What happened to the “Dancer from the Dance” movie?

Not a gurl, but I suggest a diet rich in fiber and plenty of exercise.

Give up.

Why? It would be a great Netflix movie or miniseries.

I recognized the name Patti Jo. Turns out she replaced Melba Moore in 'Purlie".

Matt Bomer as Malone (though maybe he's a little white-bread) and Jim Parsons as Sutherland: thin (can pass for a drug addict), can play camp, relatively age-appropriate, affiliated with Ryan Murphy (because you KNOW he's the one who could make this).

Ryan Philippe could have played the lead in the 1990s.

Patti Jo Demps was her full name, I believe.

Here are some pics and flyers.

Matt Bomer is 44, a little old for Malone. Someone in the bookstore thread suggested Tim O'Tay, an excellent choice. The book opens in the early 1970s IIRC, around the time "Make Me Believe in You" was released, and which song is mentioned in the book.

Question: did gay men go to the gym as obsessively then as we did in the '80s. I was satisfied with the way I looked until 1979 or '80, and one of those was the first year I signed up for the gym. It's possible Malone could have been a gym rat, but I don't remember. It's been some time since I read Dancer.

I think a Dancer movie would have a greater appeal if there were some gym scenes—perhaps some sauna or steam room action as well—and it would give Mr. O'Tay a chance to enhance his various body parts. I think he'd be perfect as Malone.

Could anyone comment (sans the usual DL Timmy hatred)?

Timmy as Malone, Julian Morris as Sutherland. I would love it. I would see it ten times.

No. Tim O'Tay is too charactery for Malone. Malone is supposed to be attractive in a mainstream gay culture way. That's not Tim.

[Quote] Julian Morris as Sutherland. I would love it.

Dreadful casting. And thankfully, more than unlikely.

I would be so surprised if it was ever made into a movie or mini-series. it would be so dated, plus it doesn"t have much point to it if you can't read the lushness of the prose. Finally, the plot is not super-interesting and is also unbelievable (Malone goes jobless and cuts off from everyone he ever knew outside of the gay sex world for ten years).

Even if they did film it, Chalamet would be all wrong. Malone ages into his 40s in the course of the novel.

Maybe it should be a dance piece.

It’s unfilmable and there’s nothing wrong with that. Literature has its own purpose and rewards beyond filmed entertainments.

[quote]Malone ages into his 40s in the course of the novel.

He does? I may be remembering incorrectly, but I thought the book started in 1973, his first year out of law school, making him 25-26 at the time. Going from that point to 1978, he'd be 31 at most in the contemporary era of the story. Or was there a futuristic component?

For r9, re: the gym question:

[quote]“For if anything is prized more in the homosexual subculture than a handsome face, or a large cock, it is a well-defined, athletic body.”

The book is pulp crap at best. Maybe that’s what happened.

The Front Runner makes more sense as a movie.

Chalamet would be dead wrong. Malone was a twunk with a melancholic aura, a natural beauty. I think it could be a great movie capturing bohemian gay NYC in the 70s. The Everett bathhouse fire would make for high drama. Maybe one could add a coda hinting that Malone survived and ended his life as a bald fatty in Wichita.

And there should be copious consumption of drugs!!

Ryan Reynolds as Malone Mario Cantone as Sutherland

Yeah, Ryan Reynolds would be great...if we could take the wayback to that moment when Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place ended. He's now 46 years old.

Sutherland was insufferable but witty, Cantone is just shrill and doesn’t look like a druggy. Skinny Neil Patrick Harris would work.

[quote]The book is pulp crap at best.

Well, that doesn't necessarily rule it out. The question is, does it contain raw materials that a talented screenwriter could shape into a good dramatic story, and would it be likely to put enough asses in seats to make it worth filming?

The Godfather was pulp crap. But it’s true, there is not much action here and lots of introspective sentimentality. But with the right score and actors it could be “Love Story“.

Ryan Reynolds?! You may want to fuck him but that doesn't make him a beauty.

Timmo? Malone had a chin.

A young Thomas Jane would be perfect.

Is Ben Hardy too much of a moonface?

I would prefer to see a movie adaptation of The Charioteer. It probably won't be to expensive to make.

Ben Hardy could work.

Ben Whishaw *is* Sutherland.

"Dancer from the Dance" was an unforgettable novel.

It MUST be Transed!

