Glen or Glenda

Yes, the reputation didn't lie. This, Wood's first feature, is at least as entertainingly awful as his two biggest flicks, Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 From Outer Space, and often surpasses them. Into the story of a sensitive cross-dresser who likes to wear women's clothes, loves the feel of angora, and hesitates to confide his predilection to the girl he loves, Wood cuts absolutely illogical shots of running buffalo, smelting furnaces, storming skies, and other stuff that he got his hands on and was sorry not to use. He even modified his script based on some of the material he had obtained, for example, he inserted a short story of another cross-dresser who had fought in the Pacific war, just because he wanted to have footage of soldiers fighting in the Pacific at all costs. Another treat is a 10-minute silent interlude about two-thirds of the way through the film, apparently depicting the inner thought processes of an unhappy cross-dresser. There is also a kind of comical-looking devil thrown in, and the cherry on top are the frequent cuts to the film’s main star, the by then deceased Bela Lugosi. The reason for his presence is somewhat unclear given the plot. He just sits in a chair shouting lines such as “Pull the string! Pull the string!”and “Beware! Beware of the big green dragon that sits on your doorstep. He eats little boys.” That’s not something you see every day :) If it wasn't for the boring long dialogues between the detective and the psychiatrist, it would be five stars. (28.09.2004)

"Beware! Beware of the BIG green dragon..." Beyond a doubt, the most personal testimony ever made about transvestites, hypocrisy, sex change, all those people heading somewhere, highway roads, bison (who are heading somewhere), puppy tails (which are heading somewhere) and Angora sweaters (which fortunately are not heading anywhere). (24.02.2008)

I probably need the sci-fi genre to be able to enjoy Wood's film. However, Glen or Glenda is six long years away from the legendary Plan 9, so no twisted pleasure is taking place. On the other hand, I couldn't figure out for a long time what's so bad about a completely honest statement from a confused soul seeking almost impossible resolution. But as soon as Bela Lugosi started rattling off wisdom about green dragons, snails, and tails, the film turned into an unwatchable psychedelic mess culminating in a scene with a couch stretched a hundred times. Ed didn't outwit me with his bizarre parody of psychology and philosophy. (28.06.2008)

Start wearing sweaters made of angora wool and you will be happy. Ed Wood became famous as the worst director of all time, but somewhat undeservedly, because he had a sense for dramatic elements and was able to create moments in his films that captivate. It's just that the film itself is naively silly, or in other words, how to tell people - almost scientifically - that dressing up like a girl isn't that strange. (28.03.2015)