Gay film review 501 by Joe Gage
Directed by Joe Gage under the pseudonym Tim Kincaid, 501 is a simple and endearing film that sublimates the handsome mustached Daniel Holt.
Labyrinth of desire
It is a pink film, meaning it is for adults. The story is both banal and universal: we follow a taxi driver (played by Daniel Holt) who appears to lead a solitary life. We see him wandering alone through several vignettes. We also understand that he is a man who fantasizes a lot, as very well suggested by the opening scene and a sequence where he devours with desire a gay magazine of the time (the mythical magazine Honcho).
The encounter that changes everything
To escape boredom, our handsome mustache enjoys himself alone or indulges in gay cruising… until, at a party, his gaze meets that of another handsome and virile mustached man played by the very sexy Richard West. The last part of the film is thus dedicated to this encounter that shows the symbiosis between the two men, their coup de coeur, suggesting that a beautiful story between two might begin. After a night of love, the wake-up time shows 5:01 AM, the film’s title is thus a nod to this moment when Daniel Holt’s character understands that he might no longer be alone.
A sensitive and romantic vintage film
Here we find the charm of vintage films, their unique atmosphere at a time when being an x-rated film did not prevent sensitivity and romance. It is a portrait full of love of Daniel Holt who is stunning at every shot. There are no dialogues, everything passes through the body, the looks and the staging. And the whole is wrapped with a great soundtrack. Little known and a bit forgotten, 501 is a little gem about the labyrinth of desire and the journey towards a love we all hope for.
Practical information
The film was produced in 1985. It is available for subscribers of the gay site Bijou.
I like how you pointed out the significance of the 5:01 AM wake-up scene and its connection to the film’s title. The way the film uses Daniel Holt’s solitary wanderings to build up to the encounter with Richard West seems thoughtful, especially with those little details like the Honcho magazine sequence.