The world lost Oscar-winning director William Friedkin recently, and while most are mourning the loss of the man who helmed two of the most acclaimed films of the 70s, The French Connection and The Exorcist, we at Man Central are also saying goodbye to man behind two of our favorite gay-themed films of that same decade.
Before Friedkin made his duo of legacy-securing films, the director helmed the adaptation of the 1968 off-Broadway play The Boys in the Band. The story centers on a group of gay New Yorkers at a birthday party that turns vicious with too much booze and the surprise addition of the host’s straight college roommate. While the characters engage in a number of catty takedowns, there’s not much taken off save for Frederick Combs (who originated the role of Donald on stage) showing his tan-lined caboose before stepping into the shower.
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That might not seem like a pivotal moment in naked film history, but in hindsight it paved the way for us to be gifted with the beautiful Matt Bomer fully nude as the same character in the 2020 remake. In the same scene, Matt not only delivers derriere going into the shower but also his hairy cock and balls coming out of it!
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Then in 1980, Friedkin decided to follow his film success with a deeper dive into NYC gay culture in Cruising. In it, Al Pacino stars as an undercover cop trying to find an SM serial killer targeting gay men. Compared to The Boys in The Band, it’s a veritable smorgasbord of seat meat, including a peek at Pacino’s cheeks.
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While Friedkin himself eventually admitted it’s focus on sexual deviance and murder wasn’t conducive to helping the world become more accepting of gay lifestyle, it also inspired the making of another film - Travis Mathews and James Franco’s homage Interior. Leather Bar, which goes whole hog when it comes to sex and skin.
