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Myra Breckinridge

Play trailer Poster for Myra Breckinridge R Released Jun 24, 1970 1h 34m Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
24% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Myron Breckinridge (Rex Reed) flies to Europe to get a sex-change operation and is transformed into the beautiful Myra (Raquel Welch). She travels to Hollywood, meets up with her rich Uncle Buck (John Huston) and, claiming to be Myron's widow, demands money. Instead, Buck gives Myra a job in his acting school. There, Myra meets aspiring actor Rusty (Roger Herren) and his girlfriend, Mary Ann (Farrah Fawcett). With Myra as catalyst, the trio begin to outrageously expand their sexual horizons.

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Martha DuBose Sydney Morning Herald Whatever director Michael Sarne had in mind, it is a long way from novelist Gore Vidal's original intention. Apr 20, 2021 Full Review Aaron Hillis Village Voice One might appreciate Anthology's all-new print -- with its epic sets and costumes, slumming icons, and unfocused meta-ambitions -- as the queer precursor to Southland Tales. Mar 23, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety The film version of Gore Vidal's Hollywood-themed transsexual satire starts off promisingly, but after a couple of reels plunges straight downhill under the weight of artless direction. Oct 17, 2007 Full Review TV Guide Extravagantly tasteless, surprisingly inept filming of Gore Vidal's briefly notorious novel. Rated: 1/4 Oct 17, 2007 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 2/5 Jan 10, 2005 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan Outrageous casting & laughs do not a good satire make. Rated: 2/5 Dec 27, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member 1970 was too early to do movie which is about a beautiful trans woman chasing a young straight in order to rape him. Unless the viewer read the book, the film does not make any sense. Due for remake, As it is, Mae West and Ms Welch are mis-cast. Not sexy, not funny, and is only for the film clips to make it plot points. I think this film ended Ms. Welch´s film career. After this, I do not think, she more than one starring role again except for one where she played a roller derby queen. That movie was terrible also. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member The first thing that was noticed about Myra Breckinridge was the charm of Raquel Welch, Mae West, John Huston, and Farrah Fawcett. That's just the only positive thing that has to be said. Myra Breckinridge was filled with nothing but unnecessary movie clips from the Golden Age of Hollywood that made this film look more like a clip show tribute to the stars of the Golden Age. The film was also tainted with plot holes and lazy writing. To top it all off, this film might also have possibly the worst and most cliché ending of all time. I love Raquel Welch, Mae West, John Huston, and Farrah Fawcett but this movie was just simply terrible. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Horrible movie... BUT wow does Mae West look great for a woman in her late 70s! I would've never have guessed her age. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member It was a waste of 94 minutes that I will never get back!! I watch a lot of movies, but this is stupid, pointless, and weird. Do not waste your time on it!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie is nothing like what book author Gore Vidal envisioned, but it has turned into a camp classic worthy of seeing. You should read the book for authenticity, but the movie (which director Michael Sarne lost control over) is a hoot in itself. Someday they may do a real movie based on the award winning novel, but this isn't it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Myra Breckinridge is a surreal comedy about a man who transitions into a woman, and tries to seize control of her uncle’s money. Instead she starts teaching classes in acting for some reason. I was never clear on what her plan was, and why she took the teaching job, but this movie wasn’t all that concerned with logic. Not much of the movie made any sense because they bounce around in time, and don’t have a cohesive narrative at any point. There were some comedic scenes that worked well, they didn’t have proper context sometimes, but I still found myself laughing. My favorite aspect of the movie was that Rex Reed appeared like the ghostly presence of Myron (Myra’s former identity.) It brought an interesting element and addressed how Myra was dealing with both her present and her past in all that she was doing. I almost wish they had played into that element more and included more conversations between the two. Mae West was a big scene-stealer, even if I didn’t understand her purpose in the movie, and it was also fun to see a young Tom Selleck pop in. There were a lot of elements in Myra Breckinridge that I liked and I wonder whether, if it was a bit more traditional in structure, I would appreciate it a lot more. It’s worth watching for some knock out performances and a few funny moments, but I probably will never revisit it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/30/18 Full Review Read all reviews
Myra Breckinridge

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Myron Breckinridge (Rex Reed) flies to Europe to get a sex-change operation and is transformed into the beautiful Myra (Raquel Welch). She travels to Hollywood, meets up with her rich Uncle Buck (John Huston) and, claiming to be Myron's widow, demands money. Instead, Buck gives Myra a job in his acting school. There, Myra meets aspiring actor Rusty (Roger Herren) and his girlfriend, Mary Ann (Farrah Fawcett). With Myra as catalyst, the trio begin to outrageously expand their sexual horizons.
Director
Michael Sarne
Producer
Robert Fryer, David Giler
Screenwriter
David Giler, Michael Sarne, Gore Vidal
Distributor
CBS/Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1970, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 9, 2004
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
Mono