Glen or Glenda (1953)
A psychiatrist delves into complex identities. Fans of unique narratives and psychological dramas will find this riveting; others may find it confusing.
Genres: Drama, Comedy
Cast
- Cast member 1
- Cast member 2
- Cast member 3
- Cast member 4
- Cast member 5
- Cast member 6
- Cast member 7
- Cast member 8
- Cast member 9
- Cast member 10
Your Status
Glen or Glenda(1953)
Overview
A psychiatrist presents two case studies meant to explain gender nonconformity: one follows a person struggling to be open about dressing differently, and the other examines a patient seeking medical help to align body and identity. Framed like a cautionary educational talk, it mixes melodrama, narration, and surreal detours while arguing for understanding.
Insights
Review Summary
Pros: oddly heartfelt message; laugh-out-loud weirdness; memorable one-liners | Cons: incoherent structure; poor acting; random stock footage
Will You Like This?
You’ll likely enjoy this if you’re into cult oddities that mix sincere social commentary with chaotic, surreal humor, like Nowhere; Not for you if you want a clear, respectful, modern take or a straightforward story.
My Friends' Ratings
None of your friends have rated this yet.
Cast
Full Cast & CrewFeatured Comments/Tips
I watched this movie thinking it be "So bad its good" It wasn't that. It was pure torture. I hate this movie.
Prompted fun discussion about trans historicity and the validity of the contemporary concepts of “transgender” and their connections and continuities with “transvestism” and “transsexuality”. Fascinating to see Wood’s navigation of issues within a complex sociohistorical time. Discussions about whether Wood was navigating binary trans experience or non-binary experience. Self-funded — intriguing for the compulsion or necessity they felt to produce this film. Individual Ratings: Heather: 6/10 | Fascinating, but quite janky in practice. Chris: 7/10 | Attempt to explain something that even Wood couldn’t quite articulate, and paid to try. Megan: 7/10 | Really interesting to try and piece together the middle-surrealist dream sequence and how that maps Wood’s psychical experiences navigating these concepts in deeply restrictives times.
Much more of an art film than the sci fi/horror fare he would later become famous for, Ed Wood's Glen or Glenda has just one near-fatal flaw - it's actually pretty damn good.
A transvestite coming out movie.
Trippy, non-sensical, disturbing and hilarious at times. Should probably be placed in the "art film" category.
Featured User Reviews
None of your fellow watchers have a review yet.
