Ed Wood – a 1994 film from director Tim Burton – is the story of Edward Davis Wood Jr. the writer, director and film producer who is generally regarded to have some of the world’s worst movie. The movie is based on the biography Nightmare of Ecstasy by writer Rudolph Grey. It revolves around the struggles of Wood as an independent film maker in the mid twentieth century. The treatment of Wood as a character is semi biographical and fairly representative of the many movies that he made. One aspect of Wood’s life that the makers of the movie paid particular attention to is the fact that Wood was an avowed heterosexual transvestite. This topic permeates the film from the beginning (when Wood makes his first movie Glen or Glenda which he starred in) on through the rest of the movie. If the film makers are to be believed Wood had no qualms about letting the world know about orientation despite the repercussions he may have faced. During the course of the film Wood loses his girlfriend as a result of his behavior and nearly alienates financiers when showing up on set in drag. Although not implicitly stated, it appears as though Wood would indulge his transvestism when stress became unbearable. This implies that not being able to appear as he wanted was also a cause for stress in his life, and that being allowed to appear as he wanted allowed him to deal with the other pressures he faced. Overall the movie is well produced and tasteful in its treatment of a historical representative of a subset of American culture.
This film may allow GLBT to see that they are capable of overcoming challenges that their sexuality presents. And although Wood was not a homosexual, it is possible that he could be seen as a positive role model for those who are not comfortable with there gender identity. Te film also has the ability to challenge the stereotype that gender confused people need be effeminate or promiscuous. As stated in the film, Wood was a combat veteran and valued a committed relationship. Neither of these traits is often associated with the GLBT community.
I greatly enjoyed this film as it is seemed a well balanced perspective of a unique persona (although they did exaggerate his film-making ability). And, although I cannot say that it reflects any aspects of my own life, I think it can be an inspirational film for anyone overcoming self worth issues.
For further information on the life and times of Edward Wood see the following:
Rudolph Grey’s Nightmare of Ecstasy from Feral house Publishers
The Ed Wood Appreciation Page at: http://hem.passagen.se/mwrang/edwood.htm
For a complete list of his works see: http://www.edwoodonline.com/thehunt/MAIN.html
