Homosexuality on the screen used to shock both the media and the public, but now gay and lesbian themes are being tackled in successful box office hits like My Own Private Idaho and Basic Instinct. This book traces the origins and evolution of films with gay and lesbian characters and themes - from rare films of the 1930s to current films which have become hits. The first lesbian films released in the USA was Maedchen in Uniform, released in 1931. Today numerous actors have been nominated for Oscars for their portrayals of homosexual characters: Cher for her performance in Silkwood, Robert Preston in Victor/Victoria and John Lithgow in The World According to Garp. This book reviews more than 100 gay and lesbian films looking at the themes and director's attitudes as well as evaluating both public and critical commentary of the films.