MovieChat Forums > Vision Quest (1985) Discussion > Is Louden -- gasp -- gay? No joke.

Is Louden -- gasp -- gay? No joke.

posted 21 years ago by supervillain666
53 replies | jump to latest

This is not some homophobic bash on wrestling.

I love Visionquest but was watching it recently and noticed something I hadnt before. Early in the movie, Louden is working at the hotel and meets the guy with the wrestling shoes who tries to teach him Tai-Chi and grabs his stuff. Ok. Louden leaves and does push-ups. But later, Cooch picks Louden up outside the hotel as Louden is getting off work and Louden has those red wrestling shoes over his shoulder. He would not have simply gone out and bought them off camera and brought them to work. It suggests he eventually ..ahem.. earned them from that salesman.

Sure Louden isnt gay. He did score Fiorentino. But did anyone else notice that and what did they make of it? It seemed an odd little thing to throw in there.

[–] mbra 21 years ago

The year the movie was made it was quite hard to find a variety of types of wrestling shoes. Being that the school colors were also red and the whole team had the same shoes along with the fact that wrestlers typically want a good quality shoe that is also in style is also needing to be mentioned. This red Asics shoe was VERY popular around the same time and were in most sporting goods stores that sold wrestling shoes.

The comment about Louden being gay isn't worth the effort to reply.

[–] gremster3 21 years ago

Yeah, I noticed that recently too. mbra didnt answer the question at all except to say that they were a popular brand blah blah. The salesman says he has excellent wrestling shoes. Then for no reason whatsoever (except to have gotten them thru the salesman) he comes out of the hotel with new red wrestling shoes. To say that the whole team had them is ignorant mbra cuz Kuch specifically mentions that he likes Louden's new shoes. Kuch was on the wrestling team too. Im not saying Louden was gay either, but maybe in a cutout scene he approaches the guy and offers to buy them?? I normally dont comment on these boards, but this was something that I just recently noticed about the movie too. Weird, huh

[–] mikedevilsfan 12 years ago

The gay guy in the hotel room, says he sells "pporting goods" not wrestling shoes, in Lauden's size- kept in the room just in case he met the young man of his dreams- on a probable business trip.
What are the odds Louden gave his virginity to the guy for a 20 dollar pair of shoes? Considering he told Carla he was still a virgin later in the film-- zero.

[–] lottowinners 21 years ago

Great observation, but with how sloppy* some of the continuity and editing in this movie is, I wouldn't make too much of it.

There could be a missing scene where the guy tries to make it up to him by giving him the shoes, his buddy at the hotel buys him the shoes, or he is bi (which I think is least likely).

*eg IIRC It takes them an overnight trip just to get to Grandpa's over the weekend, they don't dirve Pa back, but Pa is there on Tuesday to see the match?

[–] stormrider57 20 years ago

I figured the guy probably just left the shoes for him or something.

"Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this." --Tony Soprano

[–] fcbarca00 20 years ago

Of course Louden is gay, aren't all wrestlers? Just kidding. I immediately caught this the first time i saw this movie. I refuse to believe that one of the coolest charachters to come out of the 80's is gay. Yet, the evidence is clearly against him. How the hell did Louden get those shoes?? You know in some neighborhoods people are shot for their shoes. Now, if some are willing to kill, maybe Loden was willing to experiment sexually. Its a possibility, those were some bad ass Asics.

"Have you paid your dues, Jack" "Yes, sir, the checks in the mail!"
-Jack Burton

[–] reg4champ125 20 years ago

it's poor editting, amigos, poor editing

[–] squatpuke 20 years ago

Good observation...(although I disagree)....

I think also there is a point in the movie where he's talking to his cook friend and he says he misses <guy's name> in 3b (or whatever) and the cook says something like "the homo?" or something like that...

Anyway, since I'm left to guess, I like the theory that they were given to him as a make-up gestrure for grabbing his 'wadd'.

OR, maybe he bought them himself (I know he's poor) but it was afterall, his BIG moment.

[–] detrime 20 years ago

Louden was a pretty unique, carefree, and experimental type of guy. I wouldn't put it past him to strip for the guy or even let him grab his naked wadd once to get the shoes. But I don't think he blew him or did anything that bizarre. It doesn't change Louden in my mind, and I'm not gay. He's still one of the coolest dudes to come out of the 80's. But Kuch was cooler.

