Set in the early 1980s, “Making Love” dared to tackle the complex themes of homosexuality, marriage, and self-discovery.
The film opens with a glimpse into Zach and Claire’s seemingly perfect life, but everything changes when Zach meets Bart (played by Harry Hamlin), a charismatic writer who is openly gay and unapologetically true to himself.
Unknown to Claire, Zack has been struggling with feelings of attraction to other men. He picks up men in his car and starts going to gay bars in West Hollywood on his lunch hour, although he does not follow through sexually. This changes when he meets Bart McGuire, a gay novelist who comes to see him for a medical check-up. Bart leads a fairly straight acting lifestyle (playing it safe for the main stream audience) , picking up multiple sexual partners, frequenting gay bars and clubs, and occasionally taking recreational drugs. Zack and Bart are mutually but outspokenly attracted to each other and go out for lunch.
A few days later, Zack asks him on a dinner date. He lies to Claire, saying he has to work late. At Bart’s house, it becomes clear Zack is not yet able to identify as gay, instead labeling himself “curious.” Zack and Bart go to bed, which is the first time Zack has had sex with another man. Zack wants to stay the night, but Bart, following his usual pattern, brushes him off. Angered, Zack leaves, but later challenges Bart’s fear of intimacy, which stems from his own troubled childhood with his domineering and emotionally abusive father growing up. Bart makes plans for them to get together during the weekend.
The love triangle that unfolds in “Making Love” is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. We witness Zach’s internal conflict as he confronts his feelings for Bart while trying to preserve his marriage and societal expectations.
Claire, concerned about the growing distance in her marriage, goes to her boss seeking a year-long leave of absence. Instead, he promotes her and sends her to New York City on a weekend business trip. Zack takes advantage of the opportunity to spend more time with Bart, but they end up arguing. Zack calls the outline for Bart’s new novel less than honest, and Bart confronts Zack about his own lack of honesty about his sexuality. That night in bed, Zack tells Bart that he loves him. The next morning, fearful of his own growing feelings for Zack, Bart pushes him away again.
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Cast
- Michael Ontkean as Zack Elliot
- Harry Hamlin as Bart McGuire
- Kate Jackson as Claire Elliot
- Wendy Hiller as Winnie Bates
- Arthur Hill as Henry
- Nancy Olson as Christine
“Making Love” encouraged filmmakers to push boundaries, inspiring a new wave of LGBTQ+ stories that would go on to impact generations to come.
You can see Making Love it’s on DVD, or Plex and You Tube for free as of August 2023
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