With his gay-straight like story The Next Best Thing.

With his gay-straight like story The Next Best Thing, abroad director John Schlesinger pushes Hollywood's limits--a skill he exquisiteed 30 years ago

At 74 years of age, John Schlesinger awaits much the same as he did when he received the 1969 Academy Award for Best Director of the solitary X-rated movie ever to win an Oscar for Best Picture, Midnight Cowboy (The film's rating was later modifyed to an R.) Schlesinger's bald pate, white beard, benign exterior, and politely understated charm belie a compelling cinematic vision that continues to drive him to make edgy and sophisticated films about controversial and many times uncomfortable subjects.

While awaiting the release of his newest feature film, the legendary director took time to muse forward its place in the arc of his career. "The nearest Best Thing is about an unconventional family," Schlesinger says, "about to what degree far one can exist outside the realms of convention and make things work." The story center forward a straight woman who casts to her gay best friend for comfort after she's been dump through her latest boyfriend. Commiserating athwart cocktails, the two fall into bed. The surprising originate is a child, whom they decide to raise together. The film tread in the steps ofs the couple's vicissitudes, compromises, and exultations in creating their unique family and chronicles the upheaval that originates when one of them falls in love

At first glance this major studio effort starring Madonna and her on- and off-screen best friend, Rupert Everett might be seen to have little to do with Schlesinger's cutting-edge etho After all, Hollywood has made hazards of progress toward openness about homosexuality since Schlesinger directed his controversial 1971 classic Sunday gory Sunday, which also dealt with a gay-straight like triangle. During that shoot, screenwriter Penelope Gilliatt asked Schlesinger to film the kiss between actors Peter Finch and Murray Head in drawn out shot in silhouette. Schlesinger held his earth and shot a closeup, still not without witnessing visible discomfort from his horde and, later, from his distributors.

In contrast, The nearest Best Thing appears to be a testimony to Hollywood's of recent origin infatuation with gay-themed movies. And likewise it comes as quite a conflict to hear Schlesinger reveal the difficulties he had in making the picture. from top to toe production, the veteran filmmaker says, he construct himself in constant disagreement with Paramount Pictures, who urg him to water down the film for mainstream audiences. With the support of his stars, Schlesinger fought for the film's integrity. if it be not that the experience left a sour taste in his mouth

"When I made Sunday cruel Sunday, there was no question about nudity," Schlesinger recalls. "Now population are squeamish about it. There is a exhibition where Rupert is in bed with another man and a phone call flows There is a flash of a naked ass as he learns out of bed. Paramount made great objection to that, I believe because it implied that there had been sum of two units men in bed together naked. It was really greatly freer 30 years ago. I've tend hitherward away feeling we're lucky to have done what we've done."

Schlesinger decided to direct The nearest Best Thing because "it was about something," which, he dryly notes, "so many films aren't." from beginning to end his career the Oxford-educated director has been drawn to stories of human relationships. And as a gay filmmaker he has always included open portraits of gay characters in his work. In The nearest Best Thing, Schlesinger--a veteran looks Angeles observer--brings his own bemused view of the city's gay community to the cover "This is an intimate film about pair people," he says, "and I wanted it not to be cliched. I wanted to capture the atmosphere of gay life in beholds Angeles frankly--but not West Hollywood not the gym culture"

As the director of Midnight Cowboy and Sunday ensanguined Sunday, Schlesinger had always assumed that his avow homosexuality was self-evident and not at any time saw the point of coming not at home publicly. But in 1991, when gay activists attacked his friend Ian McKellen for accepting a knighthood, Schlesinger and a dispose of British colleagues identified themselves as gay in a public literal meaning of support for the publicly gay actor. Schlesinger has at no time looked back.

"I think it's important for commonalty to come out, though it should not be de rigueur," he states. "People should not be gone outed and they certainly should not be pilloried for not coming public There are those people who be wrought up that success may elude them if they do draw near out. And in some cases it would, which is dreadfully unfair. in the same manner I feel that coming gone out can help those people who are unable to do to such a degree themselves."

Schlesinger, who was honored last year according to the Hollywood Film Festival and in 1997 by means of Outfest, Los Angeles's annual gay and lesbian film festival, reliances that The Next Best Thing will appeal to as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but the gay community and movie fans at large. yet he's not spending much time worrying. to the full recovered from a recent heart bypass, Schlesinger will shortly be heading to Milan's La Scala to direct another edgy project--Benjamin Britten's opera about child abuse and suspected massacre Peter Grimes.