramatically over the last century. While today there are many films with LGBT stories and characters, it wasn't always so. Let's explore what is considered to be the first LGBT movie.
Early LGBT Influences in Film
During the early 20th century, homosexuality and LGBT themes were largely taboo in the world of cinema due to censorship and societal attitudes. However, some influential silent films subtly depicted same-sex attraction and challenged gender roles:
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film is a film made by William Dickson in late 1894 or early 1895. Dickson plays a violin and two men dance to the music.
Different from the Others (1919) - A German film featuring a gay protagonist.
Morocco (1930) - Marlene Dietrich kisses a woman in this film, which caused a scandal at the time.
Queen Christina (1933) - Greta Garbo portrays the bisexual Swedish monarch.
While not explicitly LGBT, these films paved the way for future representation.
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film from 1895 has gained attention in recent years as one of the earliest films to depict homosexual intimacy. In a brief sequence, two men are shown dancing together and embracing. While only lasting less than a minute, this clip is now seen as a remarkable early portrayal of same-sex affection in the pioneering days of cinema. Film scholars point to the film as evidence that LGBTQ relationships have existed and been documented throughout history. The fact that this loving embrace between two men was captured so long ago challenges conceptions that homosexuality is a modern phenomenon. Though easy to overlook, The Dickson Experimental Sound Film represents an important LGBTQ milestone in the evolution of on-screen representation and visibility. The film proves gay and bisexual individuals were present all along in cinema, albeit hidden by societal prejudice. Its discovery highlights the need to re-examine old films through a queer lens to uncover LGBTQ stories forgotten by mainstream history.
Different from the Others (1924)
The German silent film Different from the Others is considered by many film scholars to be the earliest surviving feature film with an explicitly gay theme.
Key details:
Stars Conrad Veidt as a violinist who falls in love with one of his male students.
Depicts the persecution and hardships faced by gay men in 1920s German society.
Made in the name of public education and repealing anti-gay laws.
Much of the film has been lost, but it remains an influential piece of LGBT cinema history.
Significance
As one of the first films to prominently feature an LGBT storyline and gay protagonist, Different from the Others is seen as a pioneering work that helped set the stage for future LGBT visibility in cinema.
Despite its age, the film's message of tolerance and its portrayal of social oppression remain relevant. It is remembered as a bold step in the evolution of LGBT representation in film.
While LGBT stories and characters are now common in film, it took decades of struggle and small steps like Different from the Others before they became widely accepted. The 1924 German film is considered a landmark as one of the first feature films to bring gay themes to the screen. Its legacy lives on in the continued push for LGBT visibility and equality in cinema.
—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together. If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!
