Glen or Glenda
by Edward D. Wood
List Price:
Our Price: $5.96
You Save: $4.02 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.35 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Captain DeZita, Charles Crafts, Conrad Brooks, Henry Bederski, Timothy FarrellDirector: Edward D. Wood
Brand: WOOD,ED
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 65 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-02-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Glen or Glenda
DVD Review: Dressed For The Occasion
Summary: 3 Stars
"Glen or Glenda" is a one-of-a-kind movie. Not what I call good or bad, just one-of-a-kind. I had my first exposure with Ed Wood on films such as "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space", but never did I see his earliest film until now. This is definitely his most personal work, as well as his most bizarre.
The movie deals with the complications of accepting one's odd behavior among a prejudice society, the odd behavior being one's desire to wear women's clothing. Bela Lugosi narrated in an unorthodox fashion, making vague and unrelated comments that mostly don't make any sense (but he sounded cool saying them) as well as being the initiator of one's desires. Within the story, it introduced a counselor who thinks this is an educational video, because he sure enunciated all of the basic details about homosexuals, transvestites, and the differences between them. He discussed with a detective about the tragedy of one cross-dresser, and then he introduced the central character, Glen (or Glenda). Glen's about to get marriage, but he didn't tell his fiancé about his other self. He feared that his pleasure in wearing dresses might compromise their relationship, but he can't hide it forever. Thus, it became a challenge for Glen to reveal his idiosyncratic behavior.
The movie was simple enough in fleshing out Glen and his inner trials...up until the movie reached the 40-minute mark. And then for the next 10 minutes, "Glen or Glenda" went totally crazy with all the suggestive and confusing imagery. It's a good thing I had some experience with feature-length metaphorical nightmares, so I got the handle on metaphors enough to make a personal interpretation on what this screwy sequence entailed. The attractive yet hefty woman dancing around reflects Glen exposing his wild self. The same woman committing BDSM on a random woman reflects Glen having full control of his particular self, as well as proving he has just as much strength in his femininity as any woman. The narrator (Lugosi) watched these scenes in a straight face, perceiving everything that Glen tried to hide. The 'Big Green Dragon' that the narrator mentioned is only a name, not a description, for the satanic being who's haunting Glen; technically, he has red skin, but that name only reflects simple irony in association with Glen's gender-bender desires. The civilians were pointing fingers at him with great shame, leading to what he thought was a metempsychosis, but the Dragon tricked him and the 'judges' continued to point their fingers, bringing Glen to face his inhibitions. Finally, as for the puppy dog tails and the snails...I guess Ed Wood was hungry.
I have to say, that was a pretty clever sequence. Either that, or I haven't a clue as to what went on; sometimes, I can't tell what Ed Wood's really thinking. But when it comes to the technical aspects of the film, he's an easy read. This is patented Ed Wood material: the stages and sets are notably cheap (love the notecard glued on top of a real newspaper heading), it's poorly edited, the actors are stiff and has lousy delivery, and there's a lot of obvious padding during transitions. Simply put, this movie is really, REALLY atrociously made. No surprise here from the publicly-viewed worst filmmaker of the golden age of cinema.
If one were to judge only by the production values of the film, then yes, "Glen or Glenda" is awful. But once I look away all the technical atrocities and focusing on the core of the film, I kinda have to admire it. Ed Wood had ambition, and he showed it in this film. He didn't show it well, and just to nitpick, the film could've been more complete had it removed the subplot with the hermaphrodite named Allen, but the film is definitely bold and unique. That is more than I can say about the cop-out sequels, cheap knock-offs and soulless products after it, and with that, I approve Ed Wood for making an effort Or at least tried.
Description of Glen or Glenda
No Description Available.Genre: Cult
Rating: NR
Release Date: 12-SEP-2006
Media Type: DVD
Often mentioned as a contender for the title of Worst Movie Ever Made, Glen or Glenda? (a.k.a. I Changed My Sex, a.k.a. I Led Two Lives, a.k.a. He or She) remains Ed Wood's weirdest film--and, for the director of Plan 9 from Outer Space, that's saying something. Yet Glen or Glenda? goes way beyond camp, into some unique zone of demented personal expression, an essay/collage/autobiography that is no less fascinating just because it comes from a second-rate mind. Wood himself, under the pseudonym Daniel Davis, plays a transvestite struggling to reveal his tendencies to his wife (the toneless Dolores Fuller, Wood's missus in real life). Mixed in with this exploitation story is a ton of irrelevant stock footage, as well as disconnected glimpses of Béla Lugosi bellowing at the audience; Lugosi's dialogue is a tapestry of non sequiturs and portentous warnings. The behind-the-scenes creation of Glen or Glenda? forms part of the action of Ed Wood, Tim Burton's affectionate tribute to the B-movie master. Wood himself was a transvestite, which accounts for the cracked sincerity of Glen or Glenda?; the passion for angora sweaters is real, not a fluffy plot device. Truly a flabbergasting 68 minutes in film history. --Robert Horton
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Nosferatu (The Ultimate Two-Disc Edition)Kino International; Release date: 2007-11-20; DVD
Best price: $16.97
Price in other shops:
Robot MonsterImage Entertainment; Release date: 2000-10-10; DVD
Best price: $3.21
Price in other shops:
The Ed Wood Collection - A Salute to IncompetenceKoch International; Release date: 2007-03-20; DVD
Best price: $79.99
The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.Image Entertainment; Release date: 2002-05-14; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Big Box Of WoodE1E; Release date: 2011-07-26; DVD
Best price: $26.95
Price in other shops:
Night of the GhoulsImage Entertainment; Release date: 2002-05-14; DVD
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops:
Ed Wood (Special Edition)Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $5.35
Price in other shops:
Bride of the MonsterImage Entertainment; Release date: 2000-02-15; DVD
Best price: $5.32
Price in other shops:
The Ed Wood Box (Glen or Glenda / Jail Bait / Bride of the Monster / Plan 9 from Outer Space / Night of the Ghouls / The Haunted World of Ed Wood)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2004-10-12; DVD
Best price: $95.50
Plan 9 From Outer SpaceImage Entertainment; Release date: 2000-02-15; DVD
Best price: $4.37
Price in other shops: