16. La Cage aux Folles (1978)

What? — A longstanding gay couple living in St. Tropez is caught between a rock and a hard place when the son of one of the men (from a previous liaison) tells them he'll soon be tying the knot with the daughter of a minister from the "Union of Moral Order."

The looming visit by the son's fiancée and their prospective right-wing in-laws throws the gay couple into a tizzy, leading to bouts of spotless satirical genius. The anxious couple must choose between facing the music by introducing themselves as a romantic pair or playing dress-up to avoid outing themselves — and their ownership of the transvestite nightclub downstairs.

The climactic scene when the two ideologically dissonant families gather around a dinner table makes for much hilarity, as do the scantily clad, gay housekeeper and a scene where the more macho half of the duo gives his flamboyant lover a meticulous lesson in virile traits (think of it as a sissy's guide to buttering toast in a manly way).

Why? — For years, La Cage aux Folles retained the title of most successful foreign film in the United States, an honor explained by the fact that the film's endearing characters appeal to both gay and straight audiences. At the time, Roger Ebert described it as "the first sitcom in drag." The film also spawned two (not as clever) sequels, a Broadway musical and a 1996 remake, The Birdcage, set in South Beach and starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

The cross-dressing couple could easily have been portrayed with gross caricatures and low-brow, crass humor, but Francis Veber, the screenwriter behind Cage, infused his script with compassion and tenderness. Sure, the men's outrageous and affected manners dust off any cloud of ambiguity about their pairing, but whoever said all queers had to flaunt six-packs and exude manly vigor like Ace and Garry?

Today the novelty might have worn off most of the then-taboo gags the film became notorious for — think stockings, Greek plates, wigs and John Wayne — but Cage is nevertheless credited with giving mainstream audiences a first peek into the transvestite treasure chest and the fabulous queens who share its magical contents.

Almost Made the Cut: The Opposite of Sex (Don Roos, 1998)

This is another comedy about a gay couple confronted with a "straight" threat, but instead of the possibility of being outed, the menace here has to do with being seduced. The Opposite of Sex is much darker in tone than La Cage aux Folles, but just as devilishly enjoyable. Chris tina Ricci is perfectly cast as a manipulative teenage runaway taken in by her gay half-brother, who then proceeds to lure his bisexual boyfriend away from their relationship.

Next - Parting Glances

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