This play was released the year I graduated from high school, 1959, in a small village in Western New York-- I did not see it back then, and doubt that even if I had that I would have had any understaning of Sabastian's secret or his mother's motivations -- I am told that it was controversial, and that it was well known that Sebastian's secret was his taste for young boys -- The morality police required that the movie be written in an obscure way, therefore the word homosexual is never used -- Some modern critics have declared the film highly homophobic and perhaps a reflection of Tennessee William's personal demons -- Having experienced that age, our Western society has made tremendous progress since then -- Modern values imposed on a '50s film does not give it its proper due -- I found it a very fine film, adapted by screen writer Gore Vidal from the Tennessee Williams' play, with great actors, director, and production -- For its time it was groundbreaking --Williams' (and Vidol's) use of language was hypnotic -- I found Michael D. Klemm's review highly informative and a "Must Read" -- see links.