From Library Journal
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Booklist
Images in the Dark is organized into nine chapters, the first three of which consist of entries dealing with directors, actors, and writers, artists, dancers, and composers. Each entry summarizes in several paragraphs the person's contributions to film and discusses his or her private life. Following this, the person's films are listed chronologically, noting the year released, running time, and country of origin; each film is also annotated briefly with evaluative comments. The remainder of the book covers films with gay themes. Four chapters are organized by audience: of interest to both gays and lesbians; to gays alone; to lesbians alone; and to "transsexuals, transvestites and drag queens . . . and their fans." The following chapter deals with "cheesy films that feature gay, lesbian or transgendered characters." The last chapter covers "films with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters in secondary or bit roles and/or films which make references to homosexuality." In the chapters focusing on films, entries contain information on year released, running time, country of origin, and director. The annotations for these films are somewhat longer than those for films appearing in the biographical chapters.
Detailed indexes of film titles, directors, personalities, and themes conclude the book. The themes index lists films by ethnic group, country, genre, and such themes as homophobia, cross-dressing, and vampires. Many black-and-white clips of film scenes and photos of directors and stars complement the entries. Readers may question why some stars appear in the book. Lindsay Anderson's inclusion in the directors chapter is a mystery, since there is no mention of his connection to gay themes except a passing reference to one scene in the movie If.
Murray includes both Hollywood and underground films in his book. James Robert Parish's Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema [RBB Mr 1 94] covers 272 films in greater detail. It has full cast credits and quotes reviews. Facets Gay & Lesbian Video Guide [RBB Mr 1 94] lists documentaries, foreign films, and offbeat films that have homosexuality as the main subject. Libraries owning these two books may find their coverage adequate. But Murray's coverage of persons as well as films makes Images in the Dark a necessary purchase for libraries with major film collections; academic and public libraries should consider purchase, too. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
