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Film: 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.

Tropes

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
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
Jerk Ass - 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:
Let's cut the crap.
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
Straight Gay
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