People trying to make something good of this are in desperate denial. Just because you think someone was sincere doesn't mean their work is good. You may admire Wood's courage in making a film like this in the '50s but be honest, it's so completely stupid. It doesn't matter where you stand on the issue of transvestism, this film is terrible.
Yes, I feel sorry for Ed Wood for wanting to do something he was bad at but he was still bad. This film is only to watched for irony's sake.
He spends half the movie arguing that cross-dressing is, or should be, normal, and the other half arguing that it is an adverse mental condition akin to schizophrenia brought on by emotional trauma in childhood.
Lots of good and quite subliminal points being made in this film. I honestly think it was far ahead of its time and quite bold of Ed Wood to create.
The only way I can make sense of the odd scenes in the dream sequence was that of Glen and Glenda coming out or going into hiding. The female side of Glen was being restrained or let loose under different circumstances.
Like I heard it put, this was a bold and personal story, especially during the time in which it was made. Kudos to Ed. :)
For the time and the very limited budget, this is a brilliant film, like many t/girls, i relate to this and understand totally his feelings he was trying to convey. This was more than a film to him, it was his life and a very private and personal one. I applaud him for trying to get acceptance in such a hostile society in the early 50s. Just imagine what he could of done with todays technology in film making?!!!!
This seemed like a documentary or informative video from health class. I enjoyed "Glen or Glenda?" I think this film is a lot of fun. It's also got a great message about acceptance. Sure it's got so many bad flaws but it's not the worst movie ever. Ed Wood had more balls than most film directors working today esp. in the mainstream. Art and life is all about taking chances even if those chances result in failure. At least you can say I did it my way or I have no regrets.
so after all ed wood presented the establishment's view that you can "cure" the condition?
i guess that the scene with dolores fuller handing him the angora was tim burton's invention.
well, at least they did'nt force lugosi to wear it. what an evil thought. when i die, i want it written on my grave: "at least lugosi did'nt wear angora".
It's not all too bad, I agree with 10truefreak01 and others like him, but to be honest I think the main problem is that... well, it's boring. Still, I have no disrespect to Ed, I congratulate him on this ambitious film to get people to accept people like him.
Fascinating film, but the psychiatrist is terrible! It's great that he's compassionate, but his advice and constant breach of confidentiality is worrisome ;)
This was great! This was much better than Plan 9 IMO. Apart from the dream sequence, which seemed more than a little tacked-on, I don't think there's that much to fault. I quite liked Lugosi's comments too.
The execution does come across as a bit naive, but this subject wasn't explored much at the time. I still think it makes a profound statement, and I'm sure there are a lot more Glendas out there than most guys would admit.
They make it sound like Glenn has DDP or something, multiple personalities, a serious and dangerous mental illness. I don't see it like that. I see transvestism as a way of coping with a bad childhood or anything, it's just a matter of the clothing you feel more comfortable in. I certainly feel more comfortable in jeans and hoodie than I do in a dress (I'm female). 00 years ago it would be seen as mad if a woman wore trousers, but now no one cares. Surely it's not so different for men.
@ephise54 Well, define e word "movie"! Just think about it, what I myself would say a movie is is a "moving picture", nothing but that. In our sociaty we are used to knowing what a word means, we are used to going to the movies and seeing the same old plot, only with new lines. This is certainly something different; it tells us an idea. It´s not filmed in any special way and you certainly can't call the actors enthusiastic but still is something ed burned for. Somehow, I can understand
@acabrink Wow, I have no idea what point I was trying to make by saying that this wasn't a movie. Because it IS a movie. What the hell was I talking about a year ago? o_O
Man I really enjoyed this film.Thanks for posting EW films.And Bella Lugosi was great I always liked his films,he is much better than karloff in my opinion.This movie was way out there in a good way.
This was phenomonal. One of the best films I've seen yet. All the "strange" parts really make a lot of sense. Ed Wood was a genius. Excellent film; it deserves far more recognition than it has received.
Glen is played by Ed Wood (he used a fake name in the credits) and the woman playing "Barbara" was Ed's girlfriend in real life. The film was made before Ed (who was a closet cross dresser just like the character) told his girlfriend his secret, so this last scene is SO autobiographical. At the premiere of the film, Ed told her his secret and she was quoted as to have been "completely humiliated." :( It's really sad and gives the film a whole new heartfelt plea for love and tolerance.
