In 1968, way before Paris is Burning and the ubiquitous Drag Race, filmmaker Frank Simon shot his debut documentary about the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant. This glorious piece of cinema verite that captured a group of drag queens vying to be the winner has been lovingly restored in 4K, and thanks to the people at Kino Lorber is about to be re-launched into the world.
Simon’s cameras stick to the contestants who had won local heats all over the country as they crowd into a friendly NY Hotel to prep for the big Event. Toting their wigs and outrageous evening dresses there is this wonderful sense of camaraderie as they share tips about doing drag and stories about being gay in a very homophobic culture.
In this wonderful sneak preview we see the ‘girls’ get tense as the day of the competition draws nearer, and when the youngest contestant, a protege of the MC wins, one of the runner-ups storms off and creates a drama all of her own.
This extraordinary film so succinctly captures a slice of gay/drag life as NY was offering liberation, and way before the advent of AIDS that would take the broad smiles of our faces. It is a crucial part of our history that will totally delight anyone old enough to remember, and perfect for those who don’t but take joy in celebrating our past.
The movie is scheduled to open in NY in June BUT it may hit some Film Festival before then, so stay tuned as we are keeping an eye on it. Plus you are not imagining it, that is Andy Warhol as one of the Judges.
Labels: 2019, documentary, drag, gay history, restored
