Transvestism
"I love the smell of angora in the morning!" (Not uttered in "Glen or Glenda" - pictured).
This compilation of 'big men in tights' movies (among others) shows us the often funny, tragic, but never dull lives as led by transvestites, and transsexuals, in the movies. Some actors are often hilariously shown to be unsuited for the garter and makeup (Ed Wood in "Glen or Glenda"), while others make the uncanny transformation from man to woman to often stunning effect (Jaye Davidson in "The Crying Game"). Also included are those farcical films where men must disguise themselves as women inevitably leading to much frantic confusion and deception ("Some Like It Hot").
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
7.5/10
Director: Stephan Elliott
Starring: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce
The outrageous tale of three drag queens who hit the road in a pink bus called Priscilla and head to Alice Springs to perform a cabaret show. Terence... Read more
La Cage Aux Folles (1979)
7.3/10
Director: Edouard Molinaro
Starring: Michel Galabru, Michel Serrault, Ugo Tognazzi
The greatest drag comedy since 'Some Like It Hot', and a phenomenal success. La Cage is a transvestite nightclub run by a pair of ageing homosexuals,... Read more
Yentl (1983)
6.6/10
Director: Barbra Streisand
Starring: Amy Irving, Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin
Barbra Streisand directs herself in a sweeping entertainment based on the I B Singer short story about a young woman who disguises herself as a young... Read more
Better Than Chocolate (1999)
6.1/10
Director: Anne Wheeler
Starring: Karyn Dwyer, Christina Cox, Wendy Crewson
Karyn Dwyer and Christina Cox star as Maggie and Kim in this sweet and energetic lesbian love story. Maggie has flunked out of law school and is worki... Read more
The Naked Civil Servant (1975)
8/10
Director: Jack Gold
Starring: John Hurt
John Hurt delivers a compelling performance in the role of Quentin Crisp, based on Crisp's autobiography as an effeminate homosexual growing up in Eng... Read more
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
7.9/10
Director: Satoshi Kon
In this unofficial animated remake of John Ford's "3 Godfathers" from director Satoshi Kon ("Perfect Blue"), three homeless people - an alcoholic, a t... Read more
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
8/10
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, Carol...
Incredible-but-true story of a loser who holds up a Brooklyn bank to raise money for his lover's sex-change operation, and sees simple heist snowball... Read more
Tootsie (1982)
7.4/10
Director: Sydney Pollack
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Bill Murray, Geena Davis, Dabney Colem...
Dustin Hoffman plays an unemployed actor who dons women's clothing and becomes a great success in a popular tv soap opera. He also falls in love with... Read more
Albert Nobbs (2011)
6.7/10
Director: Rodrigo Garcia
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Glenn Close, Janet McTeer, Pauline Collins, Aaron Johnson, Mia...
Glenn Close turns in an astonishing title performance as a woman in late 19th-century Ireland who, for the economic security otherwise unobtainable, l... Read more
Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
7.3/10
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Eva Birthistle, Liam Cunningham, Bryan Ferry, Brendan Gleeson, Ian Hart, Cillian...
Cillian Murphy goes believably glam as an Irish transvestite who moves to swinging '60s/'70s London. Rejected by almost everyone around her, and lead... Read more