The Lavender Scare

Name: The Lavender Scare
Genre: Documentary
Released: June 7, 2019
Duration: 77 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Artie Widgery, Cynthia Nixon, David George, David Hyde Pierce, David K. Johnson

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

No score yet

tbd

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

tbd	Your Score
tbd	User Score No score yet

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Lavender Scare (Trailer 2)

Now Playing: The Lavender Scare (Trailer 2)

Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: June 7, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Artie Widgery, Cynthia Nixon, David George, David Hyde Pierce, David K. Johnson, Franklin Kameny, Glenn Close, Joan Cassidy, John D'Emilio, John Hanes, John Piatek, Joseph McCarthy, Kevan Rabat, Lillian Faderman, T.R. Knight, Tom Knight, Zachary Quinto

Summary: With the United States gripped in the panic of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower deems homosexuals to be "security risks" and orders the immediate firing of any government employee discovered to be gay or lesbian. It triggers a vicious witch hunt that lasts for forty years and ruins thousands of lives, while thrusting an unlikelyWith the United States gripped in the panic of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower deems homosexuals to be "security risks" and orders the immediate firing of any government employee discovered to be gay or lesbian. It triggers a vicious witch hunt that lasts for forty years and ruins thousands of lives, while thrusting an unlikely hero into the forefront of what would become the modern LGBT rights movement.… Expand

Director: Josh Howard

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 77 min

See All Details and Credits

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Alan Ng

Jun 13, 2019

The Lavender Scare is essential to watch and an excellently produced documentary about a time the communist threat overshadowed the so-called “gay threat” from our history books. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Jun 6, 2019

A vivid, disturbing and rousing picture of specious government intrusion at its worst. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Jun 8, 2019

Essential and absorbing documentary. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jun 3, 2019

Straight America can finally get to know the name of Dr. Frank Kameny, a very smart man with a very big grievance against the government, one he was willing to endure mockery and the loss of his original career to settle. Read full review

IndieWire Hanh Nguyen

Jun 19, 2019

This is yet another instance where the film’s short runtime seems to have shortchanged the depth of reporting. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Jun 6, 2019

Running a brisk 75 minutes, this is one of those rare documentaries that feels too short. Some of its stories could have been more fleshed out, greater historical context could have been provided, and its use of such musical selections as Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" are beyond cliche. But these are small quibbles about a film that should be essential viewing in these times when intolerance is on the rise. Read full review

Dan Callahan

Jun 4, 2019

A compact and fairly well-made documentary. Read full review

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

tbd

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

No reviews yet.