Monday 31 October 2016

Eva Man : Lost Transsexual Grindhouse Cinema

Transgender Movie With Eva Robins & Ajita Wilson Trans Actors

Any person who reads my blog will realise I have a passion for old obscure films, the more obscure the better and if they feature any form of gender blurring then fantastic.

Eva Man Film poster with Eva RobinsToday we will take a look at a forgotten film from 1980 called Eva Man (Due sessi in uno) starring two transsexual starlets, Eva Robins and Ajita Wilson. I have discussed the career of Eva Robins before in my blog entry about her film Mascara. For those who don't know Ajita Wilson, she was an American post op transsexual actress who appeared in many exploitation movies of the 1970's and 80's.  Ajita had a sex change operation in the mid 1970's. Her adult career started in New York but she was later discovered by Euro film directors such as Jess Franco, and she worked out of Europe appearing in many titles. Several of her movies are available today such as Sadomania by Jess Franco.

Sadly Ajita died of a brain haemorrhage after a car accident in 1987.
Eva Robins Transsexual video film poster



Back to Eva Man, I must confess I really don't know what this film is actually about. The only version I have seen is in its native Italian language. However for fans of the obscure and rare it has many elements of classic exploitation, or perhaps I should say sexploitation. There is murder, kidnapping, bad disco dancing, cheesy music and sex and more sex. Plus the two leading characters in this film are transgendered. Basically it's 'porno chic', before the advent of transsexual pornography became popular. So it's a first of its kind, a head of its time.

Ajita Wilson Transsexual Model Magazine Cover



One user on IMDB commented the following regarding the film:
"Since I dont speak italian i can only guess what this film is about, But its one of those films that are just so wonderfully absurd you like them anyway. And the disco tunes are fab! Plotwise i think its about some sort of professor conducting lovemaking experiments with people. His favourite subject is Evaman who is a nice looking blond with a bigger d*** than her boyfriend. some bad guys want to kidnap Evaman and cut of her genitalia with an axe and everyone has sex and swims around naked in a pool. It might actually be ment as some sort of comedy but we cant be certain."



Eva Man Film Video Loby card

Not a film for everyone. But remember back in 1980 Hollywood was sill shying away from presenting transgender people in film, unless their character was somehow corrupt or unsavoury, and got killed at the end by the heterosexual hero. Ok, as I said this is a sexploitation - a soft to medium porno (with a story)  but the transgender characters are celebrated, perhaps as curios, they are not shown as bad people but as sexual Goddesses.


As far as I'm aware the film is not available to purchase. I would love to see a 2k or 4K remastering of this film with sub titles. If anyone knows of such a restoration or the future availablity on Blu Ray release please let me know.

Here is a video tribute to the film Eva Man enjoy.....










Are you affected by crossdressing? Do you have cross gender feelings that you find difficult to talk about? Why not try Cross Dream Life at http://crossdreamlife.lefora.com

Transvestite crossdressing supper group




Wednesday 5 October 2016

Transsexual Superstar Candy Darling

Candy Darling Warhol Transgender Actress & Model

Candy Darling Transsexual Model

Candy Darling was born 24th November 1944 as James Lawrence Slattery. Candy's early years were spent living with her mother after her parents divorced. Her father was reported to be a violent alcoholic so I guess her early years were very unpleasant.

As a child Candy was fascinated by the glamour of Hollywood actresses and fantasised about and impersonated many of her female idols. This led to frequent crossdressing and exploration of her female personality as she grew.

By the time Candy met Andy Warhol in 1967 she was crossdressing full time and possibly on female hormones too.

Candy Darling positioned herself in the centre of the Andy Warhol scene in the 1960's. Part of Andy's  'Factory',  underground film making and pop art. Candy always wanted to be a superstar and she achieved a form of super star status with Andy's help.

Andy cast her in 'Flesh' (1968) and 'Women in Revolt' (1971). Candy also had some cameo appearances in 'Klute' with Jane Fonda and 'Lady Liberty' with Sophia Loren. Candy tried hard to obtain the lead role in 'Myra Breckinridge' (1970) but lost out to Raquel Welch. She also obtained parts in some independent films such as, 'Silent Night, Bloody Night', 'Some of My Best Friends Are...' and 'Brand X'.

Her look became very iconic and still influences today with the look of fashion today. Models such as Andrej Pejic have appeared in a variety of photo shoots where the look and style is attributed to Candy.



