MovieChat Forums > Can't Stop the Music (1980) Discussion > Backyard dinner scene + Boys in the Band

Backyard dinner scene + Boys in the Band

posted 18 years ago by dim_sumus
2 replies | jump to latest

Has anyone else noticed the similarities between the backyard dinner scene in "Can't Stop the Music" (where the Village People members gather for the first time to record their demo) and the birthday dinner scene in the 1970 movie "Boys in the Band"? They even serve the exact same food in both movies: salad, lasagna & a cake.

For you youngsters out there, "Boys in the Band" was a movie based on the play of the same name. It was a ground breaking play & movie about gay relationships. If you haven't seen it, rent the movie some time. It's not a particularly flattering view of gay life. But, I think it is very accurate (then and now).

Back to CSTM, I am sure the staging of the backyard dinner scene was purposely done as a homage to the similar scene in the "Boys in the Band" movie.

[–] Boricuaex 18 years ago

The Boys in the Band was a movie I first saw as a Gay youth when I visited the Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth in the mid-1980's. I also remember seeing Can't Stop the Music when I was 11/12 years old and just coming out. I noticed the similarities then and do now; the scenes and sets are almost exactly alike and I can't figure out why that is.

Call these movies what you will, but I think that both are important in the History of the LGBT community don't you?

[–] TheLurkingFox 10 years ago

This!!! I just watched Can't Stop The Music, and during the backyard scene I couldn't believe how much it resembled TBITB!! Crazy. I can't imagine for a second it's a coincidence.

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