Overview
See production notesA police inspector investigating the suicide of a transvestite named Patrick/Patricia seeks the advice of Dr. Alton, who narrates for him the story of Glen/Glenda. Glen started out by asking to wear his sister's dress for a Halloween party. The narrative explains that Glen is a transvestite, but not a homosexual. He hides his cross-dressing from his fiancée, Barbara, fearing that she will reject him. She voices her suspicion that there is another woman in his life, unaware that the woman is his feminine alter ego, Glenda. Alton narrates that Glen is torn between the idea of being honest with Barbara before their wedding or waiting until after. Glen confides in a transvestite friend of his, John, whose wife left him after catching him wearing her clothes. Glen/Glenda is caught in a storm. The sound of thunder drives him to collapse to the floor. An extended dream sequence begins, containing several vignettes symbolically depicting Glen's struggle with his sexuality. Glen/Glenda wakes and decides to tell Barbara the truth. She initially reacts with distress, but ultimately decides to stay with him. She offers him an angora sweater as a sign of acceptance. Back in Dr. Alton's office, he relates another narrative, this one concerning a World War II veteran named Alan who underwent sex reassignment surgery to become "a lovely young woman" named Ann. Dr. Alton says that Glen's case is less severe than Alan/Ann's. Alton tells Glen that he can take the Glenda identity, which comes from his father's meanness and his mother's dislike for her own father, and project it onto Barbara. Barbara says she will help Glen with his struggles, even accepting his wearing women's clothing; and eventually Glen and Barbara are happy together, as he successfully projects the Glenda identity onto her. Throughout the film, a threatening scientist in a skull-filled room makes bizarre pronouncements including some about the old nursery rhyme what little girls and boys are made of (snails and puppy dogs' tails, etc.).
Plot from Glen or GlendaCC BY-SA 4.0
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Quotes
See all quotesBarbara: Once, long ago, just after we started going steady together, we promised we'd never lie to each other. Are we gonna start now, just because we're engaged to be married? Johnny: Our whole existence is one big problem after another. Glen/Glenda: My mind's in a muddle, like in a thick fog. I can't make sense to myself sometimes. I thought I could stop wearing these things. I tried, honestly I tried. I haven't had a stitch of them on for nearly two weeks until tonight. Then I couldn't stand it any more. I had to put them on or go out of my mind. I'm afraid I'll lose her. I don't want that to happen because I really love her.
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alton: I've always heard you to be a hard-hearted policeman, Inspector. Warren: Isn't that what's thought of most policemen? The laws are written, the policeman is hired to see that those laws are enforced. We have a job to do, as in most jobs there is always someone who doesn't want that job to be done. In most factories today, the employer has put up suggestion boxes. Even the employer needs advice once in a while. I think in the case we're referring to, I need advice. Maybe it shouldn't have happened as it did. Perhaps the next time we can prevent it. Alton: Let's get our stories straight. You're referring to the suicide of the transvestite? Warren: If that's the word you men of medical science use for a man who wears women's clothing, yes. Alton: Yes, in cold, technical language, that's the word. As unfriendly and as vicious as it may sound. However in actuality it's not an unfriendly word, not is it vicious when you know the people to whom it pertains.
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Warren: I'd like to hear the story to the fullest. Alton: Only the infinity of the depths of a man's mind can really tell the story. Scientist: Dr. Alton. A young man who is...speaks the words of the all-wise. No one can really tell the story. Mistakes are made. But there is no mistaking the thoughts in a man's mind. The story...is begun...
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Narrator: One might say, there but for the grace of God go I. Why is a modern world shocked by this headline? Why? Once, not so very long ago, people were saying: Woman: Airplanes...ha! Why it's against the Creator's will. If the Creator wanted us to fly, he'd have given us wings. Narrator: But we fly. Maybe some of you remember an even sillier remark: Man: Automobiles? Ah...they scare the horses. If'n the Creator hadda meant for us to roll around the countryside, we'd have been born with wheels. Narrator: Silly? Certainly. We were not born with wings, we were not born with wheels. But in the modern world of today it's an accepted fact that we must have them. So we have corrected that which nature has not given us. Strangely enough, nature has given us all these things, we just had to learn how to put nature's elements together for our use, that's all. Yet the world is shocked by a sex change. Woman: If the Creator had wanted us to fly, he'd have given us wings. Man: If the Creator had
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Glen: My sister let me borrow her dress. Father: You want to borrow your sister's dress?! What for? Glen: I want to wear it the Halloween Party. Father: There are names for boys who go around wearing girls' clothes. Mother: Oh, don't be silly Darling. You go ahead and wear your sister's dress, Glen. You always did look much better as a girl than you do as a man. Narrator: Glen did wear the dress to the Halloween party. He even took first prize. Then one day it wasn't Halloween any longer.
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sheila: When things like this go wrong with someone so close, and in your own family, it's so hard to believe. Friend: It's not really hard to believe, it's just hard for you to accept! Sheila: Well of course it's hard for me to accept! Suppose I were to come home with Roy or one of my other boyfriends some night, and find Glen like I did last night. Friend: Yeah...that would be hard to explain. Sheila: That's the understatement of the year. Just how does one go introducing your friends to your brother when Brother's wearing you best sweater, your skirt, and makeup to boot?!
Glen or Glenda, CC BY-SA 4.0
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