I Want What I Want (1972)

Director:

John Dexter

Writers:

Geoff Brown (novel)
Gillian Freeman

Release Date:

8 June 1972 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Transsexual | Sex Change | Independent Film | Based On Novel

Cast

Anne Heywood	...	Roy / Wendy
Harry Andrews	...	Roy's Father
Jill Bennett	...	Margaret Stevenson
Paul Rogers	...	Mr. Waites
Michael Coles	...	Frank
Sheila Reid	...	June
Virginia Stride	...	Shirley
Jill Melford	...	Lorna
Philip Bond	...	Philip
Rachel Gurney	...	Mrs. Parkhurst
Robin Hawdon	...	Tony
Anthony Sharp	...	Mr. Parkhurst
Deborah Grant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daphne Anderson
John Baskcomb
Paul Prescott	...	Roger Parkhurst
Hilda Fenemore	...	(uncredited)
Liza Goddard	...	Carole (uncredited)
Laurie Goode	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
John Dexter

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Geoff Brown		novel
Gillian Freeman

Produced by
Raymond Stross	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Harris

Cinematography by
Gerry Turpin

Film Editing by
Peter Thornton

Art Direction by
William C. Andrews		(as Bill Andrews)

Costume Design by
Sue Yelland

Makeup Department
Trevor Crole-Rees	....	makeup artist
Bernadette Ibbetson	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Roy Parkinson	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bolton	....	assistant director
Chris Kenny	....	second assistant director
David Tringham	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John Brommage	....	sound recordist
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Sarafian	....	camera operator

Music Department
Johnny Harris	....	conductor

Other crew
Joan Davis	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Marayan

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing UK (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinerama (1972) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinerama Releasing Corporation
• International Film Distributors (Canada)
• Prism Entertainment
• Scorpion Releasing (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:R | UK:X | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)

Company:

Marayan

Simplistic yet thought provoking

This is the story of a young man's slow transition into the woman he always knew he was meant to be. Roy/Wendy played by Anne Heywood takes the plunge, leaving her abusive father's house and starting life anew as a woman. Through trial and error she learns the skills and consequences of being a woman as well as the terrible problems involved in not being considered fully female.

The look of the film is total 70's complete with bellbottoms and sappy soundtrack. The story is also somewhat unrealistic. For example, Wendy is able to become fully passable with only a short time of practicing in private. The film goes on to explore many interesting consequences of a life "under cover" when all she wants is a simple life as a normal woman. With all it's obvious faults, "I Want What I Want" contains some surprisingly touching and sensitive moments. And although it appears to have been a very cheap production, the filmmakers manage to do quite a lot with their limited resources. For example, background sounds of cars and dogs during some of Wendy's terrifying moments in public give an eerily realistic feel.

I always find it disappointing when a woman is cast for the part of a man pretending to be a woman. "Victor Victoria" is a fine film using the same gimmick but I find it very difficult to see Julie Andrews as a man even though she gives about the best performance she was capable of. The same goes for this film. Contrast that with "The Crying Game" where the illusion is perfect due to exceptional casting.

Probably controversial in it's time, "I Want What I Want" is a clearly a small film but one worth watching by anyone interested transgender issues.