While it doesn’t take green-tinted spectacles to spot the gay subtext in The Wizard of Oz, other Old Hollywood movies took an even subtler approach. Before the Hays Code was established in 1943, classic films were rife with overtly queer themes. These Pre-Code films were shockingly forward-thinking for their time, challenging traditionally closed-minded notions of sexuality in American society. Though Pre-Code Hollywood was short-lived, it had a monumental effect on the industry and the queer artists working within it. These 10 classic Hollywood movies carried on the film industry’s queer legacy, whispering in secret what once was said out loud.
