Drag Queen Cult Film "Outrageous!" Archive

Outrageous! Drag Film

Archive

[LGBTQ][Cross-Dressing] Archive of four items relating to the 1977 film "Outrageous!". Includes three original German lobby cards bearing the film's German title "Ausgeflippt!" and a 1977 Variety trade advertisement for this groundbreaking Canadian LGBTQ film starring Craig Russell and Hollis McLaren. The film, directed by Richard Benner, was one of the first North American movies to portray a drag performer as a fully realized protagonist, with Russell playing Robin Turner, a struggling female impersonator who supports his schizophrenic best friend. The film’s bold depiction of queer identity, mental health struggles, and chosen family relationships resonated deeply with LGBTQ audiences and remains a cult classic.

The Variety advertisement, dated May 11, 1977, features the film’s title in a bold, stylized font interspersed with key quotes from the movie. Beneath the text are photographic stills of Craig Russell in various drag personas, showcasing his celebrated impersonations of Judy Garland, Bette Davis, and Mae West. The three lobby cards, released for the German market under the title Ausgeflippt, include vibrant full-color stills: one of Turner and his friend Liza sharing an intimate moment, another capturing a tense domestic exchange, and a third depicting Turner in flamboyant costume outside a theater, emphasizing the film’s themes of performance and identity. Overall very good condition. An uncommon survival of original promotional material from a pivotal LGBTQ film, reflecting the 1970s era of independent queer cinema and the growing visibility of crossdressing and drag culture in mainstream media.

Item #21445

Price: $385.00