Welcome to Queerty’s latest entry in our series, Queerantined: Daily Dose. Every weekday as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has us under quarantine, we’ll release a suggested bit of gloriously queer entertainment designed to keep you from getting stir crazy in the house. Each weekend, we will also suggest a binge-able title to keep you extra engaged.
The Classic: The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Her Royal Highness Priscilla needs no introduction. The uproarious Australian comedy which helped make international stars out of Guy Pierce and Hugo Weaving, and which launched Terrance Stamp on a career comeback has become a mainstay of queer audiences and cult comedy favorite. The plot, of course, concerns three burned out drag queens (one of whom is actually a transgender woman) making the trek across the Outback to a new club engagement. Along the way, of course, they run across plenty of bizarre locals, Aboriginies, homophobes and a female stripper that has to be seen to be believed. They also learn the value of friendship and a renewed sense of purpose.
Prisiclla, Queen of the Desert features strong performances all around, especially by Stamp as the cynical Bernadette (Stamp’s casting may be out of sync with modern conventions, but his performance focuses less on his character’s transness than his mid-life crisis). It also features a magnificent soundtrack of disco and dance hits, as well as the iconic, Academy Award-winning costumes by Tim Chappel and Lindsay Gardner, which raised drag fabulousness to a whole new level. It’s exactly the kind of joy to spread during pride month, and exactly the kind of diversion we could use right now.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
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Invader7
An awesome movie… Especially in an “altered ” state…
LumpyPillows
There are so many things wrong with this low-budget movie and yet it still is one of my favorite movies ever. I still love the number in Alice Springs with the Sydney Opera House at the end – perfect music, great costumes surreal editing. Fabulous! Terrance Stamp can’t dance at all, but he is mesmerizing in his role.
dhmonarch89
I still can’t believe it won the Oscar for costume design- it totally deserved it and I was routing for it, but the Academy RARELY goes out on a limb like this. So glad it did!
LumpyPillows
@dhmonarch89 Totally! I so did not know it got the Oscar for costume design, but they were great! Guy Pearce at his physical prime running around shirtless also did not hurt 🙂
Chrisk
LumpyPillows
I remember a few scenes of Guy baring his torso and a few gasps in the audience. He looked good. Not overly muscular but very well defined and tan.
Hard to believe it’s been 34 years. Such a great movie with a great cast. I’ve seen it about 3 times now.
Polaro
Required viewing.
Jerry
I love this movie, I saw for the first time when it was realeased while I lived in Key West. This was the very first movie date I ever had with a boy and I thought I was going to pass out when he reached his hand over and held mine. Key West in the 90s.
Cam
I remember reading that the costume designer asked American Express for a bunch of blank cards to make an outfit for one of the scenes in the movie and they refused. But when she were up for the Oscar, Amex couldn’t send her the cards fast enough!
(Spaces in link because they screen out links here)
https ://www .pinterest. com/pin/442408363364991591/
kevininbuffalo
I’ve never been into drag, just not my thing but I love this movie. I’ve watched it many times. It’s actually my favorite movie.
WSnyder
I worked for UAL at LaGuardia Airport as a Customer Service Agent when this movie first came out. I had the pleasure of meeting Terrance Stamp while checking him in our VIP queue. I recognized him immediately from his General Zod role in Superman II. First off, he’s a tiny guy [well, ok, I’m 6’4] but the voice and that small body will put you off. Secondly, while I’m checking him in he asks “Have you seen my latest movie? It’s a Hoot!’ I hadn’t at the time but did a few weeks later. That deep voice, the smile and the conversation made my day!
Between meeting Terrance and seeing that movie… treasured memories that I carry to this day.
Aires the Ram
Excellent movie, I have some of the musical scores on my iTunes. And let’s not forget Julie Numar!!