GLEN OR GLENDA
dir. Edward D. Wood Jr, 1953
USA, 61 min.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 – MIDNIGHT
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8 – 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 – 10 PM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 – 10 PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 – 10 PM
“In the making of this film, which deals with a strange and curious subject, no punches have been pulled– no easy way out has been taken. Many of the smaller parts are portrayed by persons who actually are, in real life, the character they portray on the screen. This is a picture of stark realism– taking no sides — but giving you the facts — ALL the facts — as they are today… YOU ARE SOCIETY — JUDGE YE NOT…”
Opening with and extended monologue by The Scientist (Bela Lugosi, dead) he “explains” that in humanity’s search for the unknown many startling things come to light. While investigating the suicide of a transvestite, Inspector Warren seeks the help of Dr. Alton who tells him the sordid tale of a man named Glen (Ed Wood). Glen’s wife Barbara (Dolores Fuller, Ed Wood’s real life girlfriend at the time) accuses him of having another woman in his life but little does she know the “other woman” is Glen’s female counterpart – Glenda! Recounted in flashback we see Glen wearing his sisters clothes for Halloween and then never wanting to take them off. Shunned by his family, Glen must keep his desires a secret. Now it’s up to Glen to decide if he should tell his blushing bride-to-be about his double life…
One of 3 films directed by Ed Wood in 1953, GLEN OR GLENDA was shot in just 4 days, propped up by almost 14 minutes of stock footage, and padded out with erotic vignettes by producer George Weiss. The film was initially to be a profile of Christine Jorgensen who had dominated the headlines only a year before. After Jorgensen turned the filmmakers down they decided to go a different route, though many of the films promotional materials still tried to sell it as a profile of Jorgensen. Though no official sequel was ever filmed Glen/Glenda would show up in two of Wood’s novels later on. After film fell into public domain it was released dozens if not hundreds of times garnering quite a reputation along the way. David Lynch is such a fan of this film that he used the “blowing wind” sound effect from it in his film ERASERHEAD!
TAKE IT OUT IN TRADE
dir. Edward D. Wood Jr, 1970
USA, 77 min.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – MIDNIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5 – 10 PM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 – 7:30 PM
“Ed gave you free reign, he let you do your thing. You showed him what you could do and then you went ahead and did it. Eddie let you improvise a lot. A lot. Because he was not stuck to any one particular concept or idea.”
– Michael Donovan O’Donnell, “Nightmare Of Ecstasy”
A private dick named Mac McGregor (Michael Donovan O’Donnell) is brought in to help Frank and Donna Stanley, a couple search for their missing daughter. The trail leads him to a house of ill-repute. Inside are all manners of perversions and titillating sights to behold…can he keep his nose to the grindstone and bring the girl home?
Thought lost for years TAKE IT OUT IN TRADE was rediscovered by Ed Wood biographer Rudolph Grey while doing research for his book “Nightmare of Ecstasy.” Additionally, in the 1990’s 3 reels of bloopers, behind the scenes footage, and alternate takes were discovered in a theater in Santa Monica, California. Not screened in NYC since Anthology’s massive retrospective in 2014, TAKE IT OUT IN TRADE is finally set for home release by AGFA later this month.
Note: Both of these films contain scenes of sexual violence which may be offensive. Viewer discretion is advised.