Gay Sex in the '70s | Rotten Tomatoes

Gay Sex in the '70s

2005

1h 7m

Documentary

List

71%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

59%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

This documentary explores the birth of the gay pride movement in New York after the Stonewall riots of 1969 and the sexual freedom that resulted. It touches on many aspects of gay culture in the 1970s, including music, drugs and art, followed by the devastating impact that the onset of AIDS had on the homosexual community. Told through several interviews and archival material, it paints a picture of solidarity and positivity while exploring the sexuality of a relatively new movement.

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Critics Consensus

Life, love, and liberation: While imperfect in its direction, Gay Sex In The '70s is polarizing in its sense of self.

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Sukhdev Sandhu

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Gay Sex in the '70s is technically erratic and far from definitive. Full of fascinating stories and fleshed out with evocative archival footage, it's also a loving portrait of a semi-forgotten New York.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 8, 2010

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

New York in the 1970s seems like an arena of nonstop gratification, but one that can only be understood in the context of the repression and fear that had gone before. It seems as distant as the 1890s.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 1, 2010

Full Review

John Hartl

Seattle Times

... lacks the authority of such gay documentary classics as "Word Is Out" and "Before Stonewall," which were far more inclusive.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 24, 2006

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

The pure filmmaking lets the people tell their stories with honesty and insight.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 8, 2010

Full Review

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

This is an immersive documentary, evoking the period, and arguing the case that although the unbridled hedonism did bring dangers and problems with it, there was also something of a idyllic euphoria experienced by those in this first wave of gay freedom.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 2, 2010

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Shows us the faces of some of the gay activists involved with that free love party scene who survived.

Rated: B-

Jul 1, 2007

Full Review

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Audience Member

What a waste of film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Do we learn anything here ? I guess not i'm afraid !

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Seems things go full circle when you see what young lads are up to nowadays.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Going into this movie I was expecting the least, although I was interested in the "Gay Scene" after the wide oppression leading up to the 70's, I know that the 70's was the decade that gays "came out" and felt more free. Again I was interested in the lives of these people before the widespread phenomenon of the Aids virus. I wasn't expecting to be coming out of this with as much admiration as I feel for it right now. The movie documents the Gay sex/club scenes in America (primary state being New York) the best thing for me was hearing what actual 70's club-goers were saying, how they were going into details of their personal experiences, sexually and emotionally. For the most part I have gathered that gay life during this period was crazier than you would expect, to bring up one of the points in the film, they tell us about how you would walk down the street and you'd be "cruised" that would then lead to being "took around the corner" or to the nearest public bathrooms. If you're thinking about watching it and like me, you're not involved in the "gay scene" at all, don't let the title put you off, for this was an extremely interesting watch and for me I highly recommend it. The only faults being that it was too short!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i half felt very pure and clean after this, and half felt jealous of living in the 70's. my sex drive is far too low for that life but the liberation and coziness would be something... sans HIV :(

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Lots of interviews & good photos, some footage. Very much a documentary, but really interesting & not sensationalised at all.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Joseph F. Lovett

Director

Larry Kramer

Self

Robert Alvarez

Self

Barton Benes

Self

Tom Bianchi

Self

Mel Cheren

Self

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Synopsis

This documentary explores the birth of the gay pride movement in New York after the Stonewall riots of 1969 and the sexual freedom that resulted. It touches on many aspects of gay culture in the 1970s, including music, drugs and art, followed by the devastating impact that the onset of AIDS had on the homosexual community. Told through several interviews and archival material, it paints a picture of solidarity and positivity while exploring the sexuality of a relatively new movement.

Director: Joseph F. Lovett
Producer: M. Sean Kaminsky, Joseph F. Lovett, M. Sean Kaminsky
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.0K
Runtime: 1h 7m