FILM SCREENINGS

Glen or Glenda

1953. USA. Written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr.. With Wood, Bela Lugosi, Lyle Talbot, Timothy Farrell. “Glen did wear the dress to the Halloween party. He even took first prize. Then one day, it wasn’t Halloween any longer.” This unintentionally hilarious, quasi-autobiographical faux docudrama preached for social change and the acceptance of transvestitism. Despite its seemingly random overuse of superimposition and stock footage, its plodding dialogue and stilted line readings, and the superfluous casting of Lugosi as an omnipotent puppet master, the film’s true delight lies in its utter earnestness. 65 min.