Different From the Others (1919)
Directed by Richard Oswald
Starring: Conrad Veidt, Rheinhold Schüznel, Magnus Hirschfekd.
Different From The Others is the first openly gay film to be made - ever. Its influence can still be felt in film today as it rallies against discriminatory laws against gay individuals and advocated for acceptance in society.
Only partially salvaged from time, Different From The Others’ legacy held a candle for all of those who came after it in history. Being made as a reaction to Paragraph 175, Germany’s law against homosexuality, this film is the first of its kind to ever be made. While not the first movie made by queer or LGBTQ+ artists, it is the first to have a positive portrayal of gay individuals in a motion picture. That, alongside explicitly gay characters and their romance as a main aspect for the plot.
Different made a strong impact in Germany upon its initial release. Causing outrage and sparking support, many of those critiquing the film were disgusted it was ever allowed to be released, despite coming out during a time when Paragraph 175 was not being enforced and LGBTQ+ films were released without legal action being taken against the filmmakers.
This film is included on this list about American silent film due to its influence and impact on the Hollywood film scene . Specifically, on LGBTQ+ filmmakers or actors who wanted to express themselves more freely in their chosen medium of film. When it comes to the films influenced by Different From the Others, Salome and The Pleasure Garden are two of the American films that spawned from Different. Even throughout the 20th century, films such as Victim lifted their plot from Different From The Others, songs were inspired by the film, as well as documentaries detailing the legacy the film left behind.
Benshoff, Harry M., Griffin, Sean, Queer Images : A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America, (Blue Ridge, Summit: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated, 2005)
Malakaj, Ervin, "Richard Oswald, Magnus Hirschfeld, and the Possible Impossibility of Hygienic Melodrama", Studies in European Cinema vol 14 no 3 (2017), 216–230.
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