There is also a very famous song which features Candy by Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, 'Walk on the Wild Side'. Also featured in the lyrics are the other members of Andy Warhols close circle including other transgender women Holly Woodlawn and Jackie Curtis. Andy was obviously fascinated by gender blurring and loved to have such people as part of his entourage.

Here is a video tribute of Lou Reeds Walk on the Wildside


Candy Darling Before & After Impersonation
Interestingly Stephen Dorff played Candy Darling very convincingly in the Film 'I Shot Andy Warhol' (1996). This is a film well worth checking out.
The Warhol 'Factory' and its unusual characters will be featured in a new film which is in the early stages. This new film, Warhol is going to be produced by Jared Leto. Jared is also going to star in the film. Not sure if he will play Warhol or Candy???
Candy sadly died at the age of 29 of a lymphoma. I understood that it was suspected that it was caused by years of overdosing with female hormones, but this is unconfirmed.

For those wanting to find out more about Candy Darling a good place to start is to watch the recent documentary 'Beautiful Darling' (2010). Also Candy has her own Wikipedia Page Here 




Are you affected by crossdressing? Do you have cross gender feelings that you find difficult to talk about? Why not try Cross Dream Life at http://crossdreamlife.lefora.com

Crossdressing support group


Monday 3 October 2016

What Sex Am I? Sex Change Exploitation Cinema

Transgender Documentary Films

Here are two forgotten transgender themed movies from the vaults of yesteryear. The first is Ed Wood's Glen or Genda, followed by Doris Wishman's seedy Let Me Die A Woman.

Glen or Glenda Ed Wood

'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'. A rather bizarre line from the bizarre, but very personal  Ed Wood film Glen or Glenda 1953,  starring Bela Lugosi.  Ed Wood himself was a crossdresser, which is why I say this was a very personal project for him.


I Changed My Sex Ed Wood

The synopsis from Wikipedia:  Glen or Glenda is a 1953 drama film written, directed by, and starring Ed Wood, and featuring Bela Lugosi and Wood's then-girlfriend Dolores Fuller. The title was originally I Changed My Sex! and is often given as Glen or Glenda? but the question mark is not present in the film itself.

The film is a docudrama about cross-dressing and transsexuality, and is semi-autobiographical in nature. Wood himself was a cross-dresser, and the film is a plea for tolerance. It is widely considered one of the worst films ever. However, it has become a cult film due to its low-budget production values and idiosyncratic style.

Here is the trailer. 



For those who are interested in the life of Ed Wood as a person and a film maker there is a list of resources as long as your arm on the net. Perhaps a good place to start is by watching the Johnny Depp film Ed Wood. Here is the trailer:



Recent news for the Ed Wood fans out there reports some presumed lost films Ed Woods films have recently been discovered. They have been released on DVD too under the title 'Ed Wood's Dirty Movies' (say no more, I'm sure you can understand what they will contain).  Check this out



Glen or Glenda is easily available to stream online from Amazon (which has the colourised version) or purchase on DVD.

Lets have Ed Wood making the closing remark, 'This story's gonna grab people! It's about this guy, he's crazy about this girl, but he likes to wear dresses. Should he tell her? Should he not tell her?! He's torn, Georgie! This is drama!' Edward D Wood Jr. 

Next we have Doris Wishman's 1970s Sexchange Shocker, Let Me Die a Woman.


The synopsis from Wikipedia reads : Let Me Die a Woman is a 1978 semidocumentary film concerning the lives of transgender people directed and produced by exploitation film auteur Doris Wishman.

The film features interviews with gender dysphoria pundit and caregiver Dr. Leo Wollman as well as various transgender people, including transgender rights activist Deborah Hartin. Between the interviews, there are staged dramatizations of the interviewees' experiences.

Let Me Die A Woman Sexchange Video


Let Me Die A WomanPersonally I thought this was the most unforgivable and shameful film ever made on the transgender subject. I have always been a fan of horror and exploitation movies, but this one takes the biscuit. There is even a sequence where we see someone cut off their penis with a chisel and a hammer, with a drum roll soundtrack.
The tone of the film is very seedy. From the castration sequence I just mentioned to grainy porny sequences of love making. The 'Doctor' also recommends very strange sex toy devices to assist the post op transsexual, as shown in the above still from the film.

Remember this was made before the phrase 'politically correct' was even thought of.

Let Me Die A Woman PosterLet Me Die A Woman Sexchange Video

Here is the trailer:



The film is easily available on DVD to purchase from Something Weird Video.

Are you affected by crossdressing? Do you have cross gender feelings that you find difficult to talk about? Why not try Cross Dream Life at http://crossdreamlife.lefora.com