210. The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert; movie review

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Cert 15

99 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, sex references and threat

I felt a pang of shame when, in my usual post-movie reading, I looked up to see if Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp were gay or had experience of being in drag.
I was so convinced by their performances in the wonderfully entertaining The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert that I thought they must have backgrounds of which I was unaware.
Nope. There was nothing to suggest that this trio would be able to carry off roles as flamboyant, gay drag artists.
What that demonstrates to me, if I had not believed it previously, is that a great actor can take on any role.
After all, all three of them have become known as big screen hard nuts - completely opposite to those in Stefan Elliott's comedy-drama.

Interestingly, none were first choices but, as it turns out, I can't imagine that Tony Curtis, Tim Curry and Jason Donovan could have done a better job.
Pearce's portrayal of Felicia is particularly remarkable and brilliant.
This is an actor who has become famous for roles in the likes of LA Confidential, Memento and Lawless. Here his character is the epitome of camp - recklessly flirtatious, regardless of the circumstances.
He is the loose cannon on an Australian road trip with older entertainers, Mitzi (Weaving) and Bernadette (Stamp).
The trio bitch and argue constantly but also combine for a dazzling act which they perform in unlikely places to very different reactions.
Meanwhile, there are great slices of pathos surrounding backstories and, in particular, love lost.
This is all jolly compelling but the brilliance of Elliott's movie is its energy and its Oscar-winning costumes - they make Elton John's 70s gear look tame.
If I had watched The Adventures Of Priscilla The Queen Of the Desert previously, I couldn't remember it.
I suspect that means I hadn't - because Weaving, Stamp and Pearce performing in drag and calling each other darling for nearly two hours are not easily expunged from the memory.
They may have been way out of their comfort zone but they took on the challenge with the greatest gusto imaginable.
Setting them against traditional communities and unforgiving Australian Outback, Elliott has created a classic.

Reasons to watch: Great cast and wonderful performances
Reasons to avoid: There is a lot of screeching

Laughs: Three
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? Just before they started filming, the director took the three lead actors out to a bar in drag and none of them was recognised.

The final word. Terence Stamp: "I met actual transsexuals in London, started studying the physical manifestations and actually talking to them about how they did it because in truth, women don't move any differently from men, except when they're trying to interest men, and then they move in an exaggerated way to catch their eye. So you can't really observe women. It's like observing yourself." Urban Cine File

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