GEAR

OCTOBER 1976

to note how many of his colleagues Laughton did not enjoy working with (and the reader is inclined to suspect that many celebrities do not particularly appreciate working with each other). Laughton had trouble with Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Garson Kanin, Henry Fonda, and Otto Preminger, among others. Those he got along with well included Norma Shearer, Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Burgess Meredith, and apparently

Maureen O'Hara, whom he discovered. He admired his sixyear-old co-star Margaret

O'Brien, considering her a keen competitor for the audience's attention.

When Laughton's movie career declined in the 1950's, he formed an association with impresario Paul Gregory, which brought him acclaim on the stage. Gregory promoted Laughton on a reading tour in which Laughton read from various classics, and this reviewer was fortunate to see him give such a reading in 1952, well remembering the forceful charm, warmth, and authority he displayed on the stage of the State Theatre, Toledo. Soon after the success of this project Laughton and Gregory launched the First Drama Quartet, consisting of Laughton, Charles Boyer, Cedric Hardwicke, and Agnes Moorehead in a concert reading of "Don Juan in Hell," directed by Laughton from Shaw's "Man and Superman." This reviewer was also fortunate to see this legendary production in 1952, at the Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, and remembers Laughton playing the Devil somewhat impishly. At

By Kathy Kozachenko

one end Charles Laughton could be villain "par excellence," and at the other he could be pure pixie; he could also cover the range between. Next Laughton directed but didn't appear in two legendary stage productions: other "John Brown's Body" and "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial." Laughton and Gregory also collaborated on the critically acclaimed poetic film set in Southern Ohio, "The Night of the Hunter," directed by Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, and Lillian Gish.

a

Of Laughton's movie roles, two are of particular interest to the gay movie buff. In "The Sign of the Cross," 1932, he daringly played Emperor Nero as flightly queen, actually against the wishes of Cecil B. DeMille because Laughton felt that Nero was such. In his last film, "Advise and Consent," 1962, he played Senator Cooley, hater of homosexuals, giving a subtle interpretation rather than the starkly villainous one Director Preminger wanted. Higham states, however, that Laughton played the senator with "a biting edge" to show his dislike of such

a bigot. Laughton's handling of these two roles could form a controversy for those interested in analyzing them from a gay point of view. Of course, Laughton should have played Oscar Wilde, either in films or on the stage--or both. He could magnificently, even have done it if Robert Morley and Peter Finch did do it well.

Several years before his death Laughton played the title role in "King Lear" at the Royal

POETRY

Ms. Kozachenko was the first upfront lesbian to be elected to public office in this country when she ran as a Human Rights Party candidate for City Council in Ann Arbor, Michigan, (Reprinted courtesy, Grass in April, 1974. She is also an Roots) award-winning poet.

HIGH GEAR

Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, England, receiving a mixed. reception. According to Elsa, there was much similarity between Lear and Laughton, the thread of remorse and guilt states that Laughton never quite being part of both natures. She Iconquered the role, just as he never quite conquered his own self. According to this biography Laughton was a tormented man constantly at war with his own nature and with his art, with death bringing a merciful release, just as it did for Lear. His widow seems to feel relief that his suffering is over, but she states that since his death she no longer sings in the bathtub or goes up two stairs at a time, adding that this is not particularly because she is older.

What emerges from Higham's biography is a tormented, restless, complicated, and vital man, but above all, a man of value. He was tough, as he had to be in his profession, but he was also a sensitive art collector and intense lover of nature, loving to walk in woods and fields picking wild flowers. This homosexual man was not gay in the gay sense of the word-or hardly in the traditional sense. He coped with his problems in the best way he knew, at the same time creating dramatic art.

Laughton's sexual nature was, of course, not rare in the theatre and films. If other showbusiness celebrities, and also people well-kown in all the arts, politics, business, and the professions, would come out of the closet, either during their lives or posthumously, we would reach the point where homosexual revelations

SOON

In the morning, aching, I go to the window. The sun shines green, and white.

It is the day of Elayna. Quickly I lace my boots and go to the streets. Soon the rains will fall

and the women will turn to fish. Free,

at last.

INVOCATION FOR INEZ GARCIA (Dedicated to Inez Garcia, to every woman who has ever been raped, or who has ever feared being raped. This was read as the invocation at the Ann Arbor City Council the day that Inez Garcia was sentenced to jail.) By Kathy Kozachenko

No god or goddess

hear this prayer,

this is an homage

to women to power to women

I have laid down beside the dark night, laid down questioning where is the rapist, where is the man who dares

to touch a woman

by force, by power by thick crude will?

wouldn't be news. Perhaps soon we'll reach this point where society will accept such a nature as Laughton's as part of the tapestry of life. It would then make all the difference in the life of a future Charles Laughton.

CANDIDATES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

troduced will be seriously studied. Thank you."

Leonard Stubbs Jr., third district Democratic candidate for Congress, answered yes to questions 2, 3, and 9. He left question 5 blank, and to the rest he answered no. He wrote that the word "all" in question 1 was "too inclusive", and asked "what is meant by harassment" in question 5.

Thomes W. Lippitt, American Party candidate for Congress in the 22nd district, answered no to all the questions, except that he answered number 9 with a question mark. He also made this comment: "12. If it were up to me, I would make homosexuality a capital offense with the punishment being hanging in public square!"

At the bottom of each questionnaire, we also asked the candidates whether they would be willing to be interviewed. Both Calabrese and Dorsey said they would. Dorothy Franke and the judicial candidates did not answer these questions; Lippitt and Stubbs said no. Possibly Radio Free Lambda will be interviewing Calabrese and Dorsey, and any other interested candidates.

If you would like to contact

I have laid down beside the night, asking where is he who will grab and take my mother

my sister my sweet

soft daughter.

You must give me an answer.

Do not try to trick me.

I have the rage of all women

lurking in my breast.

Do not laugh

or think me silly,

the mind of a woman

is like the glistening blade of a silver knife.

Do not stand in front of me. For centuries

the legs of women were twisted and bound, they are solid now like oak or pine, swift,

and moving with the purpose of a well shot arrow.

Daughter, recite to me the litany of how you were raped. Mother, I can not.

I can not

count the times

I can not number the ways.

My spirit was raped

when they said I should be. lovely,

PAGE 27AFI

any of these candidates, or need any other information about the upcoming election, a good place to call is the League of Women Voters. They are very congenial and will give you any information they can.

Conclusions

Anthony Calabrese and Clinton Dorsey demonstrate by their open and honest viewpoint that they do favor equal rights for all people. On the other hand, Leonard Stubbs and especially Thomas W. Lippitt don't seem to believe that we are entitled to our constitutionally guaranteed rights.

We assume that Dorothy Franke's reply that she is not well enough informed was honest, but why hasn't she taken the time to make herself aware of the deplorable way gay people are denied their civil rights?

It's amazing that the questionnaires were mailed on Monday, September 20 and only 7 candidates so far have bothered to reply. This response is not very encouraging to gay people living in Ohio. We're appalled that candidates who will jump on the bandwagon to support human rights for other minorities will not even bother to check yes or no eleven times and mail back the pre-addressed stamped envelope. It appears that the struggle for gay rights in Ohio is not over yet.

A

CAST

YOURVOTE

and I knew what I was not. My soul was raped

when I hungered for ideas, and they showed me pictures of kitchens and babies. My body was raped when I was walking one night, listening to birds

and the music of stars. He came from behind. There was nothing

I could do.

If this is done to one woman,

I so it is done to all.

The crys of every woman merging

to deafen the earth,

the crys of every woman. merging

to burn the sky,

the crys of every woman breaking into song.

We do not ask for vengeance. We demand

the world.

).