Glen of Glenda?USA 1953
AKA I Lead 2 Lives, I Changed My Sex, Twisted Lives
Director: Edward D Wood Jr
Cast: Edward D Wood Jr, Bela Lugosi, Lyle Talbot, Dolores Fuller, Timothy Farrell
This docudrama hardly needs an introduction, this legendary exploitation film from “worst director of all time” (Golden Turkey Awards) Edward D Wood Jr (who also stars) is pure camp gold.
Following the tragic suicide of a transvestite, Dr Alton narrates the story of Glen. A heterosexual man who feels his cross-dressing will result in his fiancee Barbara rejecting him if she discovers his feminine alter ego Glenda. Caught in a storm of honesty vs deception, Glen has visions of a Scientist (Lugosi) offering cryptic philosophical advice (“Beware of the big green dragon that sits on your doorstep”) and ladies fighting and tearing off their clothes. What will become of Glen? And will Barbara learn to love Angora sweaters?
The content is semi-autobiographical in nature, Wood himself was a cross-dresser and Glen or Glenda is a plea for tolerance and acceptance. His performance is as wooden as his direction. As is Lugosi, at the time deep in the throws of drug addiction. Despite this, it’s hard not to admire Wood’s bravery in exposing himself on film for all to see (and laugh).
Glen of Glenda is exploitation treasure, and deserves to be adored.
The feature will be supported by a programme of trashy monochrome exploitation film trailers and a very rare gender-bending short film from 1962.
Event Venue
Gullivers NQ, 109 Oldham Street,Manchester, United Kingdom