Have you ever purchased a DVD mainly for an item on the Special Features list? Well, I recently did.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy THE BODY BENEATH and its tale of vampires stalking English graveyards with the help of a dodgy maid and a sympathetic hunchback, but it's not my favorite Andy Milligan film. I honestly don't know if I would've purchased the DVD if it wasn't for the short film VAPORS being included.
I originally noticed VAPORS listed on IMDb. It's Andy Milligan's first film, but I didn't fully investigate it until I saw the trailer on THE GHASTLY ONES/SEEDS OF SIN DVD. The trailer was just a series of stills showing various men, but it was explained that VAPORS was a motion picture of real life in a homosexual environment. Well, I knew I was going to see this film and IMDb led me to THE BODY BENEATH DVD. Believe it or not, I didn't just blindly order it. I searched You Tube and streaming services before double checking the Something Weird Video website to make sure VAPORS was actually on the disc.
VAPORS
(1965)
written by Hope Stansbury
directed by Andy Milligan
Out of all the rooms in all the bathhouses in the world, Mr. Jaffee wanders into Thomas' room. A conversation begins between these two men, brimming with anticipation and emotion. Life, loss and attraction fuel the word exchange as they draw nearer to one another. If only they wouldn't be constantly interrupted by the other patrons of the baths.
"An insane asylum for homosexuals," Mr. Jaffee remarks to Thomas about the baths, and he might be right. Some of the scenes with the other patrons could easily be set in a mental hospital with little adjustment. The characters pop in and out to say something witty, droll or bitchy and often distract from the intense and fascinating conversation between Thomas and Mr. Jaffee.
Robert Dahdah brings a quiet stillness to Mr. Jaffee as his reasons for coming to the bath slowly unfurl. Gerald Jacuzzo brings honest realism to Thomas as he sympathetically listens while trying to steer the conversation towards the reason men come to the baths. Screenwriter Hope Stansbury expertly captures the initial awkwardness of strangers meeting and how it is sometimes easier to bare your soul to someone who doesn't know you.
I confess that I am disappointed Andy Milligan didn't write VAPORS because its raw honesty occasionally reminded me of FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET. However, he does an amazing directorial job, especially with the scenes between Mr. Jaffee and Thomas. The framings make the viewers feel like they are in that room, eavesdropping on the intimate conversation. Maybe we are the eye that Thomas feels is watching them.
In conclusion, If you are into classic LGBTQ+ cinema, then you should definitely seek out VAPORS. It's a rare glimpse of pre-Stonewall times in the lives of queer men, with a last scene so raw and honest (for 1965) that it had to be censored a bit.
As for the late Andy Milligan, he's still not done with me yet. His 1970 film NIGHTBIRDS has peaked my interest, but sadly seems only to be available on a Region 2 Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack. If anyone knows of NIGHTBIRDS streaming somewhere, or a reasonably priced Region 1 or All-Region DVD, please let me know. Thank you!
Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words.
Freak Out,
JLH
P.S. A different film about a different bathhouse from a different decade...
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Nice review, as always, John! I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen anything from Andy Milligan yet. I have no excuses, as my local video store probably has his entire filmography (or at least most of it).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barry and that's ok. There's so much out there to watch and things can get lost in the shuffle.
DeleteAt the moment, the body beneath and guru The mad Monk are streaming on Prime. Guru might be a good first step into the world of Andy Milligan! 😉