Outrageous!

Last updated
Outrageous!
Outrageous! movie poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed by Richard Benner
Written by Richard Benner
Based on"Making It" by Margaret Gibson
Produced by Bill Marshall
Peter O'Brian
Henk Van der Kolk
Starring Craig Russell
Hollis McLaren
Richert Easley
CinematographyJames B. Kelly
Edited by George Appleby
Music by Paul Hoffert With Original Songs by Brenda Hoffert
Paul Hoffert
Distributed by Cinema 5 Distributing
Release date
  • 1977 (1977)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$165,000 [1]

Outrageous! is a 1977 Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Richard Benner. The film stars Craig Russell as female impersonator Robin Turner, and Hollis McLaren as Turner's schizophrenic roommate Liza Conners. The plot begins in Toronto, with later scenes in New York City. [2]

Contents

The film is based on "Making It", a short story by writer Margaret Gibson from her 1976 collection The Butterfly Ward; Russell and Gibson were roommates in real life.

Outrageous! was one of the first gay-themed films ever to receive widespread theatrical release in North America. [3] The sequel Too Outrageous! was released in 1987. A stage musical that was adaptated from the film was produced by Canadian Stage in 2000. [4]

Plot

Robin Turner is an inept hairdresser. He does hair and makeup for the local drag shows but longs to get up on stage himself. His best friend Liza is schizophrenic; she had been institutionalized but decided to leave the facility and be Robin's roommate.

Liza has a delusional episode in which she believes that "The Bonecrusher" from "The Other Place" is lying on top of her. Robin helps her push the Bonecrusher off and Liza tells him about the Other Place and her friend from there, Zara. Zara protects her from the Bonecrusher, who tells Liza that she is "the one born dead" and wants to take her to live in the Other Place forever.

A social worker visits Liza and they review Liza's lengthy list of medications. The social worker stresses that it would be very dangerous for Liza to become pregnant. When Robin comes home from work, Liza is excited that she was able to function with the social worker. Robin, however, is upset: a client had urged him to be adventurous with her hairstyle but then reacted badly when Robin styled her like Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra .

Robin and Liza meet Robin's friend Perry and Liza's friend from the institution, Martin. Martin seems to suffer from some form of paranoid delusions, believing that his eyes are turning Chinese and ranting about Mao Zedong. Perry and Robin discuss their costumes for an upcoming Halloween party. Perry decides to go as Karen Black as the flight attendant from Airport 1975 . Liza suggests that Robin go as Tallulah Bankhead and agrees to make his dress.

Robin is a smash at the Halloween party, winning first prize in the costume contest, and offered the chance to perform regularly. His boss at the hair salon, a closet case who thinks women won't want to have their hair done by "fags", is at first reluctant to give Robin the time off to shop for fabric for new dresses but finally relents. Robin debuts at the club as Bette Davis, doing a routine mocking Joan Crawford's performances in Mildred Pierce , Autumn Leaves , and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? while singing live rather than lip synching.

Meanwhile, Liza is continuing therapy. She keeps a journal of her thoughts and dreams and reads them for her psychiatrist, who suggests that she return to the institution. She adamantly refuses. Her doctor again cautions her to avoid pregnancy. Liza's lesbian editor friend Anne reads through Liza's journal and tells her that she might be able to sell some of her stories.

Robin continues to make appearances at the club, including a turn as Barbra Streisand, but loses his day job after a client complains to the salon owner. Liza, who is somewhat sexually promiscuous, has become pregnant. With bills piling up, Robin leaves Canada for New York City seeking success as a female impersonator. On his way to his first gig at the Jackrabbit Club, he meets Bob, a cab driver who was formerly a talent agent and agrees to allow Bob to represent him.

Robin performs "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" while rapidly changing drag personas, starting off as Carol Channing then transforming into Marlene Dietrich, Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, and Bette Midler before concluding as Carol again. As an encore he performs "Give My Regards to Broadway" as Judy Garland. Robin is a triumph and books a regular slot at the club.

