A Very Natural Thing (1974)

• Year: 1974
• Released: 28 Jan 1976
• Country: United States
• Adwords: N/A
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072362/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_very_natural_thing
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 480p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Runtime: 80 min
• Writer: Joseph Coencas, Christopher Larkin
• Director: Christopher Larkin
• Cast: Robert McLane, Curt Gareth, Bo White
• Keywords: 1970s, orgy, cruising, sexual promiscuity, lgbt, identity politics,

6.7/10

A Very Natural Thing Storyline

When David, an ex-monk still in his twenties meets Mark, he falls hard; soon he’s asked Mark if they can live together. Things go well for awhile, and then differences in their definition of “commitment” begin to push them apart. Mark wants other sexual adventures, David tries to go along. Can they talk through the crisis in their relationship or is a breakup in the offing? David sees his relationship with Mark as a marriage, so if it ends, can David’s heart ever heal?—

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A Very Natural Thing Movie Reviews

Fascinating Portrait of early Post-Stonewall Life

This 1973 film tells a story of gay life that is simple and familiar. Boy meets boy. Boy loves boy. Boy gets bored with boy. Etcetera. The straightforward, non-apologetic script is either timeless or old as the hills, depending on your tolerance level. While I was watching I began to wonder if the script could be re-shot today without significant modification. I think it probably could–there isn’t much happening that couldn’t take place almost word-for-word in any present-day urbanopolis.

Despite the sometimes raging amateurism in acting, photography, and especially sound, this film is well worth seeing. Those who lived through the era will experience an affectionate nostalgia for what I cannot help but call “the good old days.” For those born after, say, 1985, you’ll get an accurate look at what gay life was like as it was beginning to coalesce post-Stonewall. The production of the film also reflects the times. Some scenes have a cinema verite feel, some are clearly documentary. The last scene’s unflinching male “frontal” nudity is another relic of the 70s. Like I said, the good old days.

I would classify this as a “must-see” for any gay cinema buff. To my knowledge it is the first to grapple with the relationship problems unique to post-Stonewall gay life.

Honestly portrays gay life in ’70s New York City

“A Very Natural Thing,” according to sources I’ve read, was one of the first films to show gay men candidly as people. The two principle characters could be anyone. They don’t fall easily into stereotypes which plague gay-themed films, even today in the late 1990s.

This film definitely has the look and the feel of its times, the mid-70s. It’s fascinating to see how people dressed, the way they talked, what cars they drove, even how they cut their hair. It’s also interesting to look at gay lifestyles in this period setting. This was before AIDS/HIV, and unprotected sex was the norm. It takes place just at the beginnings of the 70s age of sexual liberation, not only for gays, but people in general as well. (For another view of the period see BOOGIE NIGHTS or the TALES OF THE CITY series.)

But the most important part of the film is the relationship between the two, psychologically different characters who meet in a dance club, fall in love, and live together. It could be two people today. It shows what two average gay men might experience living together.

I cross-referenced some of the people who made this film. Few went on to do anything else in movies. I think only one made it into the ’80s in a mainstream film.

The film has low-budget production values from the period. I didn’t find that so much distracting as endearing. It made the film all that much more real.

Sweet and Beautiful

I only heard of this film in passing, and did not realize how good it was until I rented the DVD. Don’t be put off by the dated 1970s music, wardrobes, hairstyles, small-budget, grainy photography, etc. For this is a milestone in gay cinema. Made just about 5 years after the groundbreaking “The Boys in The Band”, this greatly improves upon that film, with no self-loathing characters, but natural, real people. The writer-director Christopher Clark incorporates pensive dialogue in the story of an ex-Seminary student who finds love with one man, but is soon turned away from him and eventually finds peace with someone else. The musical score is moving, with classical pieces and more. Cast of unknowns unfortunately remained that way, but they are all outstanding. The parade sequences give added flavor and still timely food for thought. The last 5 minutes, with slow-motion photography and soaring music (pre-dates “Chariots of Fire” -1981), better illustrates male bonding than anything seen before or since. Most of the latter-day gay films remain silly, shallow, frequently mean-spirited fodder, with “Big Eden” (2000 – good), “Maurice” (1987 – better) “Making Love” (1982 – great) among the few notable exceptions. A classic awaiting rediscovery.