The Queen (1968)

The Queen: Directed by Frank Simon. With Jack Doroshow, International Chrysis, Jim Dine, Emorè Du Bois. The behind the scenes of a national drag queen contest in New York City, including the rehearsals leading up to the contest, the conversations in the dressing room and the jealousies that emerge before and after the competition.

“Itu0026#39;s a behind the scenes documentary of a drag queen pageant in New York City. The contestants are all in the hotel facing many of the same struggles. They are desperate to pull their looks together. Itu0026#39;s a great time capsule of a part of gay culture when most of it is still in the closet. It is letting the audience peek inside that closet and find some very nice gay boys. Itu0026#39;s a year before the Stonewall riots. Gay rights is barely a talking point. It does need a main character and Richie is probably the best option. It would be nice to get some more in-depth conversations about their families and their present situations. In the end, itu0026#39;s already breaking down so many doors that it feels like I want too much from a simple documentary.”