Hello again Campus Queens,

First, I must tell you all that I'm thrilled to now be on FACEBOOK! Please, won't you be my friend?

OK. Onto my advice column. I’ve received many fascinating questions over these past two months, making it difficult for yours truly to choose what to blog about next. However, there was a question that kept popping up more than any other, so I think it’s best if I answer it next. One version said it quite perfectly:

Dear Peaches,

I’m a freshman at UNLV and a Film Studies major. Unfortunately my film department, though fantastic in many ways, doesn’t offer a course in LGBT film history. I was reading about your history at Penn State and also about your new film coming out soon and I was inspired to write to you about my own dreams of becoming a filmmaker.

There are many books out now about gay film history, which gay movies to see, which are essential viewing, etc. I wanted to know your thoughts on this subject, and if you had your own list of films “every gay man should see”.

Thanks,

Vince

Well Vincent, let me first say that I’m shocked and appalled that a town like Las Vegas, the home of Showgirls and Siegfried & Roy, has no Queer Film Studies course in its main university’s cinema department. But seriously, I’d be glad to help a fellow queer filmmaker out. I remember what it was like those many moons ago when I myself was in film school – it wasn’t easy to find my own story represented up on those classroom movie screens.

But I feel I should preface this for you Vince, and for all the other lovelies reading this entry that Peaches has an affinity for diva-driven movies. There’s nothing I love more than a strong lady who’s got a chip on her shoulder, and who’s out to re-align the “straight” world any way she can. She’s never nice. She’s usually the underdog, though empowered, and often violent. I identify with these movies and you probably will too because you're a queer. As a filmmaker/film-lover, I adore how consistently entertaining they are. Here’s six for now. I’ll post about more very soon.

The Bad Seed (1956)

A charming story of a genetically pre-determined homicidal maniac/sociopath who just happens to be an adorable nine-year old girl named Rhoda Penmark. Rhoda’s not liked by either her peers or most adults around her. She’s misunderstood and an outsider. Sass-pot Rhoda instinctively knows the world is permanently flawed and that it’s never going to be acceptable for an odd girl such as herself. As these circumstances combine, the body count rises. The performances are amazing, outrageous and incredibly watchable. If you like The Orphan, you'll LOVE The Bad Seed!

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

If you’ve never seen a Bette Davis or Joan Crawford, may I suggest starting here. If anything, you kill two old broads with one stone. This film, about the age-old rivalry between two long-faded movie-queen sisters, and how they descend into homicide and madness, is in many ways the touchstone film for all filmic queer sensibility. You equally sympathize and despise both of them. Also, the equally give two of the best performances I’ve ever seen. This film also ties into my previous post about make-up application – it won the Oscar for best make-up. Learrrrrrrrrrrrrn!

Female Trouble (1974)

The epic journey of one woman against the world! Dawn Davenport was born under a bad star. She was born into a world that refuses to accept her or understand her. Divine gives what is arguably her best performance, uttering what is arguably Waters’ best dialogue, in what I think is their best film. If you don’t know where to start with John Waters, start here! No sacred cow is left un-milked: from teenage pregnancy, incest, child abuse, religious intolerance, to fashion modeling and Christmas trees. This film is a veritable of F-bomb of anger against the ‘world of normal’.

Strait-Jacket (1965)

One of my personal cinematic gods is producer/director William Castle. Chances are he won’t be covered in of the survey courses you’ll be taking at film school, which is a great tragedy. This is one of his opuses to be sure, and not just because it stars Joan Crawford in what could be her most over-the-top performances. Again, the theme of one’s emotional desire for revenge against a past brutality makes it to my list. This time, Joan plays a woman who killed her husband with an ax after he caught him cheating. Twenty years later she’s out of the institution, and may or may not be cured. If the outside world would just try to understand her pain, maybe she wouldn’t have to keep chopping people up?

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Spoiler alert! Someone might label this movie the greatest homophobic masterpiece of all time, but I must disagree. Could it be called the greatest, unsung, tranny-killer movie? Yes. Many think the LGBT community should reject tranny-killer movies like Dressed to Kill, Psycho, and Silence of the Lambs. But I’m for re-appropriating them. You can’t deny that they’re all (including Sleepaway Camp) highly entertaining movies. I choose to strip Sleepaway Camp of its -phobic powers by embracing the flat-out outrageousness of it. A boy, traumatized by witnessing his father’s gay affair, is forced to live with his crazy aunt who dresses him up like, and raises him as, a little girl. Years later, the ordeal of both has turned him/her into a killer bent on revenge against those who are cruel and judgmental. Don’t mess with the weirdoes; they’ll get you where/when you least expect it. I love this movie!

Heathers (1989)

The ultimate modern revenge fantasy. Winona Ryder plays Veronica, the only non-Heather in a fearsome foursome who cruelly rule the school. But basically, Veronica’s just the ex-dorky gay guy who’s desperate to be liked by the cool girls. But she has to prove her loyalty and carry her weight. How? By being forced to shame those she once held dear. Veronica sees the error of this and instead decides to kill of the Heathers one by one. Of course pre-Columbine, Heathers is the definitive teenage down-with-the-man film. For anyone who was an outsider at high school, this is the film that nails what it was like.

OK Everyone, that's it for now and I look forwarding to getting more of your questions. Send them to me at peaches@peacheschrist.com or post your latest query on my BRAND NEW FACEBOOK page!

Fiercely Yours,

Peaches