TRANSER FROM THE TRANS!

Yes 33, Ben Wishaw! Now to find Malone. He doesn’t have to he a great actor. Just look and act too beautiful for this world.

Zac Efron IS Malone!

Cillian Murphy might have been an interesting Malone.

Hello Gays....!

Montgomery Clift would have been an excellent Malone, had he been born 75-80 years later.

What about DL fave Jordan Barrett?

I’d go with Ruairi O’Connor as Malone.

Way too bland, r42.

Was Hiram Keller a real life Malone?

I read the book in the early '00s and envisioned Matt Keeslar as Malone.

Whomever plays Malone - were it ever to come to pass - wouldn't have to be a great actor, if you're familiar with the character at all. He really just has to look good, and be enigmatic.

What I'd really love to know is who - if anyone - Andrew Holleran ever envisioned in the role.

Does anyone know if the book was optioned? There are people on this board that know Eric Garber personally and might know the answers to these questions.

Andrew Holleran's prose is gorgeous. Whatever one thinks of the book as a whole.

This isn't Casey Donovan, is it? Was there more than one?

It’s not Casey Donovan but Donovan would have been perfect.

This is Casey Donovan.

Andrew Holleran interviewed.

Emerald City is wonderful R50. Who is the hunky presenter?

Frank O'Dowd. Sadly, he died of AIDS in 1988. You can see him at an ACT-UP demo in 1987 at the link. He's the one in the sunglasses.

O'Dowd interviews Cal Culver.

The most fun part of the Emerald City show is the commercials. Did any of you visit Ice Palace 57?

Wow he was gorgeous. Thanks, R52.

Did any of you buy into Roxbury Gay Village? What happened to that?

Why was Holleran so protective of his private life? Did he have a day job?

[quote]Chalamet would be dead wrong.

The character is a blond hunk version of Death In Venice's Tadzio -- in other words, a symbol, not a proper character. So he has be portrayed by someone with the masculine beauty akin to a butch gay icon of the period such as Perry King, with also the mystique and wistfulness to act as a symbol for unrequited desire. Chalamet and Matt Bomer are ridiculously wrong. Ryan Philippe could have been almost right, but he lacks depth, and wouldn't be able to pull out of himself what's required out of him to turn a 2D cipher of a character into a 3D one. The movie stands or falls on the casting of Malone. Brando would have been perfect. If I was a producer, I wouldn't dare go ahead with the movie until I found someone capable of delivering on that role.

Michael Pitt.

Does Malone have to be American?

I mean Sutherland.

Where can you find a copy of “Boys in the Sand”?

Online?

Online?

True, R64. Hot. Culver was hot and sexy in that interview too.

Holleran has a new book coming in June. It's either a memoir or a novel or both (the advanced copy I received doesn't say). It's clearly autobiographical, since I believe he lives in Florida. It'sthe story of an elderly gay man living out his life near Gainesville. The writing is beautiful, but the outlook is almost unredeemingly bleak. Makes you want to stay away from Florida, not to mention getting old.

R57

I don't have a quote, but he used a pen name because he didn't want his elderly parents living in Florida to suffer any homophobic backlash when "Dancer from the Dance" was published.

I guess he rationalized appearing on Emerald City because it wasn't broadcast in Florida.

R57 (and others)

I found it. Here's Eric Garber's explanation:

"So why did you choose to use the pseudonym Andrew Holleran?

That is reflective of the way history has changed. My book came out in '78. I was living in New York and didn't care who knew I was gay. But then I was talking to my editor one day, saying, "It's no problem with me, but my parents live in a small town down South. I'd hate to have the wrong people use it against them." And my editor said, "The wrong people are always the first people to get a book. So if you feel that way, get a pen name by 5:00." So I did, just for that reason."

Here is the cite for the quote in R69.

It's an interview in Salon upon the publication of "Grief".

[italic]From dancing to grieving Andrew Holleran discusses the gay generation gap, coming out in a library and whether we should mourn like Jackie O or Mary Todd Lincoln.[/italic]

Looking forward to it, R66, I just happened to visit Gainesville (coming from NYC) :)

@r.everett Good question actually. And actually actually, you'd have made a good Malone given your life background.

But yeah he needs to be played by an American with blond all American looks but with a background of privilege. Like Armie Hammer as i mentioned earlier.

