Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis (2004)
“He was a celebrated playwright and poet. A pioneer in 1960's experimental film and theater. A Warhol superstar. He lived, and performed... sometimes as a man, sometimes as a woman.”
- 95 min
- Documentary
7.6/10 (171 votes)
Where to Watch in
Free
Purchase
9.99$
9.99$
Where to Watch in
Free
Purchase
9.99$
9.99$
Plot
"Superstar in a Housedress" plunges into the kaleidoscopic life and legacy of Jackie Curtis, an emblem of Warhol's transvestite stardom. Far more than a drag queen, Curtis was an artist, a trailblazer who defied boundaries, living and performing alternately as a man and a woman. This enigmatic persona, whose life was extinguished prematurely at 38 by a tragic drug overdose under peculiar circumstances, was a poet, playwright, and performer, universally recognized as one of the most intriguing characters of his era.
The film presents a rich tapestry of interviews with key personas from Curtis's life including actor Harvey Fierstein, who portrayed Jackie's mother at the tender age of eighteen in "Americka Cleopatra", Ellen Stewart, the visionary behind LaMama Experimental Theater Club, John Vaccaro, the mind that birthed the Playhouse of the Ridiculous, and Paul Morrissey, who directed the iconic Andy Warhol films. It also features the reminiscences of surviving Warhol superstars Holly Woodlawn and Joe Dallesandro, alongside shared memories from two dozen more of Jackie's contemporaries.
Intertwined with these intimate recollections are exclusive video and film clips of Jackie's stage performances in plays such as "Femme Fatale", "Glamour, Glory and Gold", and "Vain Victory: The Vicissitudes of the Damned", as well as cabarets. The film is laced with the rhythmic pulse of jazz musician and composer Paul Serrato's music, and illuminated by the evocative photography of Jack Mitchell, who captured Curtis and the Warhol entourage more than any other photographer.
Media personalities, writers, and editors offer their insights, placing the life and work of Jackie Curtis into a broader historical context. The narrative is guided by the warm and engaging voice of Lily Tomlin, inviting viewers on a fascinating exploration into the life of this extraordinary figure.
Where to watch Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis?
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis is a documentary movie featuring Jackie Curtis and directed by Craig Highberger.
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.
It is also possible to buy Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis on Amazon Video and Apple TV.