The Fall of '55

In the fall of 1955, the quiet city of Boise, Idaho, was consumed with a gay sex scandal. Teenage boys were prostituting themselves to men in town, including "pillars of the community." The scandal came to light through the efforts of a police officer who worked with juveniles, but was greatly magnified by the sensationalist coverage by the local newspaper. Lives were ruined, and men went to prison for "unspeakable unnatural acts," even though some of the "boys" were as old as 22. Unfortunately, most of the principal characters — the accused, the accusers, and the investigators — are no longer around. Interesting.

The Fall of '55, dir. Seth Randal, 2005 USA, 85 min.

Technorati tags: The Fall of '55, Idaho, Boise, Boys of Boise, 1955, Frameline, Frameline31, LGBT Film