15 Old Hollywood Movies That Were Almost Banned Because They Were Secretly Realllllllly Gay

    A lot of these movies were soooooo ahead of their time.

    Spencer Althouse
    by Spencer Althouse

    BuzzFeed Staff

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    Old Hollywood movies had to follow strict guidelines throughout the 1930s–1960s, known as the Hays Code, which basically prevented them from featuring anything that was overtly sexual or "inappropriate." A lot of filmmakers got creative about how they could navigate this censorship, so here are some movies that are subtly (and not so subtly) super, super, super gay. Enjoy!

    1. All About Eve (1950) is a witty and toxic drama about an aging actress who befriends a fan who ultimately tries to usurp her. This movie shares the record for the most Oscar nominations ever, with 14, and it briefly features Marilyn Monroe in one of her first roles ever. There are so many queer undertones and characters throughout, and they're all so delicious. Also, I personally think this is the best film ever made, so enjoy.

    Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in a three-panel scene from a movie. Bette Davis says, "We know you... Is it over, or is it just beginning?" followed by "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."
    20th Century Fox

    Who's in it: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Thelma Ritter, Celeste Holm, George Sanders, and Gary Merrill

    Here's the trailer:

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    20th Century Fox / youtube.com

    2. Tea and Sympathy (1956) follows a "sensitive" prep school teen who's bullied by the other students and teachers. He finds solace in an older woman, played by Deborah Kerr, and the whole thing is just sooooo pretty to look at.

    Four-frame scene of Mr. Lee, Laura, and Bill in a conversation about whether someone is a regular fellow, referencing his upbringing and behaviors
    MGM

    Who's in it: Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, John Kerr, and Edward Andrews

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    Here's the trailer:

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    MGM / youtube.com

    3. Compulsion (1959) follows two hot, wealthy, and secretly queer college boys who commit a murder and think they're too smart to get away with it. It's loosely based on a real-life murder trial, so just trust me on this one.

    Three black-and-white scenes from a movie featuring Sean Connery: the first in a car, the second with a woman, and the third in a prison cell. Text: "Do you know what beauty there is in evil?"
    20th Century Fox

    Who's in it: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Diane Varsi, and Richard Anderson

    Here's the trailer:

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    20th Century Fox / youtube.com

    4. Edge of the City (1957) is a gritty drama about the friendship between Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes' characters. It's rough and tough and has a lotttt of queer subtext. Ruby Dee is also in this movie, and she's especially fantastic.

    A man gives advice to another man about different social choices and their consequences. Another man asks, "What happens if you don't want to go with anybody?"
    MGM

    Who's in it: Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Ruby Dee, and Jack Warden

    Here's the trailer:

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    MGM / youtube.com

    5. Purple Noon (1960) is actually adapted from the book The Talented Mr. Ripley. This French film is just so freaking hot, and if you're into suspenseful thrillers or even remotely liked the 1999 version with Jude Law and Matt Damon then you absolutely need to check this out.

    First image: A man wearing a cap is eating and speaking. Second image: A woman in a striped shirt looks at a man while eating. Third image: The man speaks while eating
    CCFC

    Who's in it: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt, and Billy Kearns

    Here's the trailer:

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    CCFC / youtube.com

    6. Strangers on a Train (1951) is a psychological thriller from Alfred Hitchcock. It's about two strangers who both want someone murdered, so they swap victims to prevent anyone from getting suspicious of them. Farley Granger is just so fun to look at in this, and I'm begging you to watch it.

    A scene from the movie "Strangers on a Train" with two men in suits discussing a murder plot. One man, looking serious, explains his idea involving exchanging murders
    Warner Bros.

    Who's in it: Farley Granger, Robert Walker, and Ruth Roman

    Here's the trailer:

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    Warner Bros. / youtube.com

    7. The Hitch-Hiker (1953) is about two male friends who are basically taken hostage after picking up a hitchhiker while on their way to a fishing trip. The film is based on the 1950 killing spree of Billy Cook, and it examines homosexual panic, masculinity, and traditional gender roles.

    Three black-and-white film stills show a tense exchange. Text includes: "Whose gun is that? You like to shoot?", "Yeah." Man with a gun says, "So do I."
    RKO Radio Pictures

    Who's in it:Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, and William Talman

    Here's the trailer:

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    RKO Radio Pictures / youtube.com

    8. The Children's Hour (1961) stars Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as two women who run a boarding school for girls in 1930s New England. One of the students is a troublemaking little b*tch who starts a rumor that they're in a lesbian relationship, and all hell breaks loose. The movie is based on Lillian Hellman's famous play of the same name, and it's a must-watch.

    United Artists

    Who's in it: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Fay Bainter, and Miriam Hopkins

    Here's the trailer:

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    United Artists / youtube.com

    9. The Servant (1963) deals with unspoken desires, homoerotic tensions, and the ultimate dom-sub power dynamic. In it, a wealthy, young Londoner hires a man to be his servant. The servant slowly takes control and manipulates his "master," and it's a wilddddd ride.

    Three black-and-white stills from "The Servant" movie featuring Dirk Bogarde and James Fox. Captions include: "I know all about you. Lots of guilty secrets."
    Warner-Pathé

    Who's in it: James Fox, Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, and Wendy Craig

    Here's the trailer:

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    Warner-Pathé / youtube.com

    10. Victim (1961) is centered around a closeted lawyer in London who's blackmailed for being gay, which was illegal in England until 1967. This is a groundbreaking piece of movie history, as it was the first British film to explicitly mention homosexuality, and it should be required viewing for everyone.

    Three black and white film stills. Top: man on phone with text "If I hear from you again I'll inform the police. Do you understand? That's absolutely final." Middle: another man looks concerned. Bottom: young person holds a phone looking distressed
    Rank Film Distributors

    Who's in it: Dirk Bogarde, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, and Sylvia Syms

    Here's the trailer:

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    Rank Film Distributors / youtube.com

    11. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) has James Dean as a bisexual hottie, so you really can't ask for much more. The original script had his character kissing Plato, who was one of the first gay teen characters on screen, but the Hays Code quickly squashed that from happening. Still, this movie is edgy and dramatic and romantic, and the whole cast is just so fun to look at.

    First panel: Man asks, "Is he a friend of yours? What's he like?" Second panel: Woman responds, "I don't know. He doesn't say much." Third panel: Man in a white shirt and tie
    Warner Bros.

    Who's in it: James Dean, Sal Mineo, Natalie Wood, and Dennis Hopper

    Here's the trailer:

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    Warner Bros. / youtube.com

    12. Rope (1948) is another Hitchcock classic, this time following two queer men who think they've committed the perfect murder and then host a dinner party to secretly boast about it. The movie was shot to look like everything was filmed in a single take, which heightens its suspense and helps to keep the characters (and viewers) on edge.

    Scene from the movie "Rope" showing close-ups of characters played by John Dall, Farley Granger, and James Stewart during a tense moment
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Who's in it: James Stewart, Farley Granger, John Dall, Dick Hogan, Douglas Dick, and Edith Evanson

    Here's the trailer:

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    Warner Bros. / youtube.com

    13. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) is centered around a wealthy widow who tries to get her niece lobotomized to cover up the truth about her secretly queer (and now deceased) son. This one is a little out there, but Katharine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor both received Best Actress Oscar nominations for their roles, so there's that.

    Characters having a dramatic conversation: a distressed woman addresses the man as “Doctor” and another woman as “Aunt Vi.” Tension is evident in their expressions
    Columbia Pictures

    Who's in it: Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift, and Gary Raymond

    Here's the trailer:

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    Columbia Pictures / youtube.com

    14. Advise & Consent (1962) is a political drama that was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. It's centered around the confirmation of a nominee for Secretary of State, who just so happens to be a married US senator who's being blackmailed for secretly having past relations with a man.

    Scenes from a classic black-and-white film set in a gay bar, described as the first mainstream US movie to depict such a setting
    Columbia Pictures

    Who's in it: Henry Fonda, Don Murray, Gene Tierney, Walter Pidgeon, and Charles Laughton

    Here's the trailer:

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    Columbia Pictures / youtube.com

    15. And finally, The Haunting (1963) is a revolutionary horror movie that features one of the only lesbian characters of its time to be feminine and not predatory. The film is based on the book The Haunting of Hill House, which was ultimately turned into a hugely popular Netflix series, so if you like either of them then you should watch this too.

    Women look fearful, standing close together by a cracked mirror; the last image is a close-up of their faces, both expressing concern
    MGM

    Who's in it: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn

    Here's the trailer:

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    MGM / youtube.com

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