The Christine Jorgensen Story

Last updated
The Christine Jorgensen Story
Christine Jorgenson Story Poster.jpg
The Christine Jorgensen Story film poster.
Directed by Irving Rapper
Written by Robert E. Kent
Ellis St Joseph
Based onChristine Jorgensen, a Personal Autobiography
Produced by Edward Small
StarringJohn Hansen
Joan Tompkins
Quinn K. Redeker
CinematographyJacques R. Marquette
Edited byR. A. Radecki
Music by Paul Sawtell
Bert Shefter
Production
company
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • June 24, 1970 (1970-06-24)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budgetapprox $1 million [1]
Box office$1.5 million (US/ Canada rentals) [2]

The Christine Jorgensen Story is a 1970 American drama film and a fictionalized biographical film about trans woman Christine Jorgensen. While the overall premise of the film is accurate, many of the details are fictionalized for the continuity of the film. It was directed by Irving Rapper and based on Christine Jorgensen's autobiography. [3]

Contents

Plot

Cast

Production

A film based on the book was proposed in 1960. [4] Edward Small bought the film rights in 1968. [5] Jorgensen later claimed under the contract she would be entitled to 10% of the gross and 3.5% of the budget. [1]

"Every female impersonator in the world came flying into Hollywood demanding he was Christine", said Jorgensen later. [6] George/Christine is played by John Hansen. [7]

Irving Rapper said Small gave him the job as director because it required someone who had sensitivity. [8]

Release

Reviews were mixed. [9] [10] [11]

Howard Thompson gave the film a positive review in the New York Times (7/25/70), calling it, “a pleasant surprise.” He continues: “Here is a quiet, even dignified little picture, handled professionally and tastefully, minus a touch of sensationalism. It tells a convincing story—an unseen, climatic operation is spelled out in clear, unlurid terms—with enlightening tact. It also happens to be moving, and where you would least expect it. Compared to a glittering garbage pail like “Myra Breckinridge,” the film is downright disarming.” He concludes the review, “This is essentially a decent film that says a bit and implies much about human courage, sensitivity and plain pluck.”

Jorgensen later unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order to stop Small's estate from exploiting the film, claiming Small diverted $100,000 owed to her for his own use. [1] Jorgensen said she was worried United Artists would exploit the film as a B movie. [12]

Home media

The Christine Jorgensen Story was released on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment on October 12, 2011, through its Ultimate Collection DVD-on-demand service.

See also

Related Research Articles

Irving Rapper was a British-born American film director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Jorgensen</span> American transgender actress (1926–1989)

Christine Jorgensen, born George William Jorgensen Jr., was an American actress, singer, recording artist, and transgender activist. A trans woman, she was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamelyn Ferdin</span> American actress (b. 1959)

Pamelyn Wanda Ferdin is an American animal rights activist and former actress. Ferdin's acting career was primarily during the 1960s and 1970s, though she appeared in projects sporadically in the 1980s and later years. She began her acting career in television commercials, made 250 television shows and films and gained renown for her work as a voice actress supplying the voice of Lucy Van Pelt in A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), as well as in two other Peanuts television specials.

<i>Royal Flash</i> (film) 1975 British adventure comedy film

Royal Flash is a 1975 British adventure comedy film based on the second Flashman novel by George MacDonald Fraser. It stars Malcolm McDowell as Flashman. Additionally, Oliver Reed appeared in the role of Otto von Bismarck, Alan Bates as Rudi von Sternberg, and Florinda Bolkan played Lola Montez. Fraser wrote the screenplay and the film was directed by Richard Lester.

Edward Small was an American film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movies The Count of Monte Cristo (1934), The Man in the Iron Mask (1939), The Corsican Brothers (1941), Brewster's Millions (1945), Raw Deal (1948), Black Magic (1949), Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Solomon and Sheba (1959).

<i>The Brasher Doubloon</i> 1947 American crime film noir by John Brahm

The Brasher Doubloon is a 1947 American crime film noir directed by John Brahm and starring George Montgomery and Nancy Guild. It is based on the 1942 novel The High Window by Raymond Chandler.

<i>Thief of Hearts</i> 1984 American film

Thief of Hearts is a 1984 American erotic drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It was written and directed by Douglas Day Stewart.

<i>The Last Valley</i> (film) 1971 film directed by James Clavell

The Last Valley is a 1971 film written and directed by James Clavell, an historical drama set during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). While war ravages southern Germany, a mercenary leader and a teacher stumble upon a valley untouched by the war. Based upon the novel The Last Valley (1959), by J. B. Pick, the cinematic version of The Last Valley was the final feature film photographed with the Todd-AO 70 mm widescreen process until it was revived to make the film Baraka in 1991.

<i>It Had to Happen</i> 1936 film by Roy Del Ruth

It Had to Happen is a 1936 American drama film starring George Raft and Rosalind Russell. The movie was written by Kathryn Scola, and Howard Ellis Smith, and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It is based on the 1909 short story "Canavan, the Man Who Had His Way" by Rupert Hughes.

