TASK TWELVE: HISTORICAL TEXTS (FILM)

Below are six pre-1990s films which feature cross-dressing as a central plot element. These films have been divided into four groups depending on their portrayal of cross dressing, these are indicated by colours. Humour, glamour, realism, demonisation.

1950s

Glen or Glenda? (1953) - Ed Wood as a troubled cross-dresser, inspired by his own experiences. As the director of this film, Ed Wood, was a transvestite, this film shows a significant insight. The film is described as a ‘plea for tolerance’ (Wikipedia). A summary on IMDb states that a ‘purportedly sincere attempt at understanding transvestism [is] rendered unintelligible by Ed Wood's unfathomable script’. This suggests that although Wood tries to help the audience to understand and tolerate transvestism, his poor talent as a director lets him down.

Some Like it Hot (1959) - Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dress as women and join an all-girl band. This film is an example of cross-dressing being used in a humorous capacity (in 2000 the AFI listed SLiH as the ‘funniest American film of all time’. Interestingly, 2nd funniest was ‘Tootsie’ (1982), ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ (1993) was at 67 and ‘Victor/Victoria’ (1982) at number 76, suggesting that cross-dressing is a successful source of humour). Lemmon and Curtis are not completely convincing as women as they ‘exaggerate the opposite sex’s assumed gender codes to appear obviously, inadequately disguised’- Chris Straayer. This means that the audience laughs at the characters, rather than identifying with them. In an essay comparing ‘Some Like it Hot’, ‘The Crying Game’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ the author states that the three films ‘show the progression of gender blending from comedic device towards accepted identity’, from parody to person. http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/Baumann.html

1960s

Psycho (1960)- Anthony Perkins is a killer who wears his dead mother's clothes. In the film protagonist Perkins in so dominated by his mother is life that when she dies he acts as he believes she would, talks as she would, and even dresses as she would, in an attempt to erase her absence and the guilt. Similarly to ‘Some Like it Hot’ this film shows a desperate reason behind the cross-dressing. (In SLiH they witness the St. Valentines Day Massacre and need to disguise themselves). This film is an example of cross-dressing being demonised and the actions of a deranged man.

1970s

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1977) - This film features protagonist Dr Frank-N-Furter a self-proclaimed ‘transvestite from transsexual Transylvania’, who is also a sex-obsessed mad scientist. This film portrays cross-dressing in a comedic light, but also shows it as somewhat glamorous. This is indicative of the glam rock era in which it was made, an era described by photographer Mick Rock (who took several photos on the films set) as being ‘about make-up, mirror and androgyny’. During this time in music history cross-dressing became an important part of glam rock shown by artists such as David Bowie who often wore make-up and typically ‘feminine’ clothing.

1980s

Victor/Victoria (1982) - Transvestism in various forms is included in this musical comedy. The films touches on themes of gender roles, gay tolerance and human dignity.

Tootsie (1982)- Dustin Hoffman becomes the female star of a television soap opera. In this film, a forerunner to Mrs. Doubtfire, Hoffman cross-dresses as a women to get a part on TV. This shows cross-dressing in a comedic way, and like Lemmon and Curtis in ‘Some Like it Hot’ Dustin Hoffman is not convincing dressed as a woman.

Comedy films in which cross-dressing plays a minor but significant part:

The Hollywood Review (1929) - Buster Keaton appears in drag in one of the musical numbers.

Babes in Toyland (1934) - Stan Laurel masquerades as a woman in an attempt to deceive the villain.
Hearts and Coronets (1949) - Alec Guiness plays multiple roles, including a woman.
I Was a Male War Bride (1949) - Cary Grant is a French officer who marries a US Army officer played by Ann Sheridan and cross-dresses to pass as a bride.
The Mouse that Roared (1959) - Peter Sellers plays multiple roles, including the Grand Duchess of Fenwick.
High Time (1960) - Bing Crosby has to dress as a Southern belle as part of college initation.