Everard Baths AKA Ever-Hard.

Oh, dear!

I suppose Trevor Donovan has rather aged out.

There is no perfect Malone.

Makes sense, r69. The new book has the narrator almost entombed in the former house of his parents. Can't seem to escape their hold on him.

I just ordered the book ([italic]The Kingdom of Sand: A Novel[/italic]) and the write-up makes me think that it is a great expansion of a short story he wrote and published. I'm off to research.

I think it may be a story in [italic]In September, the Light Changes: The Stories of Andrew Holleran[/italic].

Which, by the way, is an extraordinary collection of his short fiction.

[quote]Whomever plays Malone

r46 Oh, dear!

[quote]What I'd really love to know is who - if anyone - Andrew Holleran ever envisioned in the role.

Oh, dear! again, but this one's less egregious.

R78

Well, I get the first "Oh, Dear!'" (what was I thinking?), but what is the second one? Who s/b whom?

What is "s/b", r79?

The second "Oh, dear!" is for "who" instead of "whom." It's kind of archaic, but "whom" is the object of "Andrew Holleran envisioned." As I said, it's less egregious, as most of us really don't say that anymore. Nor do we expect it of others. But since your first "Oh, dear!" was the unimagineable "Whomever plays Malone," I thought I'd mention the second one.

The second one is just as bad, an abomination. Oh, the Whomanity!

I love Andrew Holleran. I think he's a superb writer. His short pieces for Christopher St were phenomenal.

I enjoyed In September The Light Changes (fabulous cover too), but couldn't get more than a third of the way through the Beauty of Men. I can't bear that lacrymose navel gazing rut he fell into: the litany of aging gay men and all their regrets and loneliness etc etc. It's so fucking pointless. Get over yourselves. (I also cannot bear coming out stories and stories of families. I just just hear my life trickling away as I read them, and never come with away with a single fucking insight.)

If I was Holleran's agent, I'd say: "Darling, it's time to write not about what you know, but to invent a grander world. Because what you know is too fuckin' depressing and boring." Look at The Blue Star. A failed novel but a fabulous attempt to write something grander.

Agree that Holleran needs to cheer up. The latest book reduces the narrator's sex life to giving head to a "straight" neighbor at regular intervals. (he's in his 60s in the book). The rest is lamenting that he is no longer able to attract men in public sex areas. Most of us who have aged out of dating and cruising have come to terms with what we've lost, but not him, at least not the fictive Andrew.

I'm not that driven by sex, particularly of the casual/anonymous variety. Am I lucky?

T9- Matt Bomer looks and sounds TOO GAY to play Malone. I pictured Malone as someone who looked and sounded straight- not dripping with masculinity - just low key 🔑.

Sounds too gay?

Timmy for Malone. If, as his john de la nuit, I opened my door to this, I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven.

You people who think nothing matters but spending a lifetime at the gym should have your own movie. This is Malone.

R87- He's certainly young enough to play Malone but I don't picture Malone as a RODENT.

Go jerk off to someone in Muscle Mary Monthly, r88.

R83- Are you referring to The Beauty Of Men ( it was a depressing but GOOD book) or his soon to be published novel?

Either way Andrew Holleran is my FAVORITE gay author or maybe just my favorite author.

R83- His newest book has not been published yet. Have you somehow read it?

Looks like r83 could be talking about the new book, The Kingdom of Sand, which will be released on June 7, 2022 (though, of course, that description sounds like The Beauty of Men as well).

R92- The Kingdom Of Sand sounds very much like The Beauty Of Men or even a continuation of The Beauty Of Men.

R83- I've always got the feeling that his character in The Beauty Of Men is a fictionalized version of Andrew Holleran. I read years ago that the Beauty Of Men was originally going to be NON fiction- sort of autobiographical but Holleran decided to turn it into a novel.

The PERFECT actor to play Sutherland- ( at least if this movie were released ca. 1993)

John Glover

I bet you an English or Australian actor would end up playing Malone.

Me Connor Jessup fulfils all of the criteria and more.

*Mr Connor Jessup

r83, yes I have read it. I review books on occasion and got an advanced copy..

And yes, it feels like a continuation of The Beauty of Men. Only older.

And, r90, despite all my misgivings about the new one, I think he's probably the finest living gay U.S. author.

So no gossip on WHY the movie almost went into production but has been stalled?

