Homosexual subtexts?
In this movie? Where?
shareWell, the film is showing at the Museum of the Moving Image here in New York in December, and on their website, in the description for the film, it says, " Despite the sizzling undercurrent in the repartee between Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck ("I wonder if I know what you mean." "I wonder if you wonder."), the real love story here is between MacMurray's insurance salesman and his boss, played by Edward G. Robinson."
shareThe relationship between Keyes and Neff is clearly that of Keyes offering friendship and guidance.
If I was looking for subtext and iconic ideas in this film, it would be good vs. evil, with Phyllis as the devil on one of Neff's shoulders, and Keyes as the angel on the other.
I'd tell him "You should've listened to Keyes, Neff."
But he'd probably just growl something like, "Cute, but too little, too late, baby" at me.