Queen of the Deuce

Released May 24

1h 18m

Animation

Biography

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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86%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The unbelievable true story of Chelly Wilson, who escaped the Holocaust and built a porn cinema empire in New York City in the 1970s. Chelly was a Greek-born, Christmas-celebrating, Jewish grandma, who married men but was openly gay. This documentary charts her unlikely rise to wealth as a shrewd businesswoman on "The Deuce," aka New York's infamous 42nd Street.

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

She is just astounding.

Jun 14, 2024

Full Review

Sa'iyda Shabazz

Autostraddle

After watching Queen of the Deuce I feel like I had a lot more questions about Chelly Wilson than I did when I started watching.

May 24, 2024

Full Review

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

An affectionate portrait of Chelly as a one-of-a-kind trailblazer who lived life to the fullest, and always on her own iconoclastic terms, all while also providing a vivid snapshot of New York City during its daring and dangerous pre-sanitized era.

May 24, 2024

Full Review

Gregg Shapiro

Bay Area Reporter

Informative and entertaining in the best ways possible, "Queen of the Deuce" takes its place in the pantheon of must-see queer documentaries.

Rated: A-

Jul 1, 2024

Full Review

Bill Arceneaux

Moviegoing with Bill

An absolutely fabulous section of the film exhibition history in America. It is a classic “make it here, make it anywhere” immigrant tale—almost straight out of the movies.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 25, 2024

Full Review

Wade Major

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It is a remarkable story.

Jun 14, 2024

Full Review

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Valerie Kontakos

Director

Chelly Wilson

Self

Valerie Kontakos

Screenwriter

Despina Pavlaki

Screenwriter

Christos Asteriou

Screenwriter

Ed Barreveld

Producer

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Queen of the Deuce: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The unbelievable true story of Chelly Wilson, who escaped the Holocaust and built a porn cinema empire in New York City in the 1970s. Chelly was a Greek-born, Christmas-celebrating, Jewish grandma, who married men but was openly gay. This documentary charts her unlikely rise to wealth as a shrewd businesswoman on "The Deuce," aka New York's infamous 42nd Street.

Director: Valerie Kontakos
Producer: Ed Barreveld, Valerie Kontakos, Despina Pavlaki
Screenwriter: Valerie Kontakos, Despina Pavlaki, Christos Asteriou
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Genre: Animation, Biography, Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2024
Runtime: 1h 18m