The Queen

Name: The Queen
Genre: Documentary
Released: June 17, 1968
Duration: 68 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Bernard Giquel, Bruce Jay Friedman, George Plimpton, Jack Doroshow, Jerry Leiber

1968

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Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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The Queen

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: June 17, 1968 | Not Rated

Starring: Bernard Giquel, Bruce Jay Friedman, George Plimpton, Jack Doroshow, Jerry Leiber, Jill Krementz, Jim Dine, Mario Montez, Mary Ellen Mark, Rachel Harlow

Summary: More than 40 years before RuPaul's Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas in the lead-up to the bigMore than 40 years before RuPaul's Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas in the lead-up to the big event. Organized by LGBTQ icon and activist Flawless Sabrina, the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern.. But perhaps most memorable is an epic diatribe calling out the pageant's bias delivered by Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to form the influential House of LaBeija, heavily featured in Paris Is Burning (1990). A vibrant piece of queer history, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negative. [Kino Lorber]… Expand

Director: Frank Simon

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 68 min

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Critic Reviews

Movie Nation Roger Moore

“Camp” is a word that’s falling into disuse in these more tolerant times. But back then, that was the whole point, and full ownership of it was reflected in the name of the pageant. This was “camp” back when camp meant something. Read full review

Richard Brody

Whether pushing the camera close to the performers or zooming in from afar to survey them intimately, Simon captures the lavish life of theatrical imagination that inspires them and makes gender itself seem like an urgent performance. Read full review

Katie Walsh

In between rehearsals, they discuss their lives, from facing the draft board, to their small hometowns, with a fascinating frankness. Read full review

Eric Henderson

A quaint portrait it’s not, and aside from the conditions of the rat-trap midtown hotel where the competing queens are put up in, it’s hardly fly-on-the-wall either. While it presents its subjects at arm’s length, The Queen consistently recognizes the constraints they face. Read full review

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