Outrageous!

R

1977

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

84%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

Gay hair stylist Robin Turner (Craig Russell) does a lot of work for drag queens, all the while dreaming that he'll someday find the courage to perform in drag himself. When his schizophrenic friend, Liza (Hollis McLaren), turns up looking for a place to stay, he little suspects that she'll be the one to finally motivate him. But over time the two form an increasingly tight bond, Robin helping Liza through an unplanned pregnancy and Liza pushing Robin to develop a successful nightclub act.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The film rejoices in a plethora of camp one-liners and it is good at last to hear that Love That Dared Not Speak Its Name speaking up with such wit and volume.

Mar 7, 2023

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Russell's act is intrinsically entertaining enough, and Miss McLaren's despair is convincing enough, that we forgive the lack of a subtler touch in the writing and direction.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 2, 2018

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Outrageous! is convincing, tender, and encouraging, in a miracle of equilibrium that challenges analysis. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 18, 2024

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

[The] cabaret scenes and Russell's genial presence keep the movie afloat while at the same time torpedoing its serious aspirations.

Mar 7, 2023

Full Review

David Holland

Gay Community News (Boston)

The non- Hollywood casting of this small and simple film, the presentation of gay life, are both honest and beguiling.

Sep 15, 2022

Full Review

Drag Staff

Drag

It finally happened. Someone set out to make an entertaining movie, and ended up with the most fantastic pro-drag propaganda filmed to date.

May 12, 2022

Full Review

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Audience Member

Like others, over the years, I have watched and re-watched this delightful confection of a movie which possesses the rare combination of feeling almost like an indie/documentary/hand-held camera opus while also being very well made. Like art (or good wine) it wears/ages well, presenting a multi-level array of elements including a fun retro look at the gay/bar/fashion/hair scene of the '70's, the "easy to meet people", fun-loving, and not-yet-cynical attitude regarding social life and relationships, promiscuity as no big deal, and the message of self-love and self-acceptance over conformity. Craig Russell is perfect as the hairdresser looking for that "more" within himself and in life. He and his little coterie of friends create a warm, familiar, and almost cozy sense of affiliation/friendship despite the campy and sometimes abrasive repartee. This movie has a lot of heart and I "heartily" recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So ahead of it's time!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a great movie with a great performance from Craig Russell!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is an odd blend of alternative lifestyles and schizophrenia. Personally I liked it a lot although I suppose there will be folks who feel hit over the head with characters with lives very different from their own. The girls struggle to accept and cope with her own madness by supporting her friend in his own self acceptance is very touching and the movie managed to find a lot of humor in drag queens without ever mocking or belittling them. Not to mention a great happy ending, which you might not expect in this movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I wanted to be more charmed by this than I was. The characters were a little boring.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This historically important early gay film is pleasant but nothing too special, although Russell's impersonations--of Mae West, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, and so on--are downright uncanny.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Richard Benner

Director

Craig Russell

Robin Turner

Hollis McLaren

Liza Connors

Richert Easley

Perry

Allan Moyle

Martin

David McIlwraith

Bob

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Synopsis

Gay hair stylist Robin Turner (Craig Russell) does a lot of work for drag queens, all the while dreaming that he'll someday find the courage to perform in drag himself. When his schizophrenic friend, Liza (Hollis McLaren), turns up looking for a place to stay, he little suspects that she'll be the one to finally motivate him. But over time the two form an increasingly tight bond, Robin helping Liza through an unplanned pregnancy and Liza pushing Robin to develop a successful nightclub act.

Director: Richard Benner
Producer: William T. Marshall, Hendrick Van Der Kolk
Screenwriter: Richard Benner
Production Co: Film Consortium of Canada, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 8, 2017
Runtime: 1h 40m