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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian film about two drag queens, and a transsexual woman 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. Since its release it has became a significant cult film.
Plot synopsis
Anthony "Tick" Belrose a.k.a. Mitzi Del Bra, a drag queen, decides to accept an offer to perform at a casino in Alice Springs, a town in rural Australia. After persuading his friends and fellow performers, Bernadette Bassenger - a recently bereaved transsexual woman - and Adam Whitely a.k.a. Felicia Jollygoodfellow - an irritatingly flamboyant and obnoxious drag queen - to join him, and the three set out for Alice Springs in a large tour bus which Adam/Felicia christens "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, Tick reveals that he 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 Tick and his wife have a young son. Guy Pearce plays Adam/Felicia, Terrence Stamp plays Bernadette and Hugo Weaving plays Tick/Mitzi.
Cultural impact
The film achieved a strong cult status in the gay community as a camp classic. The film explored gay stereotypes without always reverting to those stereotypes just for a cheap laugh. The movie was unique for its time in that its characters were neither sinners, nor evil (like many gay, lesbian, and transgender characters in early film) nor perfect, saintly martyrs (i.e Philadelphia), but rather fully formed characters with strengths and flaws.
The film portrayed Australia's vast and beautiful outback in an idyllic way showcasing its beauty and remoteness. The story also brought together the travelling troupe with a tribe of Aboriginals, 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. 'To Wong Foo' began production during the middle of 'Prisiclla' being filmed.
In the closing 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.
Quotes
Marion: Stop wearing out that mirror!
Felicia: * A desert holiday, let's pack the drag away. You take the lunch and tea, I'll take the ecstasy. Fuck off you silly queer, I'm getting out of here. A desert holiday, hip hip hip hip hooray!
Bernadette: Stop flexing your muscles, you big pile of budgie turd. I'm sure your mates will be much more impressed if you just go back to the pub and fuck a couple of pigs on the bar.
Bob: Bernadette, please.
Frank: BERNADETTE? Well I'll be darned. The whole circus is in town. Well I suppose you wanna fuck too do you? Come on Bernadette, come and fuck me. That's it. Come on. Come and fuck me. Come on.
Bernadette: There, now you're fucked!
Bernadette: No, I'll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba!
Tick: Doesn't give us much to talk about then, does it?
Bernadette: We're unplugging our curling wands and going bush, Felicia. Why would you possibly want to leave all this glamour for a hike into the middle of nowhere?
Felicia: You really want to know?
Bernadette: Desperately.
Felicia: Well... Ever since I was a lad I've had this dream... a dream that I now, finally, have a chance to fulfill.
Bernadette: And that is...?
Felicia: To travel to the centre of Australia, climb King's Canyon - as a queen, in a full-length Gaultier, heels and a tiara.
Bernadette: Great. That's just what this country needs: a cock in a frock on a rock.
Mitzi: Oh, get back in your kennels, both of you!
Mitzi: Well, g'bye Bob. Thanks for a very... educational stay.
Felicia: Yes, I'd do anything to be able to open a bottle like that.
Bob: Bernadette... it's certainly been an honour meeting a member of Les Girls.
Bernadette: And may I say it's been an honour to meet a gentleman. Believe me, Bob, these days gentlemen are an endangered species. Unlike bloody drag queens, who just keep breeding like rabbits!
Benj (Mitzi/Tick's son): What's the matter?
Felicia: Nothing. (provocatively) You know what your father does for a living?
Benj: Yeah.
Felicia: (still stirring it) So I suppose you realise he doesn't really like girls, then.
Benj: (straightforward) Does he have a boyfriend at the moment?
Felicia: No...
Benj: Neither does Mum. She used to have a girlfriend but she got over her.
Trivia
- The bus, Priscilla, actually belonged to The Whitlams, and they toured in it, not knowing that it would soon be an icon.
- In the video store is a poster for Frauds (1993), also directed by Stephan Elliott and also starring Hugo Weaving.
- The line in the closing credits "Shown in Dragarama at select theatres" is a reference to some theatres using a mirror-ball and colored lighting during the "Finally" dance number.
- The famous thong dress, which won the movie an Academy Award, cost only $7.
- Hugo Weaving's character was based on Sydney drag-queen Cindy Pastel, who like the character has a son and female companion.
- Tim Curry turned down the role of Mitzy.
- The opening and closing scenes were both filmed on the same day.
- Bill Hunter was filming Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla at the same time, each requiring him to have different length hair, beard and to be in different parts of the country.
- Due to a heavy filming schedule, lots of filming was done while the entire crew was on the road. But because the bus was such a small set, there was no room for the crew. As such in many scenes, they are actually in shot, hiding under clothes and other props.
- Nikki Webster has one of her first screen roles in this film.
Alternate versions
- A joke, explaining where Trumpet got his name, was omitted for the film's US release, but later released on the Special Edition DVD.
See also
External link
1994 films | Cult films | LGBT-related films | Australian films | ABBA
Priscilla, Königin der Wüste | Priscilla, folle du désert | The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | プリシラ | Приключения Присциллы, королевы пустыни (фильм)
"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"