Liza enters the hospital to give birth; tragically, the baby is stillborn. She goes into a deep depression, calling Robin to tell him about the stillbirth and that she believes now that she is "the one born dead." Robin has Bob drive him to Canada to retrieve Liza. Together at his New York apartment, Liza remains completely withdrawn; Robin instructs Bob to get Liza ready for that night's show at the Jackrabbit.

At the club Robin performs as Peggy Lee, singing "It Ain't Easy" in this crazy world. Liza slowly begins to respond to her surroundings. Following the number, back in Robin's dressing room, Liza expresses how depressed and dead she feels. Robin assures her that she's alive, just crazy, and so is he, and that they need to embrace their madness. At first reluctant, she begins to smile and agree; Robin then pulls her out to the dancefloor where they join the rest of the performers and patrons.

Cast

Awards

The film was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where Craig Russell won the Silver Bear for Best Actor. [5] It received several Canadian Film Award nominations at the 28th Canadian Film Awards in 1977, including for Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell) and Best Actress (McLaren).

Musical adaptation

Written by Brad Fraser and Joey Miller, the musical adaptation by Canadian Stage in 2000 cast Thom Allison as Robin Turner and Loretta Bailey as Liza Conners. [4] One key change in the musical version was that Allison's multiracial heritage enabled Fraser and Miller to add Billie Holiday and Diana Ross to Robin Turner's repertoire of impersonations, thus allowing them to put a different spin on the character without entirely abandoning the original source material. [6] The cast also included Tamara Bernier, Karen LeBlanc, Tim Howar and Ed Sahely. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liza Minnelli</span> American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1946)

Liza May Minnelli is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades, and is one of the few performers awarded a non-competitive EGOT. Minnelli is a Knight of the French Legion of Honour and subject of the 2024 documentary, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.

<i>Whats Love Got to Do with It</i> (1993 film) 1993 film directed by Brian Gibson

What's Love Got to Do with It is a 1993 American biographical film based on the life of American singer-songwriter Tina Turner. Directed by Brian Gibson and written by Kate Lanier from a uncredited story draft by the late Howard Ashman, based on Tina's 1986 autobiography I, Tina, it stars Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as her abusive husband Ike Turner.

<i>Cabaret</i> (1972 film) 1972 American musical film by Bob Fosse

Cabaret is a 1972 American musical period drama film directed by Bob Fosse from a screenplay by Jay Allen, based on the stage musical of the same name by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff, which in turn was based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten and the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. It stars Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, and Joel Grey. Multiple numbers from the stage score were used for the film, which also featured three other songs by Kander and Ebb, including two written for the adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Gibson (writer)</span> Canadian novelist and short story writer

Margaret Gibson was a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lived in Toronto, Ontario.

<i>My Best Friends Wedding</i> 1997 film by P. J. Hogan

My Best Friend's Wedding is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P. J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass who also produced. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Martin</span> American actress (born 1947)

Andrea Louise Martin is an American and Canadian actress, best known for her work in the television series SCTV and Great News. She has appeared in films such as Black Christmas (1974), Wag the Dog (1997), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), and Little Italy (2018). She has also lent her voice to the animated films Anastasia (1997), The Rugrats Movie (1998), and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001). Since 2021, she co-stars in the supernatural drama series Evil. She is currently playing a recurring role on Only Murders in the Building (2021).

<i>Marked Woman</i> 1937 film directed by Lloyd Bacon

Marked Woman is a 1937 American dramatic crime film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, with featured performances by Lola Lane, Isabel Jewell, Rosalind Marquis, Mayo Methot, Jane Bryan, Eduardo Ciannelli and Allen Jenkins. Set in the underworld of Manhattan, Marked Woman tells the story of a woman who dares to stand up to one of the city's most powerful gangsters.

<i>Smile</i> (musical) American musical

Smile is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. It was originally produced on Broadway in 1986. The musical is based loosely on the 1975 comedy film of the same title, from a screenplay by Jerry Belson.

