- For the Mads production, see MADS - Glen or Glenda.
Glen or Glenda is a 1953 film written and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. It was Wood's first professional collaboration with Bela Lugosi, and the cast featured several other Wood Productions regulars. It dealt with controversial issues of gender identity, including transvestism and pseudo-hermaphroditism.
Plot[]
A psychiatrist describes to his colleague the case of Glen, a man who is secretly a transvestite. Glen is engaged to marry Barbara, and he is conflicted about whether or not to tell Barbara about his proclivities. Glen is tormented by mental images of all that can go wrong. Glen eventually tells Barbara the truth, and she promises to try to to understand him. The psychiatrist advises Glen and Barbara of how they can proceed and have a happy life.
The psychiatrist then tells his colleague about another case, this one involving a man named Alan. Alan uses surgery and hormone treatments to transition to being a woman named Ann and is then able to live happily.
All of this is overseen by a sinister scientist, who offers his own comments on the unfolding drama.
Cast[]
- Edward D. Wood Jr. - Glen/Glenda
- Bela Lugosi - Scientist
- Lyle Talbot - Inspector Warren
- Dolores Fuller - Barbara
- Conrad Brooks - Banker
- Timothy Farrell - Narrator/Dr. Alton
Notes[]
- The making of this film was dramatized in the 1994 movie Ed Wood.
- Edward D. Wood Jr. is not credited for his performance as an actor in this film. The role of Glen/Glenda is credited to "Daniel Davis".
- Glen or Glenda was used as the movie in the live stage show The Mads Are Back (starring Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff). A live streaming version of this performance was made available in July of 2020.