Superstar in a Housedress (2004)

"Jackie Curtis is not a drag queen. Jackie is an artist. A pioneer without a frontier." -- Andy Warhol. Superstar in a Housedress examines the life and legend of Warhol transvestite ... See full summary »

Director:

Craig Highberger

Writer:

Craig Highberger

Stars:

Paul Ambrose, Michael André, Penny Arcade

Cast

Credited cast:
Paul Ambrose	...	Himself
Michael André	...	Himself
Penny Arcade	...	Herself
Michael Arian	...	Himself
Gretchen Berg	...	Herself
David Bowie	...	Himself (archive footage)
Styles Caldwell	...	Himself
Leee Black Childers	...	Himself
Jackie Curtis	...	Herself (archive footage)
Joe Dallesandro	...	Himself
Candy Darling	...	Himself (archive footage)
Laura de Coppet	...	Herself
Alexis Del Lago	...	Herself
Harvey Fierstein	...	Himself
Joe Franklin	...	Himself

Storyline

"Jackie Curtis is not a drag queen. Jackie is an artist. A pioneer without a frontier." -- Andy Warhol. Superstar in a Housedress examines the life and legend of Warhol transvestite superstar Jackie Curtis who was a poet, playwright, performer, and one of the great personalities of his time. Jackie both lived and performed sometimes as a man, sometimes as a woman - and died tragically of a drug overdose under bizarre circumstances when he was only 38. The film features on-camera interviews with actor Harvey Fierstein who played Jackie's mother in "Americka Cleopatra" when he was 18, Ellen Stewart, founder of LaMama Experimental Theater Club, John Vaccaro, founder of the Playhouse of the Ridiculous, Paul Morrissey, Director of the Andy Warhol films, and surviving superstars Holly Woodlawn and Joe Dallesandro, plus 24 other friends and colleagues of Jackie's. The film includes never-before-seen video and film clips of Jackie performing in stage plays including "Femme Fatale," "Glamour, ...

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Plot Keywords:

drag | transvestite | artist | gay interest | transgender | 

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Taglines:

He was a celebrated poet, a playwright, a Warhol Superstar. He lived and performed... sometimes as a man, sometimes as a woman.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,760 (USA) (7 May 2004)

Gross:

$19,050 (USA) (21 May 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Highberger Media Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Fascinating remembrance of a unique artist

Fascinating remembrance of a unique artist who could seemingly change his sex at will, and also was a talented playwright and performer. Recalls the Warhol era in New York City which saw wide artistic experimentation in art, underground theater, and experimental film. The film includes archival film and video shot in the late sixties and early seventies and hundreds of photographs. Most interesting is the look inside the apartments of about two dozen interviewees in New York and Hollywood, including obscure artists and people like Lily Tomlin and Harvey Fierstein. The stories told by Jackie's surviving friends and colleagues are priceless - and hilarious! Bravo to Highberger for capturing and sharing them with us!