Straight-Jacket

Description

In 1950s Hollywood, Guy Stone (Matt Letscher) is king. Star of the silver screen, adored by fans everywhere, it seems nothing can stop his rise to superstardom. Nothing, that is, except his big secret: Guy is into guys! And since the government boys figure gay is as good as Communist, the studio fears that the public may detect something "pink," if not pinko, about Guy. When this horny Hollywood hunk is forced to prove his heterosexuality during the casting of Ben-Hur, Guy gets married to studio secretary Sally (Carrie Preston) in a bid to downplay some incriminating photos of himself. It seems like wedded bliss, with Sally completely clueless as to her husband's orientation.

Customer Reviews:

Fluffy Fun.......2007-01-31

"Straight-Jacket"

Fluffy Fun

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

"Straight-Jacket is a fun movie. It is a homage to the films of the fifties that mix farce and message. Guy Stone (Matt Letscher) is a horny movie star and a Hollywood sex symbol that just can't seem to keep his pants zipped. His agent decides that the only way to save his career is to marry him off to a naïve secretary (Carrie Preston). Everyone knows the marriage is a sham aside from Sally, the secretary who tries very hard to make a husband out of Stone. In the meantime Guy meets Rick (Adam Greer) who is his exact opposite and challenges his living a lie.
The script is sharp. Full of great one liners that will keep you laughing; this is one of those films that entertain the entire length. Adam Greer is wonderful as he steals the leading man and the audience's heart. He is a Marxist novelist who seems just to be the one for Guy Stone. Their differences make them well suited.
The movie is obviously based on the life of Rock Hudson and Letcher plays it for al it is worth. Greer on the other hand plays a Gary Grant type character, suave and debonair.
What first appears to be a "fluff" movie about Hollywood and its hidden secrets soon takes a life of its own. Filmed in the style of the old Cinemascope love comedies, it is a pleasure to watch. Some of the issues covered are the closeted gay actors, the producers who only care about the cash and the secret gay scene on the West Coast.
Guy Stone is handsome and successful with a legion of female fans. The fact that he is a promiscuous and indiscriminate gay man is kept very secret. But of course he makes a mistake and when he is photographed "en flagrante", his agent, so the story will not leak out, convinces him to marry to a ditsy, star struck girl. After marriage Stone discovers his wife's obsession with being a wife whose all encompassing love prevents him from his nightly forays to the gay clubs. When Guy meets pro-communist writer, Rick Foster (Greer) who coincidentally wrote his last film which was a script he had doctored to get past the McCarthy probes, they fell in love. When they are found out, Guy is forced to go public with his homosexuality and give names of others. It is here that the film becomes serious and sincere. To find out what happens, you must see the film.
Everything about the movie is a throwback to those 50's movies. The sets and costumes remind us of what was and that alone is fun to watch. The music is just awful but is reminiscent of that period. In fact. I think the term "camp" describes the movie completely. What starts as a strange film evolves into an endearing love story. No pretense, just fun makes this movie one you can enjoy every time you watch it. Resting somewhere between satire and screwball comedy, it is just pure pleasure. It demands nothing and gives great pleasure.

As artificial as the cover makes it look.......2006-09-22

Wow, talk about being able to judge the 'book by its cover'. The acting is wooden and artificial. As a result what could have been a pleasant enough film turns out to drag on.

Oh gawd it was bad!.......2006-08-30

Save your money. This is one of the worst gay movies ever made. The only entertainment it gave me was when I distroyed the cd and threw it in the garbage.

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME.......2006-07-06

..AND MONEY WITH THIS, SO CALLED COMEDY, CAUSE IS NOT, I SAW IT COMPLETLY, JUST TO FINISH THE MOVIE, NOT BEACUSE I TOGUHT IT WAS GOOD, SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT, ILL RECOMEND NOT TO BUY IT, JUST RENT IT, CAUSE YOU WILL REGRET IT.

Just a complete hoot!.......2006-03-26

I rented the movie originally and thought it was one of the funniest gay movies ever. (I ordered it from Amazon within minutes of completing my first viewing.) It is refreshing in that nobody ends up with a broken heart and nobody dies of a dread disease or at the hands of gay-bashers - a never-ending set of themes in gay movies. It was both funny and sensitive... sensitive in that a character chooses love over riches.

And the sharp wit is up there with The Birdcage and Jeffrey. If you love a sharp cut that is related to really absurd things (i.e. in The Birdcage when an old woman says "how dare you turn down sex when children in Europe can't get a date"), then you'll appreciate this movie.

Average customer rating:

Straight Jacket (Empower Films)
Starring: Josh Shipp
Manufacturer: Empower Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 1599710226

Book Description

LIFE IS HARD.
There's no doubt about it.

Empower Films first DVD, Straight Jacket, comically explores that emotion all of us feel at one point or another: that life seems harder for us than it does for anyone else. As though you've been put in a straight jacket and everyone else is walking around normal.

But what would happen if you could get free? And what if, underneath it all, your biggest enemy isn't the jacket, but something deeper???

TOPIC: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Running time approx 10 minutes + Bonus features. Color, 16:9 wide screen DVD.
Suitable for all ages. Comes with a discussion guide.

DVD:

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