Happy #Pride Month!
I'm sure that there are many, many ways to celebrate - and you may have your own way / tradition - but I like to celebrate by watching some awesome movies throughout the month...
So I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite movies to watch during June!
Victor Victoria (1982)
Directed : Blake Edwards | Written : Blake Edwards, Hans Hoemberg (Concept) | Music : Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse
Julie Andrews | James Garner | Robert Preston | Lesley Ann Warren | John Rhys-Davies
In 1934 Paris, Toddy, a performer at Chez Lui in Paris, sees the club owner auditioning a frail, impoverished soprano, Victoria Grant. After her failed audition, Victoria reluctantly returns to her apartment to find herself deciding whether or not to spend her rent money for food. That night, when Richard, a hustler whom Toddy pays for sex, comes to Chez Lui as part of a straight foursome, Toddy incites a brawl. Labisse fires Toddy and bans him from the club. Walking home, he spots Victoria in a restaurant. She invites him to join her. As neither of them can pay for the meal, she dumps a cockroach in her salad to avoid paying, but it escapes and mayhem ensues.
The duo run through the rain to Toddy's, and he invites her to stay when she finds that the rain has shrunk her cheap clothes. The next morning, Richard shows up to collect his things. Victoria, who is wearing his clothes, hides in Toddy's closet. When she thinks that Richard might harm Toddy, she assaults him and kicks him out. Seeing this, Toddy is struck with the inspiration of passing Victoria off as a man and presenting her to Andre Cassell, the most successful agent in Paris, as a female impersonator.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
They certainly don't make them like they used to... If you thought Julie was magnificent in The Sound Of Music, you should see her perform as a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman - superb! This is a movie about love, gangsters, performers, jazz and homosexuality in Paris; guaranteed to having your sides splitting with laughter. Definitely a must see!
Connie and Carla (2004)
Directed : Michael Lembeck | Written : Nia Vardalos | Music : Randy Edelman
Nia Vardalos | Toni Collette | David Duchovny | Debbie Reynolds
Connie and Carla are two performers whose lifelong friendship and co-obsession with musical theater have brought nothing but career dead ends. Despite this they continue their optimism, hosting a variety act at an airport lounge. After accidentally witnessing a mafia hit in Chicago, they go on the run, landing in Los Angeles. After being fired from a beauty salon, they pose as drag queens and audition to host a drag revue at a gay club called "The Handlebar."
The theater productions of Rent, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia! became semi-successful movie musicals shortly after this film.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE! Both Toni and Nia are superb!! You will be rolling on the floor with laughter. David is also a riot. With lots of references to musicals, this is a must for any Broadway junkie! I don't want to say too much about this movie, other than GO WATCH IT NOW!!!
The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (1994)
Directed : Stephan Elliott| Written : Stephan Elliott | Music : Guy Gross
Terrance Stamp | Guy Pearce | Hugo Weaving | Bill Hunter
The plot follows two drag queens played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce and a transgender woman, played by Terence Stamp, as they journey across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus that they have named "Priscilla", along the way encountering various groups and individuals. The film's title references the slang term "queen" for a drag queen or female impersonator.
Priscilla won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 67th Academy Awards.
Outrageous costumes and over the top flamboyant attitude is the order of the day in this Australian comedy-drama. Prejudices abound across Australia when 3 female impersonators, one being transgender, take an to the open road in search of fame and fortune. Epic performances, a groovy soundtrack and hidden secrets make this a movie to remember.
In & Out (1997)
Directed : Frank Oz | Written : Paul Rudnick | Music : Mark Shaiman
Kevin Kline | Tom Selleck | Joan Cusack | Matt Dillon | Debbie Reynolds | Bob Newhart
Howard Brackett is a well-liked English literature teacher, living a quiet life in the fictional town of Greenleaf, Indiana, with his fiancée and fellow teacher Emily Montgomery, who recently lost 75 pounds. The town is filled with anticipation over the nomination of Howard's former student, Cameron Drake, in the Best Actor category at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of a gay soldier in To Serve and Protect. Cameron does indeed win the award and, in his acceptance speech, thanks Howard, adding, ". . . and he's gay."
