Andy B
When this film came out, I can see why it was so panned. Wood takes not one but two taboo topics and presents us with what is effectively an information film about them. Both of these topics still cause controversy 70 years later, so I can only imagine what people thought then.
The film starts with the suicide of a transvestite. The investigating officer goes to a psychiatrist who tells him two stories: Glen/Glenda and Alan/Anne. The stories of both people are told simply and in a straightforward manner - which did remind me of government information films. The really bizarre elements of the field are the segments invoking Bela Lugosi and the dream sequence. Both seem to have been put in to ... hell, I have no idea why they were put in. They're just weird.
In the film, Wood explores a lot of misconceptions. He splits transvestism from homosexuality and makes it clear that not all transvestites want, or need, sex changes. The one thing that really jars for me is the ending, when Glen is cured of his transvestism.
This is a flawed film, but actually still has enough useful information in it that some bigoted people from the 21st century could do with watching it.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
05/06/24
Full Review
Teddy B
A 'film' that is unintentionally one of the most riotous comedies of the 1950s.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
12/23/23
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Mike P
Once lampooned as one of the worst movies ever made; time has been strangely kind to this curio of a movie; it's possible Ed Wood was just decades ahead of his time, and not the lunatic no-talent incompetent he was once thought to be. For this story about a transgender man struggling for respect and normalcy; while technically it's still flawed and hilarious; the subject matter here; the plot; the point; is actually as prescient as ever.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
11/06/22
Full Review
Audience Member
Ed Wood takes on a taboo topic in this film called Glen or Glenda. It was his plea that our American society should be more tolerant on the LGBT community. While the film was progressive at the time as this taboo topic was unheard of in the 1950's, the film was still very much awful. The film is so nonsensical especially all the Bela Lugosi scenes because his scenes have absolutely nothing to do with the film whatsoever. Speaking of Bela Lugosi, he and Dolores Fuller's performances in Glen or Glenda was pretty much wooden. The music at times felt horrendous because it pretty much sounded very annoying. The sets on the film looked as fraudulent as an average middle school play. Last but not least, the film's editing was lazy at times. While it should be acknowledged that Glen or Glenda was progressive for this type of film, Ed Wood still had no idea how to deliver its intended message as it turned out to be unconventional.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/18/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I despise the notion that Ed Wood was a horrible filmmaker. Sure, his movies aren't technically proficient and are often pretty maudlin in moments, but he's an actual auteur. For this movie, he didn't just direct and write, he also starred as Daniel Davies. Who else could? After all, Wood convinced producer George Weiss that he was the perfect director for this movie as he was a real-life transvestite.
In this movie, Wood takes pains to emphasize that a male transvestite is not automatically a homosexual. He swore that he had never had a single homosexual relationship in his life and was considered a womanizer. He also was given to directing his adult work in full drag and claimed that his greatest fantasy was to come back as a gorgeous blonde. Yet he still would say that he was comforted by the feel of angora.
So while the Golden Turkey Awards may give Wood the title of Worst Director of All Time and Leonard Maltin may say that this is "possibly the worst movie ever made," it has heart. An inept heart, but heart.
A transvestite who has been to prison four times for cross-dressing has killed themselves, saying "Let my body rest in death forever, in the things I cannot wear in life."
This leads Dr. Alton (Wood player Timothy Farrell) to seek out Glen, another man who loves to dress as the other sex, often stealing the clothing of his fiancee Barbara (Dolores Fuller, Wood's girlfriend at the time). Glen is struggling between being honest with Barbara before their wedding or telling her afterward. Through extended dream sequences, he finally comes to terms with who he is and his other side, revealing it to her. As she hands him an angora sweater, she accepts every side of him.
The doctor then learns of another person, Alan/Anne. Anne was born a boy, but her mother wanted a girl and raised her that way, which left her abused throughout school. Despite hiding her true self during the war, she has since had an operation to become "a lovely young lady."
Let me tell you, this kind of movie is incendiary in 2022. This was made in 1953.
A movie with these words, which we should live by: "Give this man satin undies, a dress, a sweater and a skirt, or even the lounging outfit he has on, and he's the happiest individual in the world. He can work better, think better, he can play better, and he can be more of a credit to his community and his government because he is happy."
So yes, Ed Wood isn't someone with a cinematic eye. But he put himself — all of himself — on the screen. That's worthy of celebration.
The inclusion of Bela Lugosi is as well. That's what takes this movie from message movie to true oddity, as Bela plays The Scientist, a character unconnected to any narrative that begins the film and is not even the narrator, much like how Encounter with the Unknown decides to have a second uncredited voice take the role because just having Rod Serling is not enough.
"Beware. Beware. Beware of the big, green dragon that sits on your doorstep. He eats little boys, puppy dog tails and big, fat snails. Beware. Take care. Beware.
Wood would bring back Glen/Glenda again in two of his novels. Killer in Drag has Glen/Glenda becoming a serial killer while Death of a Transvestite has Glen/Glenda being executed.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
he's really bad, sloppy, jack and jill is a thousand times better than this movie.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
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