And the Band Played On

A film set in the 1980s about a group of epidemiologists investigating the spread of AIDS. It explores the multitude of topics that the spread of AIDS brought to the fore: most notably, the gay community and homophobia. It is something of a Tear Jerker. Based on a book of the same name written by Randy Shilts, a reporter for the San Fransisco Chronicle.

"Let's cut the crap."
 * Adam Westing - Alan Alda as a jerk doctor.
 * All Gays Are Promiscuous - The airline steward. Almost borders on Depraved Homosexual.
 * Arc Words - "What do we know, What do we suspect, What can we prove?"
 * "Gay Cancer"
 * Armor-Piercing Question - "How many dead hemophiliacs do you need?"
 * Brainy Brunette - Both Selma Dritz and Mary Guinan
 * But You Screw One Goat! - AIDS was first transmitted to humans from apes.
 * Actually, the common belief is that the cross-species transmission occurred when a bushmeat hunter or vendor cut himself and blood-to-blood contact happened that way.
 * The Chick - Mary Guinan
 * Club Kid - Or more accurately, bathhouse kid
 * Eureka Moment - Francis gets a new idea about how the disease works... by watching a game of Pac-Man.
 * Even the Guys Want Him - The steward, naturally
 * Fag Hag - Selma Dritz
 * Film of the Book - Non-fiction book by San Francisco Chronicle journalist Randy Shilts.
 * Ho Yay
 * Ignored Expert - All of the scientists
 * Jerkass - Bob Gallo.
 * The Medic - All of the scientists, as well
 * Obstructive Bureaucrat - Homophobic as well
 * Only in It For the Money - The bathhouse owner
 * The Plague - AIDS
 * Precision F-Strike - Selma Dritz:


 * Really Gets Around - The steward
 * Science Is Bad - Inverted. The scientists are portrayed the most sympathetically of anyone
 * Shirtless Scene - The steward
 * Smoking Is Cool - Also the steward
 * Invisible to Gaydar
 * Truth in Television - A tragic Real Life example. From the CDC being underfunded to the bitter rivalry between Dr. Gallo and the Pasteur Institute. The whole thing is just Harsher in Hindsight - The Movie.
 * Yaoi Fangirl - Selma Dritz