Suddenly, Last Summer

Monday, June 9, 2014

Post-film discussion with Barbara Herr! 35mm print

Cannibalism. Homosexuality. Lobotomy. Only Tennessee Williams could pull together this Gothic mix and write a film as moving and beautiful as this. Elizabeth Taylor stars as a young woman who, at the insistence of her wealthy aunt (Katherine Hepburn) is being evaluated to receive a lobotomy after witnessing the death of her cousin. For the legendary Latina drag queen Barbara Herr – who started out in Times Square’s Sally’s Hideaway before owning the stages of Escualita, The Monster, and Friend’s Tavern — the film’s depiction of violence against homosexuals “is still alive and well in our society today in this country and all over the world.”

*Note 7:30pm start time

• Country USA
• Rating NR
• Year 1959
• Running Time 114 minutes
• Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz