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While surfing Youtube for odd finds, I recently came across a really odd one: a film from 1930 called Sunny Skies. And as I flipped through it, a revelation hit me: this movie is totally gay! At first glance, it’s just a light comedy about two college boys pursuing and winning their respective (female) beloveds. But between the drunken antics, crazy mixups, drippy love songs and, of course, winning the big game, Sunny Skies also tells the tale of a young man hopelessly in love with his macho friend, desperately trying to persuade himself that he really likes girls, leading to almost—this is supposed to be a screwball romance, after all—tragic consequences. The whole film is full of blatant homosexual innuendo, at a time where such behaviour would have been beyond the ken of most of its audience.
Sunny Skies was made by Tiffany Productions, which specialized in lurid romances and action flicks. It was directed by Norman Taurog from a story by Andrew Percy Younger, a successful screenwriter who committed suicide a year later*, giving added poignancy to the obsessed and confused Benny’s self-defenestration at the end of the film. I couldn’t find any reference to Sunny Skies in historical lists of gay-themed films (I have corrected this) but its in-jokes seem darker and sometimes even more obvious than, for example, Way Out West with its “pansy” dude from the same year. By 1940, could there have been a major film starring, say, Randolph Scott as Jim and Cary Grant as Benny, exploring in depth the themes hinted at here? We will never know: the same year Sunny Skies was released, the Motion Picture Production Code, which severely restricted sexual references in American films, came into effect. Such references, especially gay ones, had to be concealed or obscured—the “gunsel” in The Maltese Falcon is a famous example—for almost 40 years.
*A common end for closeted members of the “lavender” (as the contemporary scandal sheets phrased it) persuasion. Strangely, the coroner didn’t buy Younger’s son’s explanation that his father had heard a prowler in the night, pulled out his gun, and decided to test it first by putting it to his right temple and pulling the trigger.
Those familiar with the time period may object that even quite intimate same-sex friendships were more accepted then, and didn’t have the sexual connotations they have now. That is true, but a quick flip through Sunny Skies reveals much more than a simple bromance. Here are some highlights; click for the relevant clips:
- He-man Jim (Rex Lease) arrives on campus and tries to pick up rather mannish-looking Mary (Marceline Day). For some reason she likes him, even though he’s an obnoxious, touchy-feely creep who wears more lipstick and eyeliner than she does.
- Jim saves stereotypically funny Jew Benny (Benny Rubin) and his father from a gang of rowdy students. Benny falls in love with Jim and his muscles, and becomes his willing slave.
- Jim puts Benny and Poppa (who also admires Jim’s ass) through a series of humiliating rituals before blowing a load in Benny’s face while naked in the shower.
- Benny is intrigued to discover that Jim’s luggage is full of women’s underwear.
- Jim persuades the very reluctant Benny to accompany him in picking up chicks, and off they skip, to this paradoxical tune.
- Mary’s goofy friend Doris (Marjorie Kane) tries to put the make on Benny, but he defends his virtue heroically.
- Jim tries roleplaying to show Benny how to act with a woman. This time Benny is more responsive; cue the music!
- Jim has to leave town, and Benny is devastated; even Jim sheds a manly tear. Jim offers him money—for services rendered? Benny refuses, but Jim slips it to him anyway. He is not comforted by a passer-by’s talk of glandular excretions.
- Benny puts up racy pinups and incoherently tries to convince Stubble, his out and proud roommate (Wesley Barry)—and himself—that he really should take an interest in women.
- Benny and Jim are touchingly reunited, and Benny must pretend to be supportive as Jim makes it clear that it’s Mary he really wants.
- Benny gets drunk, puts on a fur coat, and heads for the “orggy” to make a public declaration; then grimly sings, Pagliacci-style, a hilarious ditty about his life being a wreck, falling and being critically injured, being given only a short time to live and, after laughing himself to death, being condemned to Hell*. He then dances himself right out the window…
- …falls, is critically injured and given only a short time to live. He is reprieved from the divine punishment he obviously feels he deserves, however, when Jim saves his life with a shot of his own bodily fluids.
- Jim ends up with Mary, and Benny cuddles up with Doris, apparently resigned to his hetero fate. But in the last-second fadeout he winks over at Jim and reaffirms his true identity. I suspect that their marriage will not be a happy one.**
*St Peter’s exact words are “Go and shovel coal!“
**Though maybe not as bad as Jim and Mary’s. Apart from his extreme controlling and possible bisexual tendencies, in their most memorable encounter he basically tells her to fuck off when she catches him piss-drunk on Prohibition hooch with a blonde vamp. At least Benny and Doris like each other.
Clarification: Sunny Skies is not, in fact, a classic. Even by the standards of the time, it’s pretty terrible. But as a historical record of a largely suppressed chapter of modern history, I think it deserves recognition.
PS: I did my best picking out the coded references, but some mysteries remain. For example, what’s behind Benny’s repeated use of the phrase “one eye“? Who stuck Stubble back in the closet? How do you “Kodak as you go” without a camera? Any others? Answers below please.
June 4, 2018 at 11:13 am
Your analysis is certainly intriguing and gives me something to ponder. Thanks for sharing.
I think the “Kodak as we go” means “We’ll see what develops.”
May 14, 2019 at 4:42 pm
I would wager a guess that “one eye” is slang for penis with its “one eye”.
May 16, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Hello, but I am sorry but you are way off point with your description of this film and you risk passing on a big “misconception” to future viewers of this movie. You have to remember, back then people were not so quick to want to judge someones sexuality (in the negative sense) as they are today. Though folks were obviously having sex, and opening up about it more, they were ONLY on the cusp of it and there was still more timidity among both sexes when dealing with the opposite sex, and especially with this film which adds the “cultural” differences between (recently arrived or 2nd generation) Jewish immigrants. This mixed with the changes going on in American culture at that time when it came to liberation and sex. The jewish character is simply a shy, sheltered (from American ways and morals), inexperienced mommas boy of an obviously overbearing mother whose mannerisms he’s taken on. Not a homosexual, just a “non threat” to women, hence the stereotypical reinforcement of the “good jewish boy next door”. As you will notice his (“Benny”) dorm room and style of dress changed and he drinks/gets drunk as he acclimated to the ways of “American” college kids by the time “Jim” comes back. And the last scene shows Benny with his “girlfriend”. Did you miss that part? lol.
Remember, this was 90 years ago and men and women socially interacted much differently than they do today as far as physicality went; i.e. men held hands, put their arms around each others waist, crossed their legs, hugged and were not afraid to put their arm around their pals/buddies and it wasn’t seen as “gay”. Sadly, many of the old pictures seen in those erotic books of men in the 18th century sitting close to their friends were “not” gay images so don’t fall for the okey doke. That wouldn’t have even been “considered” when they took the pictures because homosexuality was considered a crime that would get you time in jail. They weren’t stupid back then. lol. Our “modern” mentality has a tendency to want to see everything have a “sexual” connotation when there isn’t one. Take for instance the fact that ALL of the college boys do not shy away from “singing” frollicly songs (the scene in the early part when the students are sitting under the trees when they meet the girls. Today they’d be labeled at “gay” (but with the use of more derogatory terms.)
Notice in the early scene where the two main female characters were sitting on the bench and Marceline had her arm around her friend. Not seen as gay. Don’t get me wrong, movies back then did make “comical” references towards gays many times with the use of “pansy”, “daffodil” and “sissy” in films from the early 30’s, but a full on “love story” between same sex couples was not done. “Michael” (1924) was the first film to showcase a gay character in full force. It wouldn’t be until “The Rope” (1948) where a “gay relationship” was the films undertone followed by “Strangers On A Train” (1950). Watch those two if you want understated erotic titillation. So please, do NOT pass on misinformation as your words can affect future generations understandings of our gay culture, good or bad.
In regards to the “one eye” comment to “Stubble”, THIS is what I was referring to when I mentioned earlier how writers would slip in comical jabs at gays. What he means when he says “I can only look at you with one eye”, if you’ll notice his stance (hand on hip), he is immitating a woman giving scorn and a doubting glare “about Stubbles sexuality”, though Stubble is technically just a “book worm”. And it’s not the POV from one gay to another because if it was, there would be no scorn (one eye closed with a frown and hand on the hip). So, sorry, but it’s NOT a reference to a penis. Same with the “coming out” phrase as they are jumbled in the sliding closet door, Benny is referencing a common motion/action/saying of exiting a subway train or elevator. I watch TONS of old movies this time period and that “joke” reference is used constantly. Lastly, the second time he references “one eye” (“I will only go blind in one eye…”) is in regards to bootleg liquor. It was a common joke that you took your chances drinking bootleg booze because it was known to make people blind because of whatever at the bootlegger cut it with. Perfect example of how modern day thinking tries to make everything sexual.
And on the trivia note, the college they show in the beginning is USC and the train station “good-bye” scene was filmed at the Glendale train station.
Sorry for the novel but with my point, I just wanted to drive it home. And no, not being sexual there. lol.
May 19, 2019 at 1:03 am
@OJC So, I have a question for you. Why should readers believe you and not Glen Cram? The very first reason I wouldn’t dismiss his observations of this film is the article he linked right near the beginning: “Decoding the Gay Subtext in the Hollywood Classic, The Maltese Falcon.”
Since I don’t know who you are as a source, I can tell you that perhaps either of you are correct. We would have to know the intent of those that created the film, or at least their backgrounds, to understand more fully. But, it isn’t unreasonable to think that gay people who were making movies might make a film with gay subtext that would go over the heads of most of its audience, an audience that would put down any notions of such things because it’s not in their wheelhouse or they refuse to see it that way. It’s a common trope. Just look at books about celebrities that talk of their same sex encounters, like the recent Full Service book. The internet chatter for many was that it was “all made up” and “lies” and “fantasy” and “how dare you.”
You did that when you wrote, “And the last scene shows Benny with his “girlfriend”. Did you miss that part? lol.” I say, did you miss the part in the article where he didn’t miss it? He wrote: “Jim ends up with Mary, and Benny cuddles up with Doris, apparently resigned to his hetero fate. But in the last-second fadeout he winks over at Jim and reaffirms his true identity.” Not only does he wink, Benny gives Jim a very fey wave of the wrist.
You do acknowledge films stereotyped gay people and called them “pansies, daffodils and sissies.” Edward G. Robinson even calls a guy a fag in one film. But for this film you seem to think it would be impossible to view it the way the author does here. You also keep referring to “sexual” mores that wouldn’t allow a gay relationship of any kind to be portrayed. Are you making the mistake that being gay is just about sex? That it’s not a state of being more than that?
Lastly, here, I will say…many times artists paint a painting or compose a song and are asked what it means by people. Often the artist will answer, “it is whatever it means to you.” So, if gay people want to see the film as the author writes, is there anything wrong with that? There’s a tendency for gay people and their lives to be erased from history. There’s a vague twinge I get of that in your response. “Don’t be fooled,” you said.” I mean, there were people arguing that one or both of the characters in Brokeback Mountain weren’t really gay and that was only 14 years ago. Going back to the linked Maltese Falcon article… Perhaps you would write a response about that article and dismiss what was written about that, too? I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t know who you are as a source. But I just wanted to drive home a different point of view.
P.S.: There has been three comment posts about this in the last few days. I wonder why this has gained attention all of a sudden? Interesting.
February 21, 2020 at 11:08 pm
As a picnic basket.
September 15, 2020 at 10:16 am
I’m with OJC here. The money Cram claimed was for “services rendered” – was actually because Benny bet $130 on the big game because Jim promised him they’d win before he knew he was kicked off the team. Then the newspaper quoted that many students who wagered were resorting to washing dishes to get by because they’d lost so much money. THAT was the money slipped into his pocket. And a selfless blood donation for a friend is hardly a “shot of his bodily fluids.” Nerdy isn’t code for gay. Goofy isn’t code for gay. Academically concerned isn’t code for gay. Neither is lipstick and eyeliner on male actors in a movie using 1930 cinematographic equipment. You want to see gay movie themes in the 1930’s, watch Madchen in Uniform. A story about a Prussian girls school and all the students in love with one of their female teachers. Including a heartfelt declaration of “I know she loves me and I love her,” in front of the entire student body. I’ve played Grace to enough Wills in my lifetime, raised an amazing gay nephew, and got an MFA in screenwriting to be able to judge for myself where subtext exists and where it does not. And here, my friend, there is nothing but wishful thinking. (And I was convinced the opening was UCLA near the library but both campuses are California architecture from similar periods, lol.)
April 8, 2022 at 7:58 am
Ook in de tijd van de eeuwisseling{1900} konden ze er wat van, alles sexualiseren; Freud ;o.a. draaide zoals bekend volledig door met zijn interpretaties; Hierboven beschrijft een persoon met een eenknipoog ook dat dat meer betekend {male-organ} zo blijf je immers aan de gang: alles met een opening of rechtvoorwerp kun je sexualiseren,geheel naar genoegen ;ga je gang precies naar vrijgekomen hoeveel heid hormonen,je zult aan je trekken komen..! Net zo óversext indertijd sigmond freud die ook nog freqent opwekkend middelen gebruiker was zoals cocainextrakt etc. Niks nieuws onder de zon zoals ze zeggen: Wel denk ik dat in die tijd,volledig sexualiteit genegeerd en homosexualiteit ruste wanneer het je niet aanging een volstrekt taboo op {zoals vandaag de dag in russia nog steeds zelfs gecrimm.wordt} holl. nedl. Arjan