Myra Breckinridge (1970)
June 24, 1970Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Media.
Details.
Release DateJune 24, 1970
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 34m
Content RatingR
Budget$5,000,000
Box Office$3,000,000
Filming LocationsLos Angeles, United States of America
Genres
Wiki.
Myra Breckinridge is a 1970 American comedy film based on Gore Vidal's 1968 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Michael Sarne, and featured Raquel Welch in the title role. It also starred John Huston as Buck Loner, Mae West as Leticia Van Allen, Farrah Fawcett, Rex Reed, Roger Herren, and Roger C. Carmel. Tom Selleck made his film debut in a small role as one of Leticia's "studs." Theadora Van Runkle was costume designer for the film, though Edith Head designed West's costumes.Like the novel, the picture follows the exploits of Myra Breckinridge (née Myron), a transgender woman who has undergone a sex change operation. Claiming to be her own widow, she manipulates her uncle into giving her a position at his acting school, where she attempts to usurp Hollywood's social order by introducing femdom into the curriculum.
The picture was controversial for its sexual explicitness (including acts like female-on-male rape), but it, unlike the novel, received little to no critical praise and has been cited as one of the worst films ever made. In subsequent decades the film has developed a cult following.