The Queen

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The Queen

Released Jun 17, 1968

1h 8m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1967, New York City is host to the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant. This documentary from Frank Simon takes a look behind the scenes, transporting the viewer into rehearsals and dressing rooms as the drag queen subculture prepares for this big national beauty contest. Jack/Sabrina is the master/mistress of ceremonies, and his protégé, Richard/Miss Harlow, is in the competition. But, as the pageant approaches, the glamorous contestants veer from camaraderie to tension.

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Critics Consensus

Celebrating its subjects without ever losing sight of their story, The Queen is a fascinating time capsule that has only gained resonance since its release.

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Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

It's the spark of a true legend.

Mar 3, 2020

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

This is a fantastic doc... I just thought it was fascinating and so much fun.

Oct 2, 2019

Full Review

David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

The gender identity and racial undercurrents of "The Queen" have a prescient quality, foreshadowing some of the tensions that the LGBTQ community is dealing with today.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 1, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Takes you behind the scenes of the 1967 national drag queen contest held in NYC's Town Hall.

Rated: B-

Mar 30, 2025

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Dennis Schuetz

Gay Community News (Boston)

The Queen is an important film not only because of it’s study of the drag queen, but because, simply, it is a very good film.

Sep 21, 2022

Full Review

B.L. Panther

The Spool

Simon's camera documents a glorious age of drag with monolithic wigs, Cleopatra cut creases, and feather boas.

Jun 9, 2021

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dave d

As a doc lover I happened across a film chronicling a national drag show from the 1960s. It's just over an hour, but it's neat and of course not for everyone. The film has been digitally restored and it looks vibrant as some of the contestants in the show. Stay until the end as there's a twist and some controversy which means DRAMA definitely has been going on for a long time. Final Score: 7.2/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Such an amazing documentary about drag in the late sixties! Very touching. Worth seeing!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/26/19

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Audience Member

I was excited to see a movie portraying gay life pre-Stonewall. I thought it would be about sexuality, and maybe gender also. It was. But it was even deeper about race and class. And very fun. Great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

An utterly fascinating artefact of the drag scene from almost 50 years before RuPaul's Drag Race.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Francis Simon

Director

Jack Doroshow

Flawless Sabrina

Andy Warhol

Self

Lewis M. Allen

Producer

Robert Elfstrom

Cinematographer

Francis Simon

Cinematographer

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The Queen: Re-Release Trailer

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Synopsis

In 1967, New York City is host to the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant. This documentary from Frank Simon takes a look behind the scenes, transporting the viewer into rehearsals and dressing rooms as the drag queen subculture prepares for this big national beauty contest. Jack/Sabrina is the master/mistress of ceremonies, and his protégé, Richard/Miss Harlow, is in the competition. But, as the pageant approaches, the glamorous contestants veer from camaraderie to tension.

Director: Francis Simon
Producer: Lewis M. Allen
Production Co: Vineyard, MDH, Si Litvinoff Film Production
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 1968, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.5K
Runtime: 1h 8m

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