Time to break out your stash of Robert Louis Stevenson books.
The Scottish novelist (1850-1894) is relegated to the junior high classroom nowadays, probably because his works aren't usually heterosexist.
His two main subtext novels both involve bonds between teenage boys and adult men:
Treasure Island (1883), an adventure with pirates and buried treasure in the South Seas, originally serialized in the magazine Young Folks, deliberately written with "no women in it." No heterosexual imaginings, but young Jim Hawkins develops a grudging friendship with Long John Silver.
My favorite version was full of beefcake illustrations by N.C. Wyeth.
In every generation, the current Hollywood It-boy seems to get a chance to play Jim Hawkins: Jackie Cooper (1934), Bobby Driscoll (1950, left), Kim Burfield (1972), Christian Bale (1990, above), and Kevin Zegers (1999).
My favorite version was full of beefcake illustrations by N.C. Wyeth.
Kidnapped (1886): David Balfour, tricked out of his inheritance by a villainous uncle, travels the rough Scottish Highlands, where he is rescued by and buddy-bonds with the rogueish Alan Breck. Again, "no women in it."
David has been played by Freddie Bartholomew (1938), James MacArthur (1960), Lawrence Douglas (1971), Brian McCardie (1995), and Anthony Pearson (2005). Some versions give him a girlfriend.
This photo is actually from The Light in the Forest, but I couldn't resist including a shirtless shot of James MacArthur.
A statue commemorating David and Alan Breck has been erected in Edinburgh.
Some scholars also find a subtext in The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), but I didn't see one.
Bisexual Errol Flynn (left) starred in a famous 1953 version.
So, was Robert Louis Stevenson gay? According to his biography, Myself and the Other Fellow, by Claire Harmon, no, but he appreciated homoerotic desire, and he enjoyed the attention of the many gay men who were drawn to him.
You forgot Treasure Planet, the animated Treasure Island IN SPACE! Generally regarded as the worst feature-length Disney cartoon of all time.
ReplyDeleteStill not as bad as putting Stevenson's other famous book on the NES.
I guess Jekyll and Hyde could be the struggle between man's nature and society's expectations, which lends itself to gay subtext.
ReplyDeleteFor a significant portion of The Black Arrow want the female portion of the romantic leads disguised as a boy?
ReplyDeleteThe Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) does have some gay subtext- essentially is the story of a respectable man who invents a potion that allows him to become free from what society expects of him , There are only male characters in the short novel. The movies add a girl friend and hooker to make the hero/villain seem straight.
ReplyDelete