1953 Glen or Glenda Lobby Card with Ed Wood, Bela Lugosi, Dolores Fuller
Glen or Glenda is a 1953 American exploitation film directed, written by and starring Ed Wood (credited in his starring role as "Daniel Davis"), and
featuring Bela Lugosi and Wood's then-girlfriend Dolores Fuller. It was produced by George Weiss who also made the exploitation film Test Tube
Babies that same year.
The film is a docudrama about cross-dressing and transvestism, and is semi-autobiographical in nature. Wood himself was a cross-dresser, and the film
is a plea for tolerance. It is widely considered one of the worst films ever made. However, it has become a cult film due to its low-budget production
values and idiosyncratic style.
Glen or Glenda begins with a narrator, called The Scientist (Bela Lugosi), making cryptic comments about humanity. He first comments that humanity's
constant search for the unknown results in startling things coming to light. The cries of a newborn baby are followed by the sirens of an ambulance.
One is a sign that a new life has begun, the other that a life has ended.
[2][3]
This last comment starts the narrative of the film. The life which has ended is that of a transvestite named Patrick/Patricia, who has committed suicide.
A suicide note explains the reasons behind the suicide. Patrick/Patricia had been arrested four times for cross-dressing in public, and had spent time in
prison, so he ended his own life and wished to be buried with his women's clothing. "Let my body rest in death forever, in the things I cannot wear in
life."
[2][3]
The narrative explains that Glen is a transvestite, but not a homosexual. He hides his cross-dressing from his fiancée, Barbara, fearing that she will
reject him.
[2][3]
She voices her suspicion that there is another woman in his life, unaware that the woman is his feminine alter ego, Glenda.
[2]
The scene
shifts from a speechless Glen to footage of a stampeding herd of bison, while the Scientist calls for Glen to "Pull the string. Dance to that for which one
is made!", referring to the narrator pulling the strings of a hapless puppet who is not in control of his own destiny.
[2]
Alton narrates that Glen is torn between the idea of being honest with Barbara before their wedding, or waiting until after. The narrative shifts briefly
from Glen's story to how society reacts to sex change operations. A conversation between two "average joes", concludes that society should be more
"lenient" when it comes to people with tranvestite tendencies.
[2]
The story returns to Glen, who confides in a transvestite friend of his, John, whose
wife left him after catching him wearing her clothes.
[2]
Later, Glen/Glenda is walking the city streets at night. He returns home, when the sound of thunder causes him to collapse to the floor; an
extended dream sequence begins. Barbara is depicted trapped under a tree. Glenda fails to lift the tree, then is replaced by Glen, who completes the
task with ease.
[2]
The dream then depicts Glen and Barbara getting married, where the best man is a devil. The sequence continues with a series of
erotic vignettes containing BDSM, striptease, lesbian, autoerotic, and rape fantasy themes. Throughout these vignettes, the faces of Glen and the
Scientist appear, silently reacting to the various images.
[2]
The dream returns to Glen in the midst of a jury of public opinion. A blackboard appears, with messages recording what the Scientist or the mocking
voices said in previous scenes. The Devil and the various spectres on the jury menacingly approach Glen. Then the Devil departs, Glen turns into
Glenda, and the spectres retreat.
[2]
A victorious Glenda sees Barbara and approaches her, but she turns into a mocking Devil. Barbara starts appearing
and disappearing, always evading Glenda's embrace. The dream sequence ends.
[2]
Glen/Glenda wakes and stares at his mirror reflection. He decides to tell Barbara the truth. She initially reacts with distress, but ultimately decides to
stay with him. She offers him an angora sweater as a sign of acceptance. The scene effectively concludes their story.
[2]
Back in Dr. Alton's office, he starts another narrative. This one concerns another tranvestite, called Alan/Anne. Anne was born Alan, a boy, but her
mother wanted a girl and raised her as such. Her father did not care either way. She was an outsider as a child, trying to be one of the girls and
consequently rejected by schoolmates of both sexes. As a teenager, she self-identified as a woman. She was conscripted in World War II, maintaining a
secret life throughout her military service. She first heard of sex change operations during the War while recovering from combat wounds in a hospital.
She eventually did have a sex change operation, enduring the associated pains to fulfill her dreams. The World War II veteran becomes a "lovely young
lady".
[2]
Following a brief epilogue, the film ends.