Russell Craig Eadie, better known by his stage name Craig Russell, was a Canadian female impersonator and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Billings</span> American actress (born 1962)

Alexandra Scott Billings is an American actress, singer, and teacher. Billings, a trans woman, played one of TV's first openly transgender characters in 2005 made-for-TV movie Romy and Michele: In the Beginning. She is also known for portraying the recurring character Davina in the Amazon series Transparent and has played transgender characters in ER, Eli Stone, How to Get Away with Murder, Grey's Anatomy and The Conners.

"Pilot" is the pilot episode and the first episode of the first season of the American television sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Written by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and directed by Pamela Fryman, the episode originally aired on CBS on September 19, 2005. The episode takes place in 2030, as a future Ted Mosby is telling his kids the story of how he met their mother. It flashes back to 2005 to a younger Ted who meets Robin Scherbatsky, a reporter who he becomes smitten for. Meanwhile, Ted's lawyer friend Marshall Eriksen plans on proposing to his girlfriend Lily Aldrin, a kindergarten teacher.

<i>Foreign Exchange</i> (Australian TV series) 2004 multi-national TV series or program

Foreign Exchange is a television series produced by Southern Star in association with Irish public broadcaster RTÉ. It aired on Nine Network from 5 November to 27 December 2004. The series starred Lynn Styles as Hannah O'Flaherty, a feisty Irish girl, and Zachary Garred as Brett Miller, a sun-drenched Australian boy. The pair are brought together from opposite sides of the world, due to a transfer portal. The series of 26 episodes was created by the Australian author John Rapsey and directed by Annie Murtagh-Monks and Gillian Reynolos.

<i>My Best Friends Girl</i> (2008 film) 2008 American film

My Best Friend's Girl is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Howard Deutch, written by Jordan Cahan, and starring Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs, Diora Baird, Alec Baldwin, Riki Lindhome and Lizzy Caplan. It was released on September 19, 2008, by Lionsgate. The film received generally unfavorable reviews from critics and grossed $41 million. As of 2024, it is the last film Deutch has directed.

<i>Lady in the Dark</i> (film) 1944 film

Lady in the Dark is a 1944 American musical film directed by Mitchell Leisen, from a screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett that is based on the 1941 musical of the same name by Moss Hart. The film stars Ginger Rogers as a magazine editor, who although successful, finds herself on the edge of a breakdown while juggling her feelings for three prospective suitors, played by Ray Milland, Warner Baxter, and Jon Hall.

Hollis McLaren is a Canadian film and television actress.

"Girls Versus Suits" is the 12th episode of the fifth season of the American situation comedy television series How I Met Your Mother and the 100th episode overall. Written by series creators Carter Bays & Craig Thomas and directed by Pamela Fryman, the episode originally aired on CBS on January 11, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Mosby</span> Fictional character on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother

Theodore Evelyn Mosby is a fictional character and the protagonist in the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Josh Radnor. He serves as the show's narrator from the future, voiced by Bob Saget, as he tells his children the "long version" of how he met their mother.

<i>Too Outrageous!</i> 1987 Canadian film

Too Outrageous! is a 1987 Canadian comedy film directed and written by Richard Benner and starring Craig Russell as Robin Turner, a drag queen. It is based on a story by Margaret Gibson.

<i>Fingers at the Window</i> 1942 film by Charles Lederer

Fingers at the Window is a 1942 mystery film directed by Charles Lederer and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracey Bell</span> Canadian comedian

Tracey Bell is a Canadian comedian, impersonator, and impressionist. She is the creator of the one-woman show, "8 Divas in 44 Minutes" and known for her live impersonations of celebrities like Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Celine Dion, and Dolly Parton.

References

  1. Gary Arnold (July 21, 1977). "Movies At the West End Theater: Film Notes". The Washington Post. p. D9.
  2. Robert Martin, "Outrageous is, under close scrutiny". The Globe and Mail , September 15, 1977.
  3. Craig Russell Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine on glbtq.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "New Musical, Outrageous, Has World Premiere in Toronto Sept. 19-Oct. 21" Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine . Playbill , September 19, 2000.
  5. "Berlinale 1978: Prize Winners". imdb.com. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  6. "Musical changed by actor's background". Toronto Star , September 24, 2000.