Early Drag Queen Documentary The Queen Film Archive - 1968
Archive
[LGBTQ] [Drag] [Film & Entertainment] Simon, Frank. The Queen. New York: Grove Press. 1968. The Queen is a raw portrayal of the life of drag queens partaking in competitive drag shows in New York during the 1960s. Archive of 8 silver gelatin photographs containing stills from the film. The documentary was shown at Cannes and received positive American press for it’s realism of an otherwise underrepresented group, it has been referred to as the film that brought competitive drag to the public eye. The Queen follows and is narrated by Jack, a 24 year old gay man who performs drag under the name Flawless Sabrina as he MC’s the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest. In between rehearsing and performing, the contestants discuss topics such as draft boards, sexual identity, sex reassignment surgery, transgender identities, and being a drag queen. One contestant, Pepper LaBeija recounts receiving a draft notice and being turned away because of his feminine appearance, despite requesting to serve and protect his country. One photograph shows Jack as Flawless Sabrina in an extravagant feathered and jeweled outfit, with a blonde updo and heavy makeup as he presents the contestants to the audience and judges, of which included Andy Warhol, and writers George Plimpton and Terry Southern. Other photographs show behind the stage in the fitting room of the other contestants preparing for their on stage debut to the public. Some performers wear tall beehive hairdos popular of the 1960s. One photograph shows a dolled up performer meticulously applying lipstick using a compact mirror. Another shows one of the performers getting fitted into their evening dress by another person. Minor edge and corner wear, archive is overall in very good condition. At the time, both drag and homosexual relations were illegal in New York State. This groundbreaking documentary was overlooked for many years until it was restored and screened once again in 2019.Item #20842
Price: $385.00
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