Word: bensons
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...mystery occupies little of this film's 90 minutes. Instead its makers subject the audience to poking fun at homosexuals clumsily designed to provoke raucous laughter. See if you can contain yourself. Benson asks his chief, "Why did you choose me?" The chief responds, "Because you're a good cop.. and 'cause of your cute ass." An aging homosexual tells Benson and Kerwin, "You have got to stick it through. Hang on tight, tight, tight," Benson tells his partner." "Those two faggots look alike. All faggots look alike." The two follow a suspect into a supermarket. While Benson watches...
KERWIN'S COMMENT underscores the main flaw in this problem-laden film. Partners invariably presents homosexuals as lustful, lascivious, whining fools. One middle-aged man, who, when he's not feeling Benson's thigh and cooing "fabulous" in the most stereotypical fashion, flirtatiously peers through ferns, squealing "Peekaboo!" or "hiii boys...
Although Kerwin ultimately saves Benson's life and solves the case, he nevertheless remains confined to similar stereotyping. He shakes so badly when he holds a gun that he not only drops his weapon but also falls out of a tree. We're invited to laugh along at a homosexual's ineptitude. At the beginning of the film, when he receives his assignment, Kerwin moans, "I've always been in the office.. but on the streets?!" A homosexual's place, of course, is in the home...
...sure enought, he soon parades around his and Benson's apartment, emptying ashtrays, making cheese souffles for lunch, bringing Benson breakfast in bed, and ironing Benson's underwear. Benson returns home from a tiring day at work; Kerwin sits him down and gives him a beer, promising. "I'll run your bath," Archie Bunker never had it so good...
...film, a wounded Kerwin decides to fight for his life. Perhaps he finds strength because he successfully solved a murder case. No, we are told, he was just lucky. He decides life is worth living because Benson promises him a "new apartment...with a custom-built kitchen." The producers jail this homosexual in the kitchen. Archie Bunker wouldn't be happier...