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The Adventures of Priscilla, |
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Unrated. 102 minutes, 1994, Director - Stephan Elliot, Producer - Michael Hamlyn Starring - Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter, Sarah Chadwick, Julia Cortez. Filmed in Australia. 1995 Academy Award Winner - Best Costume Design. |
Bonesaw thinks
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The girls head out on a roadtrip that takes them from the protective confines of their eclectic society into the prejudicial arena of Australia's Outback. The "common man" doesn't seem ready for such beautiful, elevated, creative spirits. Every moment (bitchiness in full swing or not) is a party. I envy the ability of the characters to find something delightful in each situation. There's a bar scene where the principal characters (Mitzy, Felicia and Bernadette) enter in outrageous beyond-drag drag. I don't want to ruin the scene for you but the dread is stifling. The evil ignorance inside the tavern is lusciously squashed due to the fact that no matter who you are or what you believe in these girls demand nothing less than acceptance and adoration. The film visits some ugly "isms". Felicia's healthy solution to a what starts out as a deplorable childhood flashback is so damn refreshing. Not damaged or victimized but strong, intolerant and defiant. There is a fierce, comedic performance by Julia Cortez (Cynthia) who shows the wrath of a performer who is not allowed to perform. The girls are put into some precarious situations yet they hold up like exiled royalty. Bernadette put it best by saying, "It's funny, we all sit around mindlessly slagging off that vile stinkhole of a city. But in some strange way it takes care of us. I don't know if that ugly wall of Suburbia has been put there to stop them getting in or us getting out." Hope you like surrealistic beauty. Bored, Mitzi rehearses on top of a mountain ridge in a dress and is showered with glitter as a passing lizard watches in awe. Felicia practicing an opera performance on top of the moving bus is, is, hard to believe, but I'm still speechless and I've seen this film over 10 times. I wish there was a 2 hour video of this scene alone. Nice night for it. Quotes & Links Director-Stephan Elliot: The film was a great excuse to bring back the Hollywood musical. Today, drag queens are emblematic of all the style, the glitz, the glamour and the pain of those extravaganzas. Producer-Michael Hamlyn: What this film does for the drag scene is what Sean Connery did for the secret service, it glamorizes it. Terence Stamp (Bernadette): I wouldn't recommend the bras, the high heels, the make-up, the heavy earrings or trying to put on stockings with false nails. Felicia: Oh, for goodness sake get down off that crucifix, someone needs the wood. Mitzi: Come on girls, off your snatches. Bernadette: Now listen here you mallet, why don't you just light your tampon, blow your box apart cause it's the only bang you're ever gonna get sweetheart. Behind the Scenes of Priscilla |
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FILMED IN DRAGARAMA! A spectacle, an event! Meet Mitzy/Tick, the consummate professional played by Hugo Weaving. Felicia/Adam played by Guy Pearce (straight-laced, boy-wonder cop in L.A. Confidential) is a born star diva. Bernadette/Ralph played by Terence Stamp (General Zod in "Superman, The Movie" and Gordon Gekko's rival in "Wall Street") is the veteran, loveable curmudgeon. 3 boozy, Drag Queen Performers Extraordanaire. Now I'm pretty sure that the 3 actors are (or were not) professional drag queens before shooting this film but they've got it down to a sequined science. I'm talking gestures, expressions, elocution, the way they carry themselves. Each actor has to play 2 roles (on and off, except for Felica who is on and on) and I love all 5 of them! The scenery of the Australian Outback is breathtaking. Guy Gross's soundtrack is moving and brilliantly nestles right into the line between conscious and sub-conscious.