History Film / GodsAndMonsters

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Film/MrHolmes'', the next collaboration between Bill Condon and Ian [=McKellen=], is similarly about an aging genius trying to make sense of his life.

* BadassGay: Whale is a World War I veteran.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which offers a semi-fictionalized account of Creator/JamesWhale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such Franchise/UniversalHorror classics as ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life. It was adapted from Christopher Bram's 1995 novel ''Father of Frankenstein''.

* StripPoker: Whale asks [[spoiler: Mr. Kay to remove one piece of clothing for every question related to Frankenstein that he answers. The game goes on until Kay is in his underwear. ]]
* SubordinateExcuse: Hanna seems to have some romantic feelings for Whale, even though she knows about his sexual orientation. In the end [[spoiler: after he commits suicide ]], she kisses him in the lips.

It received a large amount of praise and won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Adapted Screenplay (and was nominated for two others).

* NobodyOver50IsGay: Averted as Whale (and [=McKellen=] himself of course) is gay and over 50, but discussed by Boone who says Whale is too old to think about things like sex.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which offers a semi-fictionalized account of James Whale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such Franchise/UniversalHorror classics as ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life. It was adapted from Christopher Bram's 1995 novel ''Father of Frankenstein''.

* NightmareFetishist: At the end, Whale admits to sexually provoking Boone because [[spoiler: he wanted Boone to murder him, saying it would "make death bearable".]]

* {{Gaydar}}: Boone doesn’t fully realise Whale is gay until he’s told, first by his friends and later by Hanna.
* {{Gayngst}}: completely averted, which is surprising for a period piece set in the 1950s.

* OldRetainer: Hanna, Whale's maid, who has served him for many years and is very loyal to him (altough she's convinced he'll go to hell for being a homosexual).

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which offers a semi-fictionalized account of James Whale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such UniversalHorror classics as ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life. It was adapted from Christopher Bram's 1995 novel ''Father of Frankenstein''.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which focuses on James Whale (a director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such UniversalHorror films as ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which focuses on James Whale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such UniversalHorror films as ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life.

* CreatorBacklash: An in-universe example as Whale is fed up with only being remembered as the guy that brought the world ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein1931}} Frankenstein]]''

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which focuses on James Whale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for such UniversalHorror films as ''Film/{{Frankenstein}}'' and ''Film/TheInvisibleMan'') in the final days of his life.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Creator/BillCondon which focuses on James Whale (a film director of the 1930s and '40s, best known for ''Film/{{Frankenstein}}'' and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'') in the final days of his life.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Bill Condon which focuses on James Whale (a famous director of the 1930s and '40s) in the final days of his life. Having recently suffered a stroke, Whale (Creator/IanMcKellen) is slowly losing his mind; unable to concentrate and often lost in his dark and hedonistic past. Out of boredom he starts sketching his gardener (BrendanFraser), while he is also enjoying the *ahem* view. See, James Whale was gay, openly so, and a large portion of the film focuses on what it was like to be a gay man at the turn of the 20th century.

''Gods and Monsters'' is a 1998 film written and directed by Bill Condon which focuses on James Whale (a famous director of the 1930s and '40s) in the final days of his life. Having recently suffered a stroke, Whale (Creator/IanMcKellen) is slowly losing his mind; unable to concentrate and often lost in his dark and hedonistic past. Out of boredom he starts sketching his gardener (BrendanFraser), while he is also enjoying the *ahem* view. See, James Whale was gay, openly so, and a large portion of the film focuses on what it was like to be a gay back at the turn of the 20th century.

!! Contains Examples of the Following Tropes: