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The Christine Jorgensen Story

  • 19701970
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
330
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance
A sex-change operation that changed "George" into "Christine" in 1950s Denmark.A sex-change operation that changed "George" into "Christine" in 1950s Denmark.A sex-change operation that changed "George" into "Christine" in 1950s Denmark.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
330
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Christine Jorgensen(autobiography)
    • Robert E. Kent
    • Ellis St. Joseph
  • Stars
    • John Hansen
    • Joan Tompkins
    • Quinn K. Redeker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Christine Jorgensen(autobiography)
    • Robert E. Kent
    • Ellis St. Joseph
  • Stars
    • John Hansen
    • Joan Tompkins
    • Quinn K. Redeker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    John Hansen in The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970)
    The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970)
    The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Hansen
    John Hansen
    • George Jorgensen Jras George Jorgensen Jr…
    Joan Tompkins
    Joan Tompkins
    • Aunt Thoraas Aunt Thora
    Quinn K. Redeker
    Quinn K. Redeker
    • Tom Crawfordas Tom Crawford
    John Himes
    • George Jorgensen Sr.as George Jorgensen Sr.
    Ellen Clark
    • Mrs. Florence Jorgensenas Mrs. Florence Jorgensen
    Rod McCary
    Rod McCary
    • Jess Warneras Jess Warner
    Will Kuluva
    Will Kuluva
    • Professor Estabrookas Professor Estabrook
    Oscar Beregi Jr.
    Oscar Beregi Jr.
    • Dr. Victor Dahlmanas Dr. Victor Dahlman
    • (as Oscar Beregi)
    Lynn Harper
    • Dollyas Dolly
    Trent Lehman
    • George at 7as George at 7
    Pamelyn Ferdin
    Pamelyn Ferdin
    • Dolly as a Childas Dolly as a Child
    Bill Erwin
    Bill Erwin
    • Pastoras Pastor
    Joyce Meadows
    Joyce Meadows
    • Tanias Tani
    Sondra Scott
    • Angelaas Angela
    Elaine Joyce
    Elaine Joyce
    • Lorettaas Loretta
    Don Pierce
    • Jackas Jack
    Kathleen Cordell
    • Woman Reporteras Woman Reporter
    Walter Stocker
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • Director
      • Irving Rapper
    • Writers
      • Christine Jorgensen(autobiography)
      • Robert E. Kent
      • Ellis St. Joseph
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A sex-change operation that changed "George" into "Christine" in 1950s Denmark.
    • cross dressing
    • character name as title
    • four word title
    • christine jorgensen character
    • gender reassignment surgery
    • 85 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • I Had to Make It As a Woman. There Was No Return.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the film's major advertising tag lines was the erroneous claim "The First Man To Become A Woman!" In truth, as the movie makes clear, others had undergone similar surgery earlier, but Jorgensen was simply the first well-publicized sex change case.
    • Goofs
      During a playground football game set during the Depression, a late-1960s car drives by in background.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Victor Dahlmen: Ah, you Americans, you're advanced in so many ways! But when it comes to sex, hmm! Childish! Operate on the brain! Perform a lobotomy, fine! But take a pair of testicles and *everybody* explodes!

    • Connections
      Featured in Homo Promo (1991)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    I would love to see a non-fictionalized biography of Jorgensen.
    In the early 1950s, George Jorgensen transitioned from a guy to a woman. I noticed some reviewers said he was the first to do so...but he was not, as some such surgeries were performed in Europe in the 1930s. Instead, he was the first to go public and openly admit they'd gone through the hormone replacement and operations. Now renamed 'Christine', she spent much of the rest of her live advocating for transsexual acceptance. Here in this 1970 film, Jorgensen's autobiography is brought to the big screen...with a caveat. The film was highly fictionalized according to several sources I read and I have no idea what was and what wasn't true. Sure, they wanted to make the film profitable and embellishing would make the project more cinematic...but it really calls for a more faithful film about her life. And, at this point, if you want the best version of Christine's life, try to find the book--and it is at Amazon (among other places).

    As far as the film goes, it seemed from the beginning that the filmmakers really didn't try all that hard to get the look of the film right. Much of the movie is set in the 1940s...yet the hairstyles and clothes look like they're from 1970! In particular, the models George was photographing looked nothing like a 1940s or 50s woman. The guys in the film were dressed in clothes closer to the period...which seemed a bit odd. Also, the cars shown in 'Copenhagen' (circa 1950) are mid to late 50s American cars. As a retired history teacher, I tend to notice these things...perhaps most others won't. I can only assume they either didn't care to get it right or the project was so low budget they simply couldn't afford the extra cost of getting the details right.

    The film stars John Hansen as George/Christine. He's not a particularly famous actor and only has a small number of film credits. But he was pretty good as the title character--rather feminine as a male but not campy or over the top. Once the transition's been made, Hansen does a fair job but looks more like a guy than Christine actually did-- modern makeup would have made the character more believable--but it was 1970 when they made the picture.

    As far as the rest of the film goes, it worked pretty well because it did not come off as an exploitation film--something that could have happened very easily. Sensitively made, it is interesting to watch though I also know it's not a film for everyone! My only big regret is that I wanted the film to be a true biography...not a film with occasional embellishments and changes for the sake of marketing.
    helpful•2
    0
    • planktonrules
    • Nov 1, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1970 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Christine
    • Production company
      • Edward Small Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $237,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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