Glen Or Glenda?? Anyone seen it??

[Bettylicious]

I just picked up one of my most favourite and funny movies about crossdressing the other day Ed Wood Jr's Glen or Glenda. Its hilarious andtragic at the same time as Ed tries to imbibe some sympathy into the story of a crossdressing male (played by himself under a pseudonym it turns out) while pandering to the morals of modern Well 1950'sw anyway) society at the same time..

HAs anyone else seen it?? If not, what films or clips have you seen which ignited that spark in you while for everyone else its just a funny man in a dress. For me, any music video where the drummer from the foo fighters dresses up does it for me!!!

What does anyone else reckon??

Betty

[Deborah_UK]

not seen that movie - think I was put off by Plan 9 from Outer Space, if that was anything to go by I decided to give Glen or Glenda a miss, but I have seen the bio pic "Ed Wood" with Jonny Depp in the starring role.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new version of "The Producers" with the crossdressing show director, I wonder if this version can match the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder?

[Sharon]

"Glenn or Glenda" is one of those movies that is so bad, it's good, especially looking back at it fifty-some years after it was made. I don't think it was pandering to the audience at all when you consider the time it was made. In fact, it was probably quite daring.

If you can manage to look past its amateurish production, it's really a quite sympathetic look at crossdressing and TG issues. You just need to realize that it was made in the early 50's, a time of national conservatism and naiveté about anything sexual, much less transsexuality. There is much, much more known today about transgenderism than there was fifty years ago, and Freudian psychoanalysis was still the be all and end all when it came to an issue that was still believed to be an entirely learned trait, rather than a genetic one.

[Rachel Ann]

I keep meaning to rent Glen and Glenda but haven't gotten to it yet. I'm sure it's a hoot.

When I was explaining myself to my son, I said "think 'Ed Wood', not 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar'." He got the point immediately. :)

Rachel xx

p.s. I was in college with John Neumeier, brother of Julie "Newmar". He brought her to dinner one evening at the student house and everyone was stepping on their tongues (it was an all-male school).

I still run in to John occasionally. He is the epidemiolgist of the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics, where I volunteered for 20 years. He's also a big mover and shaker in Gay Pride in San Francisco. He doesn't know about me but perhaps I will tell him one day. :confused:



... I wonder if this version can match the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder?
I bet not. A lot of the critics aren't even aware of that (Mel Brooks) rendition. :eek:

[Deborah_UK]

I bet not. A lot of the critics aren't even aware of that (Mel Brooks) rendition. :eek:


The latest production is also directed by Mel Brooks I believe, after all he's been on a lot of tv/radio shows over here promoting it.

[Sally2]

not seen that movie - think I was put off by Plan 9 from Outer Space, if that was anything to go by I decided to give Glen or Glenda a miss, but I have seen the bio pic "Ed Wood" with Jonny Depp in the starring role.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new version of "The Producers" with the crossdressing show director, I wonder if this version can match the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder?
Deborah,
the broadway production with the original cast is actually better than the original movie in that it has many more song and dance routines which are top notch. My wife and I have seen the theatrical production 4 times, once with the original cast and the last one this past August in London. I've seen clips from the new movie version and they appear to be just like the original Broadway production. My wife and I both agree that it was the best musical comedy we ever saw and we can't wait to see the new movie production. Treat yourself and your loved ones to this movie and I guarantee your sides will hurt with laughter. An extra holiday treat awaits you. :D :D Sally2

[kwebb]

The most interesting part of this to me was the way it ended. With Glen just being 'cured' completely of his CDing and living happily ever after. It was a classic though.

[tori-e]

I forgot that Ed Wood was a CD! I loved the bio with Johnny Depp. I'll have to see this. Interesting that this movie came out the year after Christine Jorgensen hit the US media.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Jorgensen

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045826/


Merry Christmas!
Tori

[BrendaChristine]

I love Ed Wood movies. Glen or Glenda and Plan 9 were riots!

[Rachel Morley]

OMG! Now you are talking! Ed Wood is a God in our house :D

Both Marla and I love Johnny Depp in "Ed Wood" but we also have the original Glen or Glenda on DVD and we always bring it out when we want to "be nice to ourselves".

There's one point in the movie where Deloris Fuller has her arms out-stretched and is beckoning you in this sort of dream sequence. At this point Marla and I always look at each other and say in a camp voice "come to me.....come to me.....I am an accepting GG" :D

I totally identify with you. OK it's old, bad and cheesy but it's so good!

[ChristineRenee]

Like Angel and Marla...count me in as another Ed Wood aficionado! I have all of his movies and Glen or Glenda is a hoot!

How can we not love a guy who stormed the beaches of Tarawa in WW II wearing a red bra and panty set under his fatiques?!!:thumbsup::D

[Rene]

I saw it years ago, but was able to workon the Tim Burton film 'Ed Wood'.

[BrendaChristine]

Any guy named Wood is ok in my book.:p

[Jeanette H]

Most of Ed Wood's films really aren't watchable, but Glen Or Glenda does have a peculiar fascination - like Orson Welles, he never bettered his first time out. Partly that's because when he tried to make a "real" horror or crime film he just didn't have the resources in either budget or talent; by contrast Glenda exists in some weird sub-sub genre all of its own, and whether it's good or bad technically is not really to the point, because there's no other film quite like it. And it has a genuine place in history as probably the first film ever made about crossdressing.

As for how it was received at the time, well you have to remember that in his lifetime Ed was an obscure toiler in the sleaze business. Glenda was made to play in cinemas that showed porn and semi-porn movies, and was a flop there. (I'm sure the bondage scenes in the long "dream sequence" were put in to spice it up a bit - pity they were so incompetently done!)