Part confession, part chaos, and all heart, Glen or Glenda (1953) was Ed Wood’s most personal and misunderstood film — a low-budget plea for compassion and understanding decades ahead of its time. Dismissed as exploitation upon release, it has since been reclaimed as one of the earliest cinematic explorations of gender identity and self-expression.
Shot through with dream sequences, narration, and Wood’s own cross-dressing alter ego, Glen or Glenda turned B-movie pulp into a heartfelt cry for acceptance. It was messy, brave, and beautifully sincere — the kind of sincerity that still feels radical today.
