"Glen or Glenda" (or "I Changed My Sex"). Could THIS be the worst movie of all-time?

[Steve Hoffman]

I have a friend who (is obsessed, but that's a different story) has a real 16mm print of GLEN OR GLENDA, as directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr. Every time he screens this thing I have to shake my head. It's truly dreadful. Entertaining like watching a train wreck but one of the most perplexing films ever made.

My question. Is that "hot" girlie segment part of the original release or was it filmed and added later? Could never figure it out. Anyone know?


By the way: "Pull The String!"

[scotto]

Certainly among the most entertaining (or should that be perplexing?) bad movies of all time.
As far as I know, the burlesque scene was an add-on for certain theaters that promised "adult" entertainment.
I love the musical accompaniment for that scene--sounds like a post-war Basie chart with Ben Webster. Anyone know who that is?

[Steve G]

I kind of like Ed Wood actually

I like the cows that go with pull the string

the best one, though, is Jailbait

it's not what it sounds like - it's a morality play about how guns get kids into trouble, shot in film noir style

but I have to admit that I like Glen or Glenda as well

my pick for worst movie ever = WUSA - Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward

[babyblue]

According to imdb.com, the girlie footage was added later by the producer. It's not on my copy. You have to admit, the film is a unique work... And Ed Wood was quite a unique character himself.

PULL THE STRING!!! PULL THE STRING!!!...

Steve

[Steve Hoffman]

If some of you have never seen ED WOOD with Johnny Depp, buy it or rent it. It's one of my favorite films. Definitely my favorite Tim Burton film. Well deserved Academy Award for Martin L. as Bela L.

Lugosi rules, by the way.

[Steve G]

more like "pool the streeeng"

I think that part was ad libbed by Lugosi after the "Beware the big green dragon that sits on your doorstep" part, and Ed just left it in

and definitely the Tim Burton Ed Wood is a fantastic movie

the part where Martin does his scene for fans on the steps in Hollywood will make you cry in a good way

[yasujiro]

If some of you have never seen ED WOOD with Johnny Depp, buy it or rent it. It's one of my favorite films. Definitely my favorite Tim Burton film. Well deserved Academy Award for Martin L. as Bela L.

Lugosi rules, by the way.

I was so surprised when I was told that Burton was just 'hired' for the film. 'ED WOOD' was most likely a Tim Burton film.

[James RD]

The first time I saw Glen or Glenda I was so upset I had to attend an Angora management class. I'm much better now and my wardrobe has improved.

[PaulKTF]

I havn't seen Glen Or GLenda yet, but Plan 9 is possibly the funniest movie I've ever seen. It never fails to make me laugh out loud minutes into it.

[John B Good]

when I was waiting for the Johnny Depp Ed Wood Story to be released on DVD, I posted here and there urging someone to pull some strings, and signed myself, Looking Back in Angora :)

[Dragun]

All I remember is being bored by Glen or Glenda.

[heaudio]

Lugosi rules, by the way.

"Kar-loff?"

[stumpy]

I always hate the mental image I get of Lugosi in his later years. This one's from better days...

[BradOlson]

The Johnny Depp Ed Wood Story is on DVD as part of the Passport DVD of Plan 9 From Outer Space and as part of the Passport collection of Ed Wood movies.

[reechie]

According to imdb.com, the girlie footage was added later by the producer. It's not on my copy.
That still doesn't explain the stock footage of bison... :confused: :D

Back a few years ago, my old band came over to my apartment to rehearse (we usually rehearsed at the guitar player's house), and the bass player looked at my video collection and said "Man, you're the only person I know who actually owns Ed Wood movies!" :laugh:

[babyblue]

That still doesn't explain the stock footage of bison... :confused: :D

Back a few years ago, my old band came over to my apartment to rehearse (we usually rehearsed at the guitar player's house), and the bass player looked at my video collection and said "Man, you're the only person I know who actually owns Ed Wood movies!" :laugh:

Plan 9 was the very first video I ever bought!

Steve

[Mister Kite]

My question. Is that "hot" girlie segment part of the original release or was it filmed and added later? Could never figure it out. Anyone know?Steve, in Rudolph Grey's 1992 biography, Nightmare of Ecstasy - The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. Grey has this to say about that particular segment:It was first released as Glen or Glenda with the alternate titles of I Changed My Sex and I Led Two Lives for different territories. It was reported also known as He or She? Additional footage of women in scant clothing and a mild bondage theme from a (George) Weiss production directed by Merle Connell was later added to subsequent prints (I Led Two Lives and I Changed My Sex) for commercial reasons.AFAIK, this book is considered to be one of the better ones on Mr. Wood, and IIRC, Burton credits it as one of his sources when researching the film. So, unless someone definitively knows to the contrary, it looks like he did not film it.

What is interesting though, is that Wood did on occasion go back and shoot additional footage (that generally had little to do with the the original story) and insert it into an already completed or released film. So, there is some precedent for the footage to have been Wood's.

Cheers,

[Chip TRG]

"Kar-loff?"

[REPLY INSTANTLY DELETED BY POSTER--but you know what the next line was!!!] :D ;)

[wayneklein]

"Glen or Glenda" beats "Plan 9" only because of the "artistic" ambition of the film itself.

Poor Bela relegated to the Z films at the end of his career. Landau does, indeed, capture Lugosi so well but it's more than an impersonation--he captures the essence of what I would think of as the man and his soul.

[boyfromnowhere]

Lugosi rules, by the way.

:agree:

[Simon A]

I always hate the mental image I get of Lugosi in his later years. This one's from better days...

Before being cast to play Dracula in the Browning film, Lugosi's best on-stage role had been Jesus Christ. The show was such a success that they took it on the road. After Dracula hit the screens, it was also produced for the stage and Lugosi hit the road again, but this time reprising his movie role.

His "performance" in Glen Or Glenda is what brings people back to watch the film. It wouldn't be the same without it to say the least...

[vinyl anachronist]

I don't think Ed Wood was as bad as many people think. He was able to sneak through some pretty subversive ideas (like don't trust the government, because they're keeping secrets from you) only because he encapsulated them within some pretty inept filmmaking techniques. I think he did it all on purpose.

Besides, Ed Wood films are masterpieces compared to something like Manos, Hands of Fate.

[Jack White]

Before being cast to play Dracula in the Browning film, Lugosi's best on-stage role had been Jesus Christ. The show was such a success that they took it on the road. After Dracula hit the screens, it was also produced for the stage and Lugosi hit the road again, but this time reprising his movie role.

His "performance" in Glen Or Glenda is what brings people back to watch the film. It wouldn't be the same without it to say the least...

Lugosi may very well have starred in a stage production(s) of "Dracula" after the success of the Tod Browning film (1931), but he had played the title role on Broadway in 1927. It was a great success (it's run lasted three years) and led directly to the filmed version. So, Lugosi may have played Christ on stage, but his best known stage role before the film "Dracula" was Dracula.

[mcow1]

but his best known stage role before the film "Dracula" was Dracula.

Correct! And, IIRC when he took the stage role he couldn't speak English yet and had to learn his role phonetically.

[Plan9]

Plan 9 is possibly the funniest movie I've ever seen. It never fails to make me laugh out loud minutes into it.

:righton: