Girls On Film: Sebastian Venable (Suddenly, Last Summer)

Old fags used to complain that Stonewall ruined everything. That the world before liberation—with its elaborate codes and secret clubs and knowing looks was somehow more refined, more civilized than the garish world of flag-waving bottle-throwing queens who came after. While we can't agree totally, we've got a soft spot for those pre-Philadelphia, pre-Will & Grace, pre-indie-film days when gay characters weren't so much closeted as, well, couched. Remember when Wayland Smithers was merely a knowing wink and not a cartoon Jodie Dallas? Or when Ellen was forced to talk in double entrendes? It's too easy to be obvious, that's why we sometimes long for them to bring back the Hollywood Production Code, and why we're taking a look at Our Favorite Closeted Gay Characters of All-Time.