Before Stonewall (1984)

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Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

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Release Date: Jun 27, 1985 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 613

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Movie Info

This documentary by Greta Schiller takes a look at the sometimes oblique American acknowledgment of homosexuals in the decades before a historical flashpoint in 1969. Late that year, the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village was stormed by police and its patrons arrested -- resulting in two days of rioting. Allen Ginsberg and other celebrities talk about past police tactics, witch-hunts, censorship, and historical "cleansing" operations that violated human rights and civil liberties --

Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.

Documentary, Drama, Special Interest

Directed By: John Scagliotti , Greta Schiller

In Theaters: Jun 27, 1985 Wide

On DVD: May 18, 2004

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Critic Reviews for Before Stonewall

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (2) | DVD (2)

Fascinating history of 20th Century Gay America

August 20, 2005 Comment

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Even though the transfer looks like your local college library's rattiest tomes, this treatise on how homosexual sociology thrived before being validated is required viewing.

May 21, 2004 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

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Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

This is a documentary that can tell the sometimes bitter truth and still conclude with an unambiguously heartening flourish.

May 21, 2004 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

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Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

Before Stonewall stands as a competent documentary, straight-forward without any great cinematic techniques that stand out

September 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Before Stonewall

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Amazing archive footage, I would think it must have taken a lot of research to find some of it. Great interviews, but I think too much of it focuses on the interviews. Interesting and very informative. It's well done, it held my interest but sometimes was a little repetitive and slow moving.

April 15, 2010

James Higgins

fascinating look at queers in the 1900s-stonewall. lots of amazing footage and pics of gay bos gaying it up. very interesting. makes you really appreciate what queers got now.

July 30, 2008