Longtime Companion (1989)
The 1989 drama LONGTIME COMPANION was one of the first widely-released theatrical films in the USA about the AIDS pandemic. It was brought to the screen by gay creatives Craig Lucas, who wrote the screenplay, and Norman René, who directed the film.
Today's post is by Larry Duplechan (@larry_duplechan_the_writer on Instagram) and is about one of the films featured in his latest book "Movies That Made Me Gay".
LONGTIME COMPANION
1989. USA.
Director: Norman René
Screenplay: Craig Lucas
Starring: Stephen Caffrey, Patrick Cassidy, Brian Cousins, Bruce Davison, John Dossett, Mark Lamos, Dermot Mulroney, Mary-Louise Parker, Michael Schoeffling & Campbell Scott
The most famous scene in LONGTIME COMPANION is, of course, at the end: Fuzzy (Stephen Caffrey), Willie (Campbell Scott) and Laurel (Mary-Louise Parker) stroll together on a deserted beach, dreaming aloud about “when this is all over”; when suddenly a happy horde spills out onto the pier toward them, laughing and waving – all the loved ones lost to AIDS. Finally, John (Dermot Mulroney) – the first loss – waves and runs into Willie’s arms. It’s the image used for the movie’s posters and print ads. And of course, it’s only a shared dream. Fuzzy, Willie and Laurel are alone on the beach. Our dead, are dead. They live only as long as we remember them. So every time I re-watch LONGTIME COMPANION, during that last scene, I remember each of the friends and friendly acquaintances I have lost to AIDS. I say their names, quietly. It’s my personal All Saints Day, without the bell.
Larry Duplechan’s Movies That Made Me Gay is a movie memoir: a wonderfully well-informed, witty and acerbic take on iconic Hollywood films, film stars, and indie cult favorites, from a Lambda Literary Award-winning author who is also a lifelong movie fan. It’s also a touching and extremely readable personal memoir of growing up gay and Black in the early '60s; surviving the early days of the AIDS pandemic; the adaptation of his novel Blackbird into a feature film starring Mo'Nique in 2014, and much more.
Order Movies That Made Me Gay from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite bookstore.
LONGTIME COMPANION isn’t widely streaming at the moment, though you can find it on YouTube (the quality isn’t the best) – it’s also available on DVD.
