The Gay Deceivers (1969)

The Gay Deceivers

• The fact they got away with this in 1969 is so awesome. It’s provocative, racy, and only slightly offensive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very dated and of its times, but man, it’s about as raunchy as it could be for its time. Michael Greer totally saved this project, as cheesy and goofy as it is. I’m in no way saying it’s great, because it is quite silly and kind of a knock off of ‘Some Like it Hot’. Even the ending has a ‘Some Like it Hot’ twist to it. However, it’s consistently funny all throughout, and again, only slightly offensive. It could’ve been a whole lot worse, but Greer (who was openly gay) took over, rewrote the screenplay (including his own part), and revitalized the whole film. The writing was witty and hilarious, and even though there are some moments that I didn’t like (such as referring to straight culture as “being normal”), it completely fits within the context of the story. It was also very campy, which in this case, is both good and bad. On the good side, it elevates the comedy. On the bad side, it might feel a little boring because of the…..overstimulation. The cast wasn’t anything special, other than Lawrence P. Casey, and of course, Michael Greer. Casey was great, but Greer completely takes “queer character” to an entirely new level. Of every film I’ve ever seen with a queer character, that might be a top five favorite of all time. Top ten at a minimum. He was so utterly hilarious and he’s such a memorable icon. Lastly, the costume and set design in this was awesome, mostly because of the flashy colors and wonderful interior decoration. Overall, this is a very silly film that’s very dated, yet it’s also ahead of its time. It won’t be enjoyed by everyone, but if you just sit back and relax, it can be good. I would recommend it to most comedy fans, especially if you like ‘Some Like it Hot’.