[–] travis-j-rodgers 20 years ago

In that scene you're talking about, Louden says, "He was a weird guy," and Elmo says, "HE'S weird?!" in reference to Louden taking the burger apart. Elmo also interestingly says, "Maybe he can take you away from this place," jokingly.

My friend pointed out the shoes to me a few days ago. I was skeptical but went back and watched it (I own it on DVD). Sure enough, there the shoes are. Louden is also "running late" and "forgot" that Kooch was supposed to pace him that night in question. Louden really looks like he's surprised/in a hurry there.

And also, he makes that weird statement about giving some rich guy tea and honey and getting his education paid for or something. Granted, Louden is one hell of a weird guy, but it certainly makes one wonder. Not that it matters one way or another, but I'd not mind knowing the "truth." Anyone read the book?

[–] silentwillie 20 years ago

I read the book. I don't think the gay guy in the hotel is even in it. Actually, I'm not even sure Louden works in a hotel. I read it about 5 years ago, though.

[–] silentwillie 20 years ago

I just watched the movie. Kevin did have 3 boxes of Asics in his hotel room. Although Louden could have had the shoes in his hotel locker. Who knows. Probably was just bad editing.

[–] stormrider57 20 years ago

I've read the book. I still think Kevin gave Louden the shoes, not in return for sexual favors, but maybe as a goodwill gesture, like "no hard feelings." No pun intended! :) The book also goes into much more detail (and depth) about his relationship with Carla.

"Let's go terrify some Baptists!" -Emma Thompson

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] thefoxes-2 17 years ago

Check the short-term memory, my friend, because the hotel and homosexual guest are very much a part of the book. Not that it means anything, as far as my personal beliefs go, but there it is.

[–] InfraaaRed 18 years ago

I don't think Louden is gay, but one part that I had to think about was when, I forgot who, but someone asked him about Carly, and he answered back something along the lines of 'she's everything I want in a girl, and everything I want in a guy'. Maybe he just meant it by that he could get along with her really well, but I don't know.

[–] The_Smoking_Man 18 years ago

Could it be that Louden ran to work directly after practice, then worked, changed, and threw his wrestling shoes over his shoulder to run home? I don't think that guy gave the whole wrestling team those shoes. He's not gay, he took off after the gay man made a pass at him, he did pushups after leaving the room and couldn't get out quick enough, and was in desperate love with Carla. How could anyone think he's gay? he put his shoes on his shoulder to run home rather than carry them, big deal.

Yeah he said Carla has everything he likes in girls, and everything he likes in guys, but neither comment was meant in a sexual way. I read the book, and he is 100% hetero, no doubt.

[–] jablock 18 years ago

Gosh, I dunno...Louden liked poetry too...

I kind of get the feeling he got the Asics from the Tai Chi guy. The editing was really bad in the film, so it's hard to say. Louden's conversation with the cook would suggest that he had singled him out.

Still, Louden was so clumsy with his sexuality, and I really could see him thinking "well, maybe I am gay. Let's see." His dialog with Carla at the campfire ("I'm still a virgin. Does that make me queer?") seems to support that he was iffy about the whole thing.

It's not outlandish to think he was gay, nor should it tarnish the movie.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] liamforeman 13 years ago

I haven't read the book, but I strongly think the director wanted to portray Loudon as sexually open to both genders. The tai chi guy encounter where Loudon couldn't get out fast enough, but then plops down and does push-ups like someone sexually frustrated, and keeps looking back down the hallway to his room. The new shoes from tai chi guy and that he continued talking about him and almost wishing he wouldn't leave.

Then there was the strange description of Carla being everything he wants in a girl and a guy. Huh?

There were more references, but I can't remember them offhand. I just have the feeling that at least in the movie he is portrayed as someone who was coming into his own, sexually, and considered different possibilities.

[–] Dav777 13 years ago

I agree with your assesment. Furthermore, I think the tai-chi guy probably left the shoes out by the food when he was done like Louden asked him to. I think Louden was just kind of freaked by the whole thing and doesn't know how to react except to "work it off" no pun intended. But no way in hell, does he have a night-cap with the guy. I definately did not get that impression as he was too freaked out. Why? Who knows? He may have had some bi-tendencies..esp..as evidenced by the "everything I want in a guy" line. No way to explain that one away..or blame editing..lol

[–] scalvin 13 years ago

It sort of depends on what he wants in a guy.

She certainly doesn't have all the same equipment.

[–] 12 years ago

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