Nighthawks (1978) + Strip Jack Naked – Nighthawks II
(1991)
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: D/C Films: C+
It is hard to believe that it was only by 1978 that a film
out of the mainstream British cinema finally showed homosexuality in a dignified,
positive, progressive way of some sort.
The Ron Peck/Paul Hallam film Nighthawks is very tame by any
standard. Except for some frontal male
nudity, it is not violent, sexually graphic or verbally bold. The film is essentially about a grade school
teacher who keeps his sexuality to himself, but when word starts to get around
about his private life, he actually takes on the ridicule of the children
(inspired by more than a few hateful, homophobic parents and institutionalized,
constantly perpetuated stereotypes) and attempts to teach tolerance while he
has the chance. This may be simple, but
it is in itself as bold as ever with the regressive 1980s to date considered.
The sequel Strip Jack Naked is more a documentary
about gays in the media and how the first film altered & challenged the
status quo and closeting of gays in general.
The work becomes about director Peck’s life and how he grew up facing
oppression and the Neo-Conservative response to Gay Rights in Britain, with an
ugliness unique to that country versus what happened in the U.S. that in itself
had it own horrors. The new footage is
taped and a surreal approach is taken, with naked me on camera more so than the
director. It also celebrates the star
of the first film and almost tops that work.
At just 91 minutes, I just wished a little more was offered, but it is
Peck opening up more than most filmmakers ever will.
The 1.33 x 1 image on both discs is not great, with the
all-filmed original having detail and even color limit issues, while the sequel
is shot on tape with archival footage from the first including many shots never
seen before. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
is better, but both show their age.
This extends to the only extra, a 24-seconds-long short taped in analog
PAL video by Peck on the sequel DVD called What Can I Do With A Male
Nude? All three pieces are
historical and will please the interested.
- Nicholas Sheffo
