Myra Breckinridge (1970)

Director:

Michael Sarne

Writers:

David Giler (writer)
Michael Sarne (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

24 June 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Meet Myra Breckinridge. You'll Never Forget Her!

Plot:

Myron Breckinridge is waiting for his sex-change operation while a stoned surgeon stumbles into the operating room...

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Operating Room | Sex Change | Alter Ego | Talent Scout

Cast

Mae West	...	Leticia Van Allen
John Huston	...	Buck Loner
Raquel Welch	...	Myra Breckinridge
Rex Reed	...	Myron
Farrah Fawcett	...	Mary Ann Pringle
Roger C. Carmel	...	Dr. Randolph Spencer Montag
Roger Herren	...	Rusty Godowski
George Furth	...	Charlie Flager Jr.
Calvin Lockhart	...	Irving Amadeus
Jim Backus	...	Doctor
John Carradine	...	Surgeon
Andy Devine	...	Coyote Bill
Grady Sutton	...	Kid Barlow
Robert P. Lieb	...	Charlie Flager Sr. (as Robert Lieb)
Skip Ward	...	Chance
Kathleen Freeman	...	Bobby Dean Loner
B.S. Pully	...	Tex
Buck Kartalian	...	Jeff
Monte Landis	...	Vince
Tom Selleck	...	Stud
Peter Ireland	...	Student
Nelson Sardelli	...	Mario
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cal Bartlett	...	Acting school student (uncredited)
Thordis Brandt	...	Whip-cracking masseuse (uncredited)
Choo Choo Collins	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Dan Hedaya	...	Patient in Hospital Ward (uncredited)
William Hopper	...	Judge Frederic D. Cannon (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold	...	Extra / bridge party guest (uncredited)
Miel Saan	...	(uncredited)
Michael Sarne	...	Acting school student (uncredited)
Michael Stearns	...	Stud (uncredited)
Svetlana	...	Extra (uncredited)
Geneviève Waïte	...	Dental patient (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Sarne

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Giler		writer
Michael Sarne		writer
Gore Vidal		novel

Produced by
Robert Fryer	....	producer
David Giler	....	producer

Original Music by
John Phillips

Cinematography by
Richard Moore

Film Editing by
Danford B. Greene

Casting by
Michael McLean

Art Direction by
Fred Harpman
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Reg Allen
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Theadora Van Runkle

Makeup Department
Edith Lindon	....	hair stylist
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	makeup supervisor
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William Eckhardt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dick Glassman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Greg C. Jensen	....	set construction

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Art Cruickshank	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Donna Garrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russ McCubbin	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Del Ruth	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edith Head	....	costumes: Miss Mae West

Editorial Department
Hugh K. Cummings	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jeff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Jack Elliott	....	orchestrator
Allyn Ferguson	....	orchestrator
Lyn Murray	....	orchestrator
Lionel Newman	....	conductor
Lionel Newman	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver

Other crew
Ralph Beaumont	....	choreographer
Don Prince	....	unit publicist

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Barcino Films S.A. (1976) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Magnetic Video (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Gore Vidal's Myra Breckinridge

Runtime:

94 min | Spain:91 min (alternate version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2006) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | USA:X (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | UK:18 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) (1978) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Chateau Marmont - 8221 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Rex Reed originally refused to say the line, "Where are my tits? Where are my tits?". However, the producers informed him that if he didn't say the line, they would use an establishing shot with a voice impressionist yelling "WHERE ARE MY TITS? WHERE ARE MY TITS?". He reluctantly agreed to say the line.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Apparently pieced together from different takes, Myra's blouse collar alternately appears fully outside, partially inside/outside and fully outside her jacket during the scene in which she "depantses" Rusty in her office.

Quotes:

Leticia Van Allen: Wel, the end of another busy day. I can't wait till I get back to bed. If that don't work I'll try to sleep.

Movie Connections:

References The Little Foxes (1941)

Soundtrack:

Hard to Handle

Methinks they protest too much

A man who wishes to become a woman wants to show the world that men are not the superior beings that they have been made out to be. To in fact do to men what men have been doing to women since the beginning of time. Is it surprising that this film is despised by so many people - especially men? The fact that this film is so threatening is a good sign that it is right on track. A handsome idiot "stud", an over-the-hill sexist cowboy wannabe and a whole stable of dumb gorgeous guys (including Tom Selleck!) show what all those fun, sexist sixties movies look like in the mirror image. For here it is the women (Myra and an elderly Mae West) who throw out the sexist innuendo and treat men like fresh meat that have little value other than what they can offer women with their bodies. The sight of an unattractive and elderly Mae West always gets the shaft by the film's critics, yet they rarely comment on the appearance of her male counterpart (played with great relish by John Huston) who also seduces (and I might add verbally abuses) women one-third his age. Hmmm. The fact that this film is so hated shows how far men still have to go before opening up their minds and really seeing the double standards that they adhere to when it comes to sex comedies. It's only when the tables are turned that one can truly perceive this - and this film does this beautifully. It is after all a satire and commentary on Hollywood (as well as on the cheesy camp classics from everyone from Roger Corman to Russ Meyer). The interspersing of classic Hollywood movies depicting this seems to have eluded many viewers since they're so used to taking such images for granted. They don't question them or even see what those classic images are really projecting.

Anyway, this is the most brilliant example of camp cinema to date. The hilarious sabotaging of scenes with reaction shots from various movie stars reflects the so-called innocence of the audience (no wonder so many people find that uncomfortable!), and the film is also choked full of famous faces parodying the very images that made them famous. It has all the camp and surreal qualities of Gore Vidal's book, and it retains most of his incredible dialogue. It is also one of the best movies about Hollywood and the jerks who work there. And last but not least, Raquel Welsh should be most proud of her performance. I cannot imagine anyone else in this role because she is not only wonderful, she completely turns the tables on the stereotypes she personified to men throughout her career. She was a wonderfully cheesy sex goddess, and here she finally has a chance to ahem, be in the driver's seat. It's all just in fun, and that's what the movie is saying. If treating women like they are just a pair of boobs is entertainment, then why can't treating men like they are just a pair of bullocks be the same?