Out in the Mountains Ed Wood: Angora and Old Lace An OITM Review by Rev. Mild Thomas Twenty—odd years ago, Edward D. Wood, Jr. was a grade—Z ‘50’s director known only to a few film cultists who would stay up to watch his films on the late, late show. With the publication of “The Golden Turkey Awards” in 1980, where the Medved Brothers cheerfully gave Ed DYN AM IC S Professional Muscular Therapy ' 1:! Therapeutic Massage U Manual Lymph Drainage: - Immune system support D Fibromyalgia: - Pain management and free mformatronal sessions 0 Injury Evaluation and Treatment Wood an award for “Worst Director” and Wood’s film Plan 9 From Outer Space an award for “Worst Movie Of All Time”, the story of a cross—dressing film director became the cause of much public fascination. Film festivals featuring Wood’s films sprung up around the world. A biography, Nightmare of Ecstasy by Rudolph Gray, was published and a biographical video, Look Back In Angora, was released earlier this year by Rhino. Now the ultimate compliment has been bestowed upon Wood: a major motion picture based on his life. As directed by Tim Burton, no slouch as a director, the film is not a serious study of filmmaking along Hollywood’s “Poverty Row” nor does it take into account Wood’s sad fall into alcoholism and poverty when he was reduced to writing and producing pornographic films. Rather, it is almost a reverent retelling of Wood’s career in the ‘50’s, when he produced three of the arguably worst films ever made: Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and Plan 9 From Outer Space, films for which Wood had to sweet talk potential investors into financing. Ed Wood is not a “gay film” per se but it does have a gay sensibility. It is almost campy as it recounts Wood’s efforts at producing his films. Despite his need to make that “Big Statement”, be it about cross—dressing or atomic war, he simply did not have the talent to pull it off. Wood was also a cross—dresser with a fetish for angora sweaters and who, according to legend, landed at Iwo Jimo wearing women’s underwear underneath his uniform. His stock company included what those in Hollywood referred to as “fringees”, “oddballs” and “freaks” that never quite made the big time. As Ed Wood, Johnny Depp brings an enthusiasm and vigor to his performance. Certainly, it is worth the price of admission just to see him donning a blonde wig and an angora sweater. The rest of the cast is equally good, from Bill Murray as the would-be transsexual Bunny Breckinridge to Sarah Jessica Parker as Dolores Fuller, an actress that never gave Katharine Hepburn any sleepless nights. But the performance that overshadows them all is Martin Landau’s as Bela Lagosi. Landau captures the nuances of a man attempting to retain his dignity despite his has—been status and drug and alcohol addiction. Ed Wood is perhaps one of the best films made about Hollywood, certainly one about a part of Hollywood history that unfortunately does not get much scrutiny, that of low budget filmmaking. V Pen Dragon Bennington Bennington Free Library Bennington College Bennington Library Record Rack Southern Vermont College Brattleboro Brattleboro Food Coop Common Ground Everyone's Books Burlington Burlington College Chassman & Bem Fletcher Free Library Onion River Co—op Partners in Recovery & Growth Peace & Justice Center Pearls Planned Parenthood Castleton STEP Learning Center Chester Misty Valley Books Chester Craftsbury Craftsbury Public Library Where to Find OITM Center Rutland Rutland Area Gay/Lesbian Connection East Hardwick Gneenhope Fann Fair Haven Fair Haven Free Library Hardwick Buffalo Mountain Coop Galaxy Books Lyndonville Jon's Automotive Project EXCEL, Lyndon State College Manchester Center Northshire Bookstore Middlebury Addison County Women in Crisis llsley Public Library Middlebury Natural Food Coop Stonn Cafe Montpelier Bear Pond Books Horn of the Moon Cafe Rivendell Books Woman Centered Mon-isville Monistown Centennial Library Newfane Moore Free Library Northfield Brown Public Library Norwich Social Alternatives for Gay Men Plainfield Woman's Study Program Putney Putney Library Randolph Kimball Public Library Rutland PFLAG Rutland Free Library United Methodist Churh Grace Cong. United Church of Christ St. J ohnsbury LUNA/NEVGALR c/o Umbrella Natural Provisions Regional Library St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Stowe Food for Thought Waterbury Video Exchange White River Junction WRJ Books Upper Valley Coop Williamstown, MA Wild Oats Co-op Orbysubscriptionmailedrighttoyourdoorl