An Early Frost
Product Description
With its spectacular cast and devastating original screenplay by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman (creators and producers of Showtime's Queer As Folk) this landmark gay drama was nominated for 14 Emmys (and took home four) as it introduced TV audiences across the country to the reality of AIDS.
When gay lawyer Michael Pierson (Aidan Quinn- NBC's Book of Daniel, Legends of The Fall) is diagnosed with AIDS he copes with coming out to his family and colleagues, as they grapple with their prejudices. Both Gena Rowlands (The Skeleton Key, Gloria) and Ben Gazzara (Dogville, Buffalo '66, The Big Lebowski) give stunning performances as Michael's parents, with the legendary Sylvia Sidney in a Golden Globe-winning turn as Michael's loving grandmother, with out gay actor John Glover (TV's Smallville, Love! Valour! Compassion), Terry O'Quinn (ABC's Lost, The Stepfather) and Bill Paxton (HBO's Big Love, Apollo 13) rounding out the stellar cast.
An Early Frost aired on November 11, 1985 (prior to the release of Bill Sherwood's feature film, Parting Glances) and was the first major film to deal with AIDS. Amazingly, NBC actually lost money on advertising as many companies wouldn't run commercials and many affiliates refused to air the film. Ultimately triumphant, An Early Frost was the top-rated show the night it premiered, pulling in 1/3 of the viewing audience and beating out the 49ers v Broncos game on Monday Night Football.
Bonus Short: Living with AIDS This 1987 Emmy & Student Academy Award winning short documentary offers a moving portrait of Todd Coleman, a gay man with AIDS living in San Francisco. Living with AIDS was one of the first films about AIDS to be nationally televised on PBS.
When gay lawyer Michael Pierson (Aidan Quinn- NBC's Book of Daniel, Legends of The Fall) is diagnosed with AIDS he copes with coming out to his family and colleagues, as they grapple with their prejudices. Both Gena Rowlands (The Skeleton Key, Gloria) and Ben Gazzara (Dogville, Buffalo '66, The Big Lebowski) give stunning performances as Michael's parents, with the legendary Sylvia Sidney in a Golden Globe-winning turn as Michael's loving grandmother, with out gay actor John Glover (TV's Smallville, Love! Valour! Compassion), Terry O'Quinn (ABC's Lost, The Stepfather) and Bill Paxton (HBO's Big Love, Apollo 13) rounding out the stellar cast.
An Early Frost aired on November 11, 1985 (prior to the release of Bill Sherwood's feature film, Parting Glances) and was the first major film to deal with AIDS. Amazingly, NBC actually lost money on advertising as many companies wouldn't run commercials and many affiliates refused to air the film. Ultimately triumphant, An Early Frost was the top-rated show the night it premiered, pulling in 1/3 of the viewing audience and beating out the 49ers v Broncos game on Monday Night Football.
Bonus Short: Living with AIDS This 1987 Emmy & Student Academy Award winning short documentary offers a moving portrait of Todd Coleman, a gay man with AIDS living in San Francisco. Living with AIDS was one of the first films about AIDS to be nationally televised on PBS.