A psychiatrist tells two stories: one of a transvestite (Glen or Glenda), the other of a pseudohermaphrodite (Alan or Anne).
Buzzing comedies such as The Spy Who Dumped Me await you in our Summer Movie Guide. Check in for all the info you need.
Related News
-
Conrad Brooks, Actor in 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' and Other Ed Wood Films, Dies at 86
11 December 2017 | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News -
Plan 9 from Outer Space Star Conrad Brooks Passes Away at 86
08 December 2017 | MovieWeb -
The Disaster Artist movie review: a view on ‘The Room’
05 December 2017 | FlickFilosopher
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Glen or Glenda (1953)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Bride of the Monster
(1955)
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Tor Johnson,
Tony McCoy
Plan 9 from Outer Space
(1959)
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Gregory Walcott,
Tom Keene,
Mona McKinnon
Jail Bait
(1954)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Lyle Talbot,
Dolores Fuller,
Herbert Rawlinson
Night of the Ghouls
(1959)
Horror
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Kenne Duncan,
Duke Moore,
Tor Johnson
The Sinister Urge
(1960)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Kenne Duncan,
Duke Moore,
Jean Fontaine
Ed Wood
(1994)
Biography
|
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Tim Burton
Stars:
Johnny Depp,
Martin Landau,
Sarah Jessica Parker
Take It Out in Trade
(1970)
Comedy
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
L.G. Allard,
Nona Carver,
Linda Colpin
Robot Monster
(1953)
Sci-Fi
Director:
Phil Tucker
Stars:
George Nader,
Gregory Moffett,
Claudia Barrett
Dracula
(1931)
Fantasy
|
Horror
Director:
Tod Browning
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Helen Chandler,
David Manners
The Black Sleep
(1956)
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Reginald Le Borg
Stars:
Basil Rathbone,
Akim Tamiroff,
Lon Chaney Jr.
Attack of the Giant Leeches
(1959)
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Bernard L. Kowalski
Stars:
Ken Clark,
Yvette Vickers,
Jan Shepard
Nympho Cycler
(1971)
Comedy
Director:
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Stars:
Casey Larrain,
Edward D. Wood Jr.,
Stud Stetson
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Bela Lugosi | ... | ||
| Lyle Talbot | ... | ||
 |
Timothy Farrell | ... | |
| Dolores Fuller | ... | ||
|
|
'Tommy' Haynes | ... | |
| Edward D. Wood Jr. | ... | ||
|
|
Charles Crafts | ... | |
| Conrad Brooks | ... |
Banker /
Reporter /
Pickup Artist /
Bearded Drag
(as Connie Brooks)
|
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
"Glen or Glenda" tells two stories. One is about Glen, who secretly dresses as a woman but is afraid to tell his fiancée, Barbara. The other is about Alan, a pseudohermaphrodite who undergoes a painful operation to become a woman. Both stories are told by Dr. Alton, who also delivers an earnest lecture on tolerance and understanding. There is a second narrator, called the Scientist, whose commentary on the action contains more philosophical pronouncements than facts. The movie also has flashbacks-within-flashbacks and a strange dream sequence. We meet Insp. Warren, whose investigation of a transvestite's suicide leads him to learn more about men in women's clothes; Johnny, whose wife left him when she discovered what he wears when she's away; Barbara, oblivious to Glen's desire to wear her angora sweater; Satan, who invades Glen's nightmare; and others. Meanwhile, the Scientist will only offer cryptic advice. "Beware!" he warns. "Beware of the big, green dragon that sits on your ... Written by J. Spurlin
Taglines:
The strange case of a "man" who changed his SEX! See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
April 1953 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Glen or Glenda, Which Is It? See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$20,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (1982 re-issue) | (DVD) | (cut) | (DVD)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Vittorio Monti
[plays during the bondage portion of the dream sequence]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Warren Beatty is purported to have sponsored its 1981 reissue by Paramount, while he was working there making Reds (1981). See more »Goofs
The headline on the newspaper at the beginning has clearly been taped on. See more »Quotes
Scientist: Beware. Beware. Beware of the big, green dragon that sits on your doorstep. He eats little boys, puppy dog tails and big, fat snails. Beware. Take care. Beware.See more »
Crazy Credits
Card at beginning: In the making of this film, which deals with a strange and curious subject, no punches have been pulled-- no easy way out has been taken. Many of the smaller parts are portrayed by persons who actually are, in real life, the character they portray on the screen. This is a picture of stark realism-- taking no sides -- but giving you the facts -- ALL the facts -- as they are today... YOU ARE SOCIETY -- JUDGE YE NOT... See more »Soundtracks
Czardas(uncredited)
Music by Vittorio Monti
[plays during the bondage portion of the dream sequence]
See more »
GLEN OR GLENDA is uniquely bad. Suffice it to say, one has to witness it in order to really believe it. There's almost no point of writing a sensible review of this "movie" because it's beyond wonky. It's so bad that it's almost pure genius. Bunuel couldn't have created a more surreal film than Ed Wood's treatise on the merits of cross-dressing. The "movie" is 70% stock footage or stuff that has nothing to do with the main "story." A huge chunk of the amazing dream sequence is just a nudie cutie. The "acting" is abysmal. Dolores Fuller wins the award for worst actress of all time. The dialogue is so hilarious that it's endlessly quotable. But the whole thing is oddly frank and earnest and because of this, this kooky disaster of a movie actually has a heart, which is more than you can say about most movies out there. I love it. There's almost nothing like it.