StephenX

Not sure who else was watching tonight, but TBS had the Wizard of Oz in HD showing. Now, I truly love this movie, and have seen it many times before. I decided to watch it tonight in between some of the games that were on.

Now, I assume that during my childhood and adolescent years my virgin eyes and ears deceived me, because tonight I noticed a revelation the likes of which I had never seen: the tin man is gay.

Now, I'm not making fun of or being snarky towards gay people, actors, entertainers, or whatever. I love Elton John's music, and believe Neil Patrick Harris is one of the funniest actors working today. Now that you know I'm not some homophobic bigot, I just don't understand how the Tin Man got away with being SO gay. Everything from the over-the-top "Oh Sthop it!!" to the hands on the hips to his queenish prancing just felt wrong in this movie. When the Scarecrow and Dorothy oiled his elbows, the tin man exclaims "Oh, well, that feels wonderful!" in the most peculiar way. His mannerisms were almost like a really bad impression of a gay person. Nonetheless, I must reiterate this doesn't bother me at all, and kind of makes me giggle a little, I was just so surprised I had never noticed it until now. Rupert Everett sang show tunes in My Best Friend's Wedding and used the word 'darling' at least fifteen times, but the tin man still came off as more over the top (BTW, My Best Friends Wedding is still one of the few chick flicks I truly enjoy, part of which being Everett's awesome performance.)

Now, I still love this movie and will own it this week on BD. And the gay tin man doesn't ruin my experience. However, am I really the only person not to have noticed this before? I haven't really sat down to watch it in years, so that may be the reason as well. Anyway, I guess I'm a little surprised no one asked him to tone it down a bit or raised an eyebrow. And while I'm entirely too busy too look at the actors name who played tin man (I'm not), and don't care either way (I sort of do), I hope the man is gay(couldn't care less). If not, a posthumous oscar may be in order.

Has anyone ever noticed this at all? Or any other characters that changed so much after seeing a movie many times?

EDIT: Upon further investigation, the actor is Jack Haley. He is not gay. He had a wife and two children. Go figure, huh?

Blu Man

Worst thread ever.

StephenX

lol. Seriously? I'm wondering if anyone has seen this kind of thing, like where a character seriously comes off as something completely different after viewing them differently a number of times.

Hokeyboy

StephenX

?

toddly6666

The Tin Man was NOT gay. He was just an affeminate heterosexual.

Solid Snake

WTF. Stephen X that's a shit reason to make a thread. Wha...wha..maybe you are totally an "average" filmgoer that just doesn't understand what changes over time and the characteristics that seem to now translate to what stereotypes you want to see. Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon is gay. Tin Man is not. There's a difference.

StephenX

Oh heavens. I don't consider myself an average filmgoer at all, that is what kind of caught me off surprise. I won't start spewing off how smart I am and how much I enjoy films or any crap like that. I'll just drop the whole thing.

However, clearly me making this thread was a mistake. I don't mean to offend or (obviously) irritate people at all. So, if a MOD wouldn't mind locking or deleting this, I would appreciate it. Clearly my attempt to start a discussion this way was a bad idea by my part.

Apologies to everyone. MOD, please delete or lock.

JumpCutz

^ No worries dude. No need to apologize.

The Antipodean

If anyone was gay in that movie it was the Cowardly Lion.

Troy Stiffler

It's not 'gay'. I think it's just that pesky pre-Stanislavski Hollywood acting. Wizard of Oz gets a lot more attention, because it holds up so well today. But check out some 'regular' 1930-40's movies. I'm sure there's a lot of other 'gay-ey' performances out there.

And looks at all that makeup Chaplin wore. And he moved in such a loose, cartoon-ey way. What a flake.

Neil Patrick Harris is gay? That makes the Harold & Kumar movies so much funnier. I honestly did not know that.

Oh, I've (accidently?) seen some gay internet porn in the past. So now you know I'm not some homophobic bigot.

Hokeyboy

What?? That's insaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane!

Hokeyboy

There's nothing gay about enjoying gay porn.

Solid Snake

I mean...look at his bow! Clearly no straight man..er lion wears a bow.

DeputyDave

I personaly think all straight porn ought to include at least one gay porn scene. Now I'm not gay but I've never objected to a thumb or two.

PopcornTreeCt

I agree with this.

inri222

StephenX you should watch Lawrence of Arabia

DvDDan

Hilarious 10/10.

If the tin man was gay he'd be wearing woman's clothes.

Xbox69

Go back and re-watch He-Man while you're at it now.

Mazje

Yeah, right. Like gay people would even have any interest in The Wizard of Oz.

Moleman1138

I like the Wizard of Oz

[moments later]

I like the Tin Man - weird kid in line to see Santa (A Christmas Story - 1983)

Josh-da-man

I was always under the impression that pretty much everyone in "The Wizard of Oz" was gay.

The Scarecrow is like the older, gentlemanly gay man. The Tin Man is the fussy gay man. The cowardly lion is the funny gay guy. The Wicked Witch of the West is the mean old lesbian who doesn't like anybody.

And Dorothy, who's like the ultimate *** hag.

Kurt D

Heck, even the Wizard is

JumpCutz

Hokeyboy