Heizer is more of a Malone than Jessup.

The book follows Malone from ages 28 to 38, right? Someone squarely within that age range would be required or someone who can play a little bit older/younger.

“Esoteric” is a good word for the book. The characters are gayer than “The Birdcage”, yet there’s a lot of inside innuendo of gay culture that wouldn’t work in a screenplay or would be perhaps off-putting or even offensive in other cultures abroad or I could see how the characters would be unreasonable to the average straight person or couple. It’s all about the endless pursuit of sex and beautiful bodies/faces.. 70’s culture was so disconnected from this one, even with the best writers I don’t see how it would work without completely destroying the spirit and intent of the book.

In words and and tome the book is riveting, captivating and a wild journey. In action, I’m afraid it’d be a mockery.

It's also a rich language feast that would be hard to put onscreen. Maybe Luca Guadagnino could do it justice.

So why not show lots of beautiful bodies and sex? And the meaningless of it. In combination with beautiful NYC photography and a great score. Which movie had really great Fire Island scenes? Other than Boys in the Band.

I meant “Boys in the Sand”.

[quote] Which movie had really great Fire Island scenes?

The Normal Heart had some nice scenery.

I always imagine a young Pierce Brosnan as Malone.

I can answer this because all through my early 20’s to 30’s I lived this kind of life, as a bartender going to NYC every weekend, traipsing similar social circles of a pre-9/11 nightlife and all the quirky and colorful characters.

The debauchery and sharp, witty one liners in the book would fall flat with the spoken word.

The carefully crafted context, exclusivity and gossipy references mean so much less in the smartphone era.

Finally, it’s not truly a love story. It’s more of a vicarious, coming of age story with the eventual letdown.

Also, Malone was too beautiful to be an acual person, MARY! He’s all the men that got away.

It's an elegy for the end of an era; it didn't know AIDS was around the corner.

This critic gets the gist of why it would make a terrible movie.

Probably a decent review, r111, but who can read that light gray text?

Homey, R112, you can watch the video...

R111, that's a great review.

Then I'd have to turn off my music, r113.

I always saw Malone as a young Peter Krause

Flying Doctors era Murray Bartlett had the right look.

I once thought Billy McNamara would have made the perfect Malone.

Cary Elwes?

I think he’s getting a bit past it, but what about James Norton a few years ago?

Cary is almost 60. Malone didn’t even make it to 40. Maybe 30-40 years ago, but certainly not now.

Were there ever movie plans for City of Night? That was my other seminal gay book of the time.

Colton Haynes as Malone.

We don’t need a neurotic LA Instawhore with embarrassing wedding videos as Malone, R123.

I love “Dancer from the Dance.” Best damn gay novel ever written.

But the curious detail about it is that most or all of the vignettes and characters are based on real events and people. A close friend says he knew the man who was the basis for Malone. The Pink and Green Party in the Pines at the end was a real event. I personally knew the man referred to as “Jorge Forbes,” notorious for having had sex with all the men in New York, so he went to San Francisco. And I also encountered the unavailable, mustachioed man in Stuyvesant Park, who sat on the bench where I was, lit a cigarette, and made conversation, as his Irish Setter gamboled about.

An enthralling literary phantasmagoria of a novel, but almost impossible to film, due to its stream of consciousness, omniscient viewpoint. The only way it might work is to have an unseen narrator, reading from the actual text.

It’s hard to believe that Stuyvesant Park was once a hotbed of gay activity, R125. When did that end? I don’t think it still had that vibe in the mid 90s when I first moved to NYC.

I would be interested in who could play Frankie, the stoner construction worker Malone lived with who eventually beat him up. It's an essential part of the story because it was what put Malone in Sutherland's orbit.

"Gas blue beads," one of my favorite images ever written.

We can hope for the movie but it doesn't seem likely now.

Javier Bardem for Frankie

Sara Ramirez *is* Frankie.

Jake Cannavale IS Frankie.

[quote]Javier Bardem for Frankie

WAY too old.

Ca. 1980 Tony Danza could have played Frankie.

Shawn Mendes IS Malone.

Charles Bilgrin IS Malone

Ambrose Olsen. He was gorgeous and committed suicide so he is perfect for the role.

And here is a screen test of Ambrose, possibly shot on Fire Island

What was Olsen's story?

He had a hot ass but he could not live forever