@MegaJimmyBond Here is what I think. "Pull the String" is Bela telling Glen that he should stop being afraid and say that he is a transvestite. The Dragon at the doorstep is the mockery he must fight against to be what he wants to be. Puppy dog tails and big fat snails are the tranvestites of the world getting eaten(destroyed) by the Dragon(Mockery). That is just my opinion on what it may be.
@mrtotheextreme I think the snails and puppy dog tails refers to that children's nursery rhyme (what are little boys made of - slugs and snails and puppy dog tails).
The same as on the blackboard it says something like "all things nice" (what are little girls made of - sugar and spice and everything nice). I guess it's referring to what makes a male a male or a female a female.
I've seen worse films. This isn't a bad film,. just a rather unusual one. The symbolism is odd, and there's no way to interpret all of it. and it left me dazed and confused.
My guess is that the "big green dragon" is a metaphor for humiliation and rejection from his peers.
The string has something to do with people misunderstanding Glen. But I'm not entirely sure.
It at least told an interesting story and didn't use and cliche's. It was at least original.
I believe that "The mistakes made" comment Bela keeps referring to are those apparently made by nature. Perhaps pulling the string is something about correcting nature's mistakes, or changing.
That works. The dragon could be the urge to cross dress itself. It eats "boys", "puppy dog tails" and "big fat snails". That scene with the devil and all the people in Glenn's life really says it all, how society and it's hostility drove him to cross-dess. It's definite;y ahed of it's time
I saw the strings as a metaphor for a puppet. Glen was always letting other people's opinions get in the way, Lugosi's character was telling him to "pull the strings" of his own puppet self.
I'm glad I finally saw this but I gotta say it's even worse than Plan 9. I still respect what Wood was trying to convey with it though, and I agree with some of the other comments I've read-- making this film, especially in the early '50s must have taken a lot of guts.
Thanks for posting edwoodfilms. I think that this film is a sincere attempt by Wood to explain his motivations to conservative 50's suburbia, the culture in which presumably he was raised. You can see his love of early cinema too in his works moments of melodrama and dialogue particularly. I think his films have a naive immediacy and a total lack of self consciousness that is charming, but I guess to our cultures sensibilities it seems just foolish. He is a tranny pioneer nonetheless.
People trying to make something good of this are in desperate denial. Just because you think someone was sincere doesn't mean their work is good. You may admire Wood's courage in making a film like this in the '50s but be honest, it's so completely stupid. It doesn't matter where you stand on the issue of transvestism, this film is terrible.
Yes, I feel sorry for Ed Wood for wanting to do something he was bad at but he was still bad. This film is only to watched for irony's sake.
darlinglittlemammy 1 week ago
I love happy endings...
ANATOLIACHTZEIN 1 month ago
He spends half the movie arguing that cross-dressing is, or should be, normal, and the other half arguing that it is an adverse mental condition akin to schizophrenia brought on by emotional trauma in childhood.
shawnfella 2 months ago
Lots of good and quite subliminal points being made in this film. I honestly think it was far ahead of its time and quite bold of Ed Wood to create.
The only way I can make sense of the odd scenes in the dream sequence was that of Glen and Glenda coming out or going into hiding. The female side of Glen was being restrained or let loose under different circumstances.
Like I heard it put, this was a bold and personal story, especially during the time in which it was made. Kudos to Ed. :)
jaejoongah 3 months ago
For the time and the very limited budget, this is a brilliant film, like many t/girls, i relate to this and understand totally his feelings he was trying to convey. This was more than a film to him, it was his life and a very private and personal one. I applaud him for trying to get acceptance in such a hostile society in the early 50s. Just imagine what he could of done with todays technology in film making?!!!!
Deeloveshoes 6 months ago 2
This seemed like a documentary or informative video from health class. I enjoyed "Glen or Glenda?" I think this film is a lot of fun. It's also got a great message about acceptance. Sure it's got so many bad flaws but it's not the worst movie ever. Ed Wood had more balls than most film directors working today esp. in the mainstream. Art and life is all about taking chances even if those chances result in failure. At least you can say I did it my way or I have no regrets.
TransmissionFilms 6 months ago 2
so after all ed wood presented the establishment's view that you can "cure" the condition?
i guess that the scene with dolores fuller handing him the angora was tim burton's invention.
well, at least they did'nt force lugosi to wear it. what an evil thought. when i die, i want it written on my grave: "at least lugosi did'nt wear angora".
spiderlime 6 months ago
I got to admit, I love the big 3 (Bride, Plan 9, Ghouls) . But I found this to be boring as hell. At least it had Bela and a cool Devil.
