IMDb RATING
4.2/10
9.4K
YOUR RATING
A psychiatrist tells the stories of a transvestite (Glen or Glenda) and a pseudohermaphrodite (Alan or Anne).A psychiatrist tells the stories of a transvestite (Glen or Glenda) and a pseudohermaphrodite (Alan or Anne).A psychiatrist tells the stories of a transvestite (Glen or Glenda) and a pseudohermaphrodite (Alan or Anne).
Edward D. Wood Jr.
- Glen
- (as Daniel Davis)
- …
Charlie Crafts
- Johnny
- (as Charles Crafts)
Conrad Brooks
- Banker
- (as Connie Brooks)
- …
Henry Bederski
- Man with Hat and Receding Hairline
- (uncredited)
Carol Daugherty
- Woman in Nightmare
- (uncredited)
Captain DeZita
- The Devil
- (uncredited)
- …
Bruce Spencer
- Homosexual
- (uncredited)
Shirley Speril
- Miss Stevens
- (uncredited)
Amzie Strickland
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Harry Thomas
- Man in Nightmare
- (uncredited)
William C. Thompson
- Judge
- (uncredited)
Mr. Walter
- Patrick
- (uncredited)
- …
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSurrealist filmmaker David Lynch called this one of his favorite films. He used the "howling wind" sound effect in Eraserhead (1977).
- GoofsThe text accompanying the close-up of a newspaper story headlined "Man Nabbed Dressed As Girl" is a hodge-podge of unrelated paragraphs lifted from stories about tax reform, a prison injury, and faith healing.
- Quotes
Narrator: Give this man satin undies, a dress, a sweater and a skirt, or even the lounging outfit he has on, and he's the happiest individual in the world. He can work better, think better, he can play better, and he can be more of a credit to his community and his government because he is happy.
- Crazy creditsCard at beginning: In the making of this film, which deals with a strange and curious subject, no punches have been pulled-- no easy way out has been taken. Many of the smaller parts are portrayed by persons who actually are, in real life, the character they portray on the screen. This is a picture of stark realism-- taking no sides -- but giving you the facts -- ALL the facts -- as they are today... YOU ARE SOCIETY -- JUDGE YE NOT...
- Alternate versionsAt least one VHS release (Bizarre Video's) ends the film with a fade out at the end of Anne's story, thus amputating the final few minutes of the film, so we never learn how Glen's story was resolved.
- ConnectionsEdited into Sleazemania Strikes Back (1985)
Featured review
Those who have seen Tim Burton's fine tribute film, ED WOOD, know the story behind this; an inexperienced filmmaker named Edward D. Wood, Jr. talked an exploitation movie producer into hiring him to direct what was initially meant to be the story of Christine Jorgenson, the first (and heavily publicized) case of surgically induced transexualism; this project was alternately to be called "The Christine Jorgenson Story," and later (after Jorgenson changed her mind), "I Changed My Sex." Of course, after Ed Wood got his hands on the basic storyline, he altered it so as to tell the story of his own transvestitism and to plead for greater tolerance and understanding; set against the staid morals of the early 1950s, Ed's pleading was actually ahead of its time.
Now, in wanting to tell this story, but in being constrained by both a shoestring budget and some rather bizarrely unusual filmaking instincts, Ed's efforts went sharply astray. This is, without question, one of the loopiest productions ever put on celluloid, chock full of nonsensical dialogue, amateurishly wooden acting (in fact, Ed's hammy attempt at acting was something out of a 1930s B movie), illogically inserted stock footage (gotta love the stampeding buffalo), and various leaps of logic and good taste. In spite, or perhaps because, of these elements, GLEN OR GLENDA is a thoroughly entertaining and endearing piece of high weirdness. The first time you see it, you won't believe what you are seeing.
Long live the Ed Wood cult! Pull the strings!
Now, in wanting to tell this story, but in being constrained by both a shoestring budget and some rather bizarrely unusual filmaking instincts, Ed's efforts went sharply astray. This is, without question, one of the loopiest productions ever put on celluloid, chock full of nonsensical dialogue, amateurishly wooden acting (in fact, Ed's hammy attempt at acting was something out of a 1930s B movie), illogically inserted stock footage (gotta love the stampeding buffalo), and various leaps of logic and good taste. In spite, or perhaps because, of these elements, GLEN OR GLENDA is a thoroughly entertaining and endearing piece of high weirdness. The first time you see it, you won't believe what you are seeing.
Long live the Ed Wood cult! Pull the strings!
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,158
- Gross worldwide
- $10,158
- Runtime1 hour 5 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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