<i>Madame Racketeer</i> 1932 film

Madame Racketeer is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film featuring Alison Skipworth, Richard Bennett and George Raft. The movie was directed by Harry Wagstaff Gribble and Alexander Hall. It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Big Town</i> (1987 film) 1987 film by Harold Becker

The Big Town is a 1987 American drama neo-noir thriller film about a young man who comes to the big city to work as a professional gambler, in the process becoming romantically involved with two women—one of whom is already married. The film was directed by Ben Bolt and Harold Becker (uncredited) and it stars Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and Tommy Lee Jones.

<i>Black Magic</i> (1949 film) 1949 film

Black Magic is a 1949 American adventure drama romance film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel Joseph Balsamo. It was directed by Gregory Ratoff. Set in the 18th century, the film stars Orson Welles in the lead role as Joseph Balsamo, a hypnotist, magician, and charlatan who also goes by the alias of Count Cagliostro, and Nancy Guild as Lorenza/Marie Antoinette. Akim Tamiroff has a featured role as Gitano. The film received mixed reviews.

<i>Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake</i> 1942 film by John Cromwell

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake is a 1942 American south seas adventure film directed by John Cromwell and starring Tyrone Power. The film was adapted from Edison Marshall's 1941 historical novel Benjamin Blake. It is notable as the last film Frances Farmer appeared in before her legal problems and eventual commitment to psychiatric hospitals until 1950.

<i>The George Raft Story</i> 1961 film by Joseph M. Newman

The George Raft Story is a 1961 American biographical film directed by Joseph M. Newman that stars Ray Danton as Hollywood film star George Raft. The picture was retitled Spin of a Coin for release in the United Kingdom, a reference to Raft's character's nickel-flipping trick in Scarface (1932), the film that launched his career as an actor known for portraying gangsters.

<i>The Petty Girl</i> 1950 film by Henry Levin

The Petty Girl (1950), known in the UK as Girl of the Year, is a musical romantic comedy Technicolor film starring Robert Cummings and Joan Caulfield. Cummings portrays painter George Petty who falls for Victoria Braymore (Caulfield), the youngest professor at Braymore College who eventually becomes "The Petty Girl".

<i>Abroad with Two Yanks</i> 1944 film by Allan Dwan

Abroad with Two Yanks is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Helen Walker, William Bendix and Dennis O'Keefe as the title characters. It was Bendix's third and final role in a film as a US Marine and the first of Dwan's three films about the United States Marine Corps.

<i>Gypsy Wildcat</i> 1944 film by Roy William Neill

Gypsy Wildcat is a 1944 Technicolor adventure film directed by Roy William Neil starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Peter Coe. It was co-written by James M. Cain.

<i>Secrets of a Nurse</i> 1938 film by Arthur Lubin

Secrets of a Nurse is a 1938 American sports drama film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Edmund Lowe, Helen Mack, and Dick Foran.

Risky Business is a 1939 film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring George Murphy and Dorothea Kent.

<i>Rio</i> (1939 film) 1939 film by John Brahm

Rio is a 1939 American crime film directed by John Brahm and starring Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen. The film's title sequence doesn't credit a producer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Perlman, Jeffrey (3 Sep 1977). "AIMED AT FILM PRODUCER'S ESTATE: Christine Jorgensen Denied Court Order". Los Angeles Times. p. oc10.
  2. "Big Rental Films of 1970", Variety, 6 January 1971 p 11
  3. Markoutsas, Elaine (14 Jan 1979). "Christine Jorgensen celebrates 26 years as a woman". Chicago Tribune. p. k3.
  4. Scheuer, Philip K (29 Jan 1960). "Type Casting Given New Twist by Duo: Players Picked City by City; Rosenda Monteros in 'Seven'". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  5. Martin, Betty (4 Oct 1968). "Miss Jorgensen's Story Sold". Los Angeles Times. p. h15.
  6. Kramer, Carol (26 July 1970). "Miss Jorgensen Operates On a Sense of Humor". Chicago Tribune. p. f1.
  7. "Youth, 18, Accepts 'Christine' Role". Los Angeles Times. 16 Oct 1969. p. d13.
  8. Thomas, Kevin (24 Apr 1970). "The Problems of Directing 'Christine': Rapper Directs 'Christine'". Los Angeles Times. p. h1.
  9. Gary Arnold (13 July 1970). "'Christine': Film". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. p. C5.
  10. ROGER GREENSPUN (25 July 1970). "Screen: 'You Can't Win' Em All' Proves a Cliche: Collinson's Caper Film Written by Gordon Story of a Sex Change Also Opens Here". New York Times. p. 12.
  11. Malcolm, Derek (17 Sep 1970). "Has anybody here seen Kelly?". The Guardian. London (UK). p. 8.
  12. "Notes on People". New York Times. 8 Sep 1977. p. 62.