The Celluloid Closet

Based on Vito Russo's landmark book, this documentary examines over 100 years of how Hollywood depicted and erased LGBTQ+ characters on screen. Narrated by Lily Tomlin with a script by Armistead Maupin, the film features interviews with Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Tony Curtis, Harvey Fierstein, Gore Vidal, Shirley MacLaine, and Quentin Crisp.

While not exclusively about lavender marriages, the documentary extensively documents how the studio system forced gay stars into closeted lives and arranged marriages, and how queer identity was systematically coded and concealed in classic cinema. It provides essential context for understanding why lavender marriages were so prevalent in Hollywood.