DavidFullam 7 months ago
this wasn't bad....
JohnnyLovely2 8 months ago 5
he was a shitty filmmaker but at least he cared about his work
lukekasten 8 months ago 2
It's not all too bad, I agree with 10truefreak01 and others like him, but to be honest I think the main problem is that... well, it's boring. Still, I have no disrespect to Ed, I congratulate him on this ambitious film to get people to accept people like him.
BlackMagnumFilms 9 months ago
It wasn't that bad actually. It was definely a lot better done than Plan 9 from outer Space.
Lauranna 9 months ago
Someone with little budget could put together bright actors, put on a show in a
garage, and their talent would still come through. Ed could take a plea for
tolerance, surrealism, science fiction, love, later porno, apparently anything,
and make it seem like it was performed by a random group of people there for a
garage auction. He was the film maker equivalent of the guest on Jerry Springer
convinced they're a sex magnet when nobody else thinks so.
glen1ster 10 months ago
I guess there are worse things you could be (Uwe Boll), and it's a little curious, but my own subjective reaction is phew, it's boring.
glen1ster 10 months ago
I liked it! I just saw The Roommate and I thought this was better.
louiscarruthers 1 year ago
Fascinating film, but the psychiatrist is terrible! It's great that he's compassionate, but his advice and constant breach of confidentiality is worrisome ;)
pixiedust222222 1 year ago
my god this was awful!!
MrBillcale 1 year ago
HE EATS LITTLE BOYS
DuchessAliana 1 year ago
This was great! This was much better than Plan 9 IMO. Apart from the dream sequence, which seemed more than a little tacked-on, I don't think there's that much to fault. I quite liked Lugosi's comments too.
The execution does come across as a bit naive, but this subject wasn't explored much at the time. I still think it makes a profound statement, and I'm sure there are a lot more Glendas out there than most guys would admit.
RideableLlama 1 year ago 4
They make it sound like Glenn has DDP or something, multiple personalities, a serious and dangerous mental illness. I don't see it like that. I see transvestism as a way of coping with a bad childhood or anything, it's just a matter of the clothing you feel more comfortable in. I certainly feel more comfortable in jeans and hoodie than I do in a dress (I'm female). 00 years ago it would be seen as mad if a woman wore trousers, but now no one cares. Surely it's not so different for men.
VamLoveAndKisses 1 year ago 3
That is a great movie, or work of art. what ever it is it is at least a hundred years ahead of it's time.
MrBlueroads 1 year ago 2
That wasn't that bad at all. I've seen far worse documentary/PSAs from the time. That's another thing. You really can't call this a movie...
ephise54 1 year ago
@ephise54 Well, define e word "movie"! Just think about it, what I myself would say a movie is is a "moving picture", nothing but that. In our sociaty we are used to knowing what a word means, we are used to going to the movies and seeing the same old plot, only with new lines. This is certainly something different; it tells us an idea. It´s not filmed in any special way and you certainly can't call the actors enthusiastic but still is something ed burned for. Somehow, I can understand
acabrink 1 month ago
@acabrink society, excuse me for that one and for all the other words i misspelled. I pay no attention...
acabrink 1 month ago
@acabrink Wow, I have no idea what point I was trying to make by saying that this wasn't a movie. Because it IS a movie. What the hell was I talking about a year ago? o_O
ephise54 6 days ago
Now this movie turns itself into Jungian novel?
das81 1 year ago 3
nothing wrong with crossdressing
jrjr143 1 year ago
@jrjr143 nope clothes are clothes, I don't give fuck....
BichGODDESS 1 year ago
Man I really enjoyed this film.Thanks for posting EW films.And Bella Lugosi was great I always liked his films,he is much better than karloff in my opinion.This movie was way out there in a good way.
TheRalphus666 1 year ago
Bela Lugosi is soo cool, he has a very cool Accent....
puffpuffyogi 1 year ago
This was phenomonal. One of the best films I've seen yet. All the "strange" parts really make a lot of sense. Ed Wood was a genius. Excellent film; it deserves far more recognition than it has received.
murcielago06gt 1 year ago
Fascinating film! I'm one of "the Glens". :)
TheLoonwolf 1 year ago
It wasn't as bad as tough but still has very wierd scene, what the hell he mean by puppy dog tail and fat snail?
onsenfoudunom1 1 year ago
Glen is played by Ed Wood (he used a fake name in the credits) and the woman playing "Barbara" was Ed's girlfriend in real life. The film was made before Ed (who was a closet cross dresser just like the character) told his girlfriend his secret, so this last scene is SO autobiographical. At the premiere of the film, Ed told her his secret and she was quoted as to have been "completely humiliated." :( It's really sad and gives the film a whole new heartfelt plea for love and tolerance.
