Gods and Monsters: A Queer Film Classic

Gods and Monsters, one of three inaugural titles in Arsenal’s new film book series Queer Film Classics, deals with the acclaimed 1998 film about openly gay film director James Whale, best known for the Frankenstein films of the 1930s. Gods and Monsters stars Ian McKellen as Whale in the final days of his life during the 1950s. This book examines the film from a variety of perspectives, highlighting the complexity and significance of its achievements, including its fusion of fantasy and biography. It also delves into a history of gay Hollywood during this era, including both its homophobic surface and its queer underpinnings.