Movies - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

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	Movies - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian film about two drag queens, and a transsexual driving across the outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a large bus they have named Priscilla. The film stars Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, and Terence Stamp. It was written and directed by Stephan Elliott.

Tagline: Finally, a comedy that will change the way you think, the way you feel, and most importantly... the way you dress.

Mitzi Del Bra a drag queen, has grown tired of performing in Sydney pubs and decides to accept an offer to perform at a casino in Alice Springs, a town in rural Australia. After persuading her friends and fellow performers Bernadette Bassenger- a recently bereaved transsexual and Felicia Jollygoodfellow- an irritatingly flamboyant and obnoxious drag queen, to join her, and the three set out for Alice Springs in a large tour bus which they christened "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".

Encountering on the way the less accepting attitudes of rural Australia, sexual violence and the problems of vehicle breakdowns, the troupe eventually arrive at their destination with costumes and dance routines already sorted. Before they arrive in Alice Springs, Mitzi reveals that she is married and the trip is a favour for his wife who runs the casino where they will be perfoming. Upon arrival, they then learn that Mitzi and his wife have a young son. Guy Pearce plays Felicia, Terrence Stamp plays Bernadette and Hugo Weaving plays Mitzi.

Cultural impact

The film achieved somewhat of a cult status in the gay community as a camp classic. The film features popular 1970's disco classics beside featuring two drag queens and a transexual. The film explored gay stereotypes and exaggerated them. The movie was unique for its time in that its characters were neither sinners, nor evil (a la gay, lesbian, and transsexual characters in early film) nor perfect, saintly martyrs (a la Philadelphia
), but rather fully formed characters with strengths and flaws.

The film portrayed Australia's vast outback in an idyllic way showcasing its beauty and remoteness. The story also brought together the travelling troupe with a tribe of Aborigines, a powerful image of two often socially outcast peoples singing and dancing together under the most unlikely of circumstances.

The film also employed unique casting, especially with Terence Stamp, who had heretofore (and since) portrayed übermasculine villains. This film was the first large-scale venue for Pearce and Weaving, both of who have gone on to larger film success.

In 1995, an American film, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
, was released, and featured a similar plot line. It has been widely assumed that To Wong Foo was a 'knockoff' of Priscilla; however, the script and film production for To Wong Foo had commenced prior to the release of Priscilla. However, To Wong Foo was not released until nearly a year after Priscilla.

In the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a float shaped as a giant Stiletto heel -- as inspired from one of the most striking images from the film -- was paraded around the stadium as a tribute to the gay community in Sydney.

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