OogieBoogie345 2 years ago 2
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OogieBoogie345 2 years ago
Comment removed
OogieBoogie345 2 years ago
this aint terrible
tim1986dow 2 years ago 2
Loved it...first time to see it!!
It's not as bad as it has been made out to be either, the middle part was very Lynch-like.
Thumbs up from me, no way near as ridiculous as i expected, but i imagine there are plenty who would disagree..
Appreciate the upload, cheerz
MegaJimmyBond 2 years ago 4
@MegaJimmyBond Here is what I think. "Pull the String" is Bela telling Glen that he should stop being afraid and say that he is a transvestite. The Dragon at the doorstep is the mockery he must fight against to be what he wants to be. Puppy dog tails and big fat snails are the tranvestites of the world getting eaten(destroyed) by the Dragon(Mockery). That is just my opinion on what it may be.
mrtotheextreme 1 year ago
@mrtotheextreme I think the snails and puppy dog tails refers to that children's nursery rhyme (what are little boys made of - slugs and snails and puppy dog tails).
The same as on the blackboard it says something like "all things nice" (what are little girls made of - sugar and spice and everything nice). I guess it's referring to what makes a male a male or a female a female.
mubutukinkeke 1 year ago
What the fuck was this bullshit? This made Plan 9 look like a Will Smith movie
funfdogg 2 years ago
surprisingly good film, why do people hate this so much?
varelabro1 2 years ago 4
This film is brilliant in many ways. Consider the content and then consider the time frame in which it was made.
backwoodsninja 2 years ago
I finally saw this. I feel much stronger now...
3investigators 2 years ago 6
I've seen worse films. This isn't a bad film,. just a rather unusual one. The symbolism is odd, and there's no way to interpret all of it. and it left me dazed and confused.
My guess is that the "big green dragon" is a metaphor for humiliation and rejection from his peers.
The string has something to do with people misunderstanding Glen. But I'm not entirely sure.
It at least told an interesting story and didn't use and cliche's. It was at least original.
10truefreak01 2 years ago 22
I believe that "The mistakes made" comment Bela keeps referring to are those apparently made by nature. Perhaps pulling the string is something about correcting nature's mistakes, or changing.
10truefreak01 2 years ago
That works. The dragon could be the urge to cross dress itself. It eats "boys", "puppy dog tails" and "big fat snails". That scene with the devil and all the people in Glenn's life really says it all, how society and it's hostility drove him to cross-dess. It's definite;y ahed of it's time
neddx 2 years ago 5
@10truefreak01
I saw the strings as a metaphor for a puppet. Glen was always letting other people's opinions get in the way, Lugosi's character was telling him to "pull the strings" of his own puppet self.
Chessykatzenz 2 years ago
Whoa this movie was a lot more fucked up then Eraserhead.....
dilcofilms 2 years ago
2:20 Bela says something relevant to the story!
haseo18615 2 years ago
"PULL THE STRING" wasn't relevant? ;)
GoblinXXX 2 years ago
I'm glad I finally saw this but I gotta say it's even worse than Plan 9. I still respect what Wood was trying to convey with it though, and I agree with some of the other comments I've read-- making this film, especially in the early '50s must have taken a lot of guts.
theSuperMetroid 2 years ago 7
Thanks for posting edwoodfilms. I think that this film is a sincere attempt by Wood to explain his motivations to conservative 50's suburbia, the culture in which presumably he was raised. You can see his love of early cinema too in his works moments of melodrama and dialogue particularly. I think his films have a naive immediacy and a total lack of self consciousness that is charming, but I guess to our cultures sensibilities it seems just foolish. He is a tranny pioneer nonetheless.
spaceyfacecakes 2 years ago 23
Ed was certainly a huge Lugosi fan, to bad Ed didn't manage to write Béla a monologue that fitted the rest of the movie.
At least this flick wasn't boring like many Oscar winning films I've seen.
MissMael 2 years ago 9