Gods and Monsters (1998)

Ian McKellen gives a whale of a performance as James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998). Based on Christopher Bram’s novel “Father of Frankenstein” (1995), this biopic goes behind the scenes of the classic flick Frankenstein (1931) to see what (or who) its gay director was doing. When Whale (McKellen) isn’t ogling his gorgeous (albeit fictional) gardener Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser), he’s rubbling shoulders with real-life Hollywood royalty. In addition to seeing Princess Margaret (Cornelia Hayes O’Herlihy), we get to watch interactions between director George Cukor (Martin Ferrero), producer David Lewis (David Dukes), actors Boris Karloff (Jack Betts) and Colin Clive (Matt McKenzie), actress Elsa Lanchester (Rosalind Ayres), and starlet Elizabeth Taylor (Marlon Braccia). The movie also includes Golden Globe-winner Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, and several shots of Jack Plotnick’s body. As Edmund Kay, the shirtless stud shows off his bulging briefs. If that’s not arousing enough, Mr. Fraser flaunts his fit frame while donning nothing but a towel and a smile. In another words, we get to admire his impeccable pecs! Last but not least, Mr. McKellen also appears without his shirt on. Perhaps that’s why he nabbed an Oscar nomination and was named Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards, at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, and at the Independent Spirit Awards. From the mountains of sexual innuendo to friendly homoerotic poolside poses, the partially-clad men in this drama reveal more skin than you can shake your villager’s torch at. Gods and Monsters? More like Globs and Monsters!