Let Me Die a Woman (1977)

Director:

Doris Wishman

Writers:

(more)

Release Date:

1977 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The Why and How of Sex Change Operations!

Plot:

A documentary on the work of sex-change specialist Dr.Leo Wollman, including interviews with Dr.Wollman and a few of his patients...

Plot Keywords:

Sex Change | Interview | Doctor | Genital Dismemberment | Cross Dressing

Cast

Leslie
Deborah Harten	...	Herself - Transsexual
Lisa Carmelle
Frank Pizzo
Harry Reems	...	Rhoda's Cab Driver (as Tim Long)
Carol Sands
Billy Kelman
Doug Martin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ursula Austin	...	Blanche (uncredited)
Arlana Blue	...	Rhoda (uncredited)
Vanessa del Rio	...	Sandy (uncredited)
Michael Gaunt	...	Tom (uncredited)
Richard Towers	...	John in Park (uncredited)
Leo Wolman	...	Himself - Leo Wollman M.D. (uncredited)

Directed by
Doris Wishman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Doris Wishman		written by (uncredited)

Produced by
Doris Wishman	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Valentino

Cinematography by
João Fernandes		(as Juan Fernandez)

Film Editing by
Louis Burdi		(as Lou Burdi)

Editorial Department
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer (uncredited)

Other crew
Doris Wishman	....	continuity (as D. Whitman)
Leo Wolman	....	scientific and medical advisor (as Leo Wolman MD)

Production Companies

• Hygiene Films

Distributors

• Frontier Amusements (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Derann Film Services (1981) (UK) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Synapse Films (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2007) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• B. & O. Film Effects  opticals
• Titan Productions  sound

Also Known As:

"Strange Her - Adam or Eve" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:X | Australia:R (censored) | UK:(Banned) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario - edited version) | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hygiene Films

Trivia:

The film was rejected for UK cinema and only received a certificate in 1982 after extensive cuts of over 10 minutes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in American Grindhouse (2010)

Pseudo Documentary

Let Me Die a Woman was a semi-serious attempt in 1978 by underground director Doris Wishman to film the attitudes and lifestyles of sexually confused individuals who want to change their gender. The film also enlisted the aid of Dr. Leo Wollman M.D. (surprise, surprise, he's actually a legitimate doctor), who relates case histories of individuals who have had sex changes and the problems they face. We do get to see an actual sex change take place (although most of it's covered with a surgical sponge) and witness numerous probes of newly constructed sex organs. All pretense this has of being a real documentary falls apart quickly when it becomes a string of softcore porn scenes. Apart from that, several of the people being interviewed are obviously either homosexuals or women and while talking about dildos as medical aides for operatives, Dr. Wollman makes a bold statement by telling us that "not all dildos are used for medical purposes" (!) A tremendous amount of the impact of this film has been taken away by the so-called talk shows that feature these people as guests every week so that now, they seem routine rather than shocking. Though not Doris Wishman's best film, it is an interesting time capsule and on a camp level, Let Me Die a Woman is an entertaining film.