Main Cast: Kevin Coughlin, Brooke Bundy, Larry Casey, Jo Ann Harris, Michael Greer
Release Year: 1969
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Two young men pretend to be gay when they are asked to pay a visit to the local draft board. Danny (Kevin Coughlin) and his pal Elliot (Larry Casey) camp it up in front of Army recruiter Dixon (Jack Starrett). When the two return to their apartment to celebrate with their girlfriends, they are shadowed by the suspicious officer. Danny and Elliot move into an apartment complex that caters to homosexuals. Comedy ensues when the two must pretend to be gay and confusion reigns among family and friends. The two end up losing their girlfriends but have a secret admirer in the macho military man this ribald comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Sebastian Brook - Craig; Jack Starrett - Dixon; Richard Webb - Mr. Devlin; Eloise Hardt - Mrs. Devlin; Jeanne Baird - Mrs. Conway; Marishka - Carolyn; Mike Kopscha - Psychiatrist; Joe Tornatore - Sgt. Kravits; Robert Reese - Real Estate Agent; Christopher Riordan - Duane; Doug Hume - Corporal; Marilyn Wirt - Sybil; Ron Gans - Freddie; Rachel Romen - Dorothy; Tom Grubbs - Paul; Louise Williams - Bunny; Randee Lynne - Sheryl; Meridith Williams - Phil; Harry Sodoni - Georgette; Trigg Kelly - Jackie; Tony Epper - Vince; David R. Osterhout - Stern; Lenore Stevens - Laveme
Credit
Archie J. Bacon - Art Director, Paul Rapp - Associate Producer, Norman Salling - Costume Designer, Bruce Kessler - Director, Renn Reynolds - Editor, Reg Browne - Editor, Stu Phillips - Composer (Music Score), Brian Perrow - Makeup, Richard C. Glouner - Cinematographer, Don Birnkrant - Cinematographer, Joe Solomon - Producer, Raymond Boltz - Set Designer, Gil Lasky - Screen Story, Abe Polsky - Screen Story, Gil Lasky - Screenwriter, Abe Polsky - Screenwriter, Jerome Wish - Screenwriter
The Gay Deceivers is a 1969gay-themed comedy film with a twist ending. The film derives much of its alleged humor through the use of stereotypes. According to gay film historian Vito Russo in his book The Celluloid Closet, co-star Michael Greer, who played the flamboyantly gay Malcolm and who was himself gay, tried to work with the screenwriter and director to minimize the negativity of the characterization and present Malcolm in a positive light.
Plot
The Gay Deceivers follows Danny and Elliot, two friends who try to get out of the draft by pretending to be gay. They're placed under surveillance by the Army and have to keep up the pretense. They move into a gay apartment building and try to blend in with the residents, all the while trying to maintain their romantic relationships with women and not get caught by the Army.
The twist is that even after the pair is caught, they aren't inducted. The Army investigators assigned to watch them are themselves gay and are trying to keep straight people out of the Army.
DVD release
The Gay Deceivers was released on Region 1 DVD on May 2, 2000.