This comedy is a laugh a minute riot and is most memorable for the 12 second kiss between Tom and Kevin. Excellent performances, Joan Cusack is a hoot, and an epic soundtrack, including songs like, "I Will Survive" by Diana Ross, "Everything's Coming up Roses" by Ethel Merman, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline and "Macho Man" by the Village People this is sure to entertain!
To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
Directed : Beeban Kidron | Written : Douglas Beane | Music : Rachel Portman
Patrick Swayze | Wesley Snipes | John Leguizamo | Stockard Channing |RuPaul | Robin Williams
After tying for the win in New York City's "Drag Queen of the Year" contest, Noxeema Jackson and Vida Boheme win a trip to Hollywood to take part in the even bigger "Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant". Before they depart, Vida persuades Noxeema to take along the inexperienced "drag princess" Chi-Chi Rodriguez as their protégé. To do this, they trade in their airplane tickets for cash and buy a stylish but old Cadillac convertible and set off for Los Angeles, inspired by an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar; signed, "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar"
Both Swayze and Leguizamo were nominated for Golden Globe awards!
A comedy / drama that is full of flamboyance and colour, highlighting some serious issues in an almost "in your face" kind of way. Brilliant performances from some of the manliest men on TV then and an awesome soundtrack to boot - "She's a Lady" by Tom Jones, "Over the Rainbow" by Patti LaBelle and "(Hey Now) Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper - this is another movie worthy of watching! I just feel that the story has been done before...
Pride (2014)
Directed : Matthew Warchus | Written : Stephen Beresford | Music : Christopher Nightingale
Imelda Staunton | Bill Nighy | Ben Schnetzer | George MacKay | Joseph Gilgun | Faye Marsay
Based on a true story, the film depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984.
Upon watching the news about the miners' strike, gay activist Mark Ashton realises that the police have stopped harassing the gay community because their attention is elsewhere. He spontaneously arranges a fundraiser to the miners during the Gay Pride Parade in London. Encouraged by the success, he founds "Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners". Among its first members are 20-year old closeted student Joe Cooper and an older gay couple Gethin and Jonathan, whose bookshop they use as headquarters.
LGSM faces opposition from the mining community who do not wish to associate with them, as well as within the gay community who feel that the miners have mistreated them in the past. Frustrated by the lack of response, the activists instead decide to take their donations directly to a small mining village named Onllwyn in Wales. Dai Donovan, spokesperson for the miners in Onllwyn, comes to London to meet their new allies. Though he is startled by the revelation of what "L" and "G" stand for in their name, he expresses his gratitude in a short, eloquent speech at a gay bar and the cause takes off.
Imelda Staunton was nominated for a BAFTA for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Professor Umbridge as you have never seen her before!
A comedy-drama of note, this movie takes a look at the very real nature of people and their very real prejudices. With an epic disco soundtrack, this movie will make you laugh but also pull a tear or two; well worth the watch.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Directed : Jim Sharman | Written : Jim Sharman, Richard O'Brien | Music : Richard Hartly
Tim Curry | Barry Bostwick | Susan Sarandon | Richard O'Brien| MeatLoaf
And, of course, The Rocky Horror Picture Show hardly needs any blurb from me; if you haven't seen this at least once then we cannot be friends!!!!
And if you were looking for something a little more serious - a drama or two, or maybe even a documentary - then do have a look at these:
And this is how I celebrate #Pride month in my home... Cape Town's Pride festival is in March each year but why celebrate my fabulousness only once a year?
Please do share your thoughts on any of these movies, if you've seen them, or suggest something to me, in the comments below. Remember, sharing is caring, so hit that like button, subscribe to my blog and share, share, share! Until next time...
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