Dinah East

I, too, saw this film in Boston in 1970. For many years I have sought out the film or even any mention about it. About a year ago, I read a footnote in one of the movie review books, that Mae West instituted legal action against the film shortly after its release. Apparently the settlement resulting from that action included the permanent withdrawal of the film from distribution. During Ms. West's lifetime there were recurrent, albeit ridiculous, rumors that she was a male. This film, in a kind of docudrama, relates the life of an actress, Dinah East, whose male gender was only revealed after her/his death. I had hoped it might reappear now that Mae West is dead, but so far that is not the case. I would like to receive more information on all of this from anyone who knows more than I do about it. Meanwhile, I eagerly await its reappearance.

This is not a particularly good, but certainly interesting artifact from the early 70's. I won't rehash plot too much, but it was obviously "gay interest" with a trans lead,(Andy Warhol hanger-on Ultra Violet), which was very unusual at the time. There is also a lot of gay male interest and nudity, which was much less common then than it is now. There is also a LOT of lesbianism and female nudity, which was definitely NOT unusual at the time, including the young-looking Kitty Carl ("Carhops") and Susan Romen ("Weekend with the Babysitter"), who in 1970 may not just have been young LOOKING. I guess you can say it has something for everybody as far as exploitation goes. But it is kind of a weak story that is all over the place without being as memorably awful as similar fare of the time like the bigger-budgeted "Myra Breckenridge" or "Sextette".

This movie was extremely well done. The story is told using a great many flashbacks. I don't usually like flashbacks, but in this film they are well done, and more to the point, they work.

Recommended.

I saw this movie and thoroughly enjoyed it, however few today seem to know anything about it. Ever since I have had a VCR, I have looked for it on video and now I would like to have it on DVD. I am sure there would be a market for it if someone would release it!

I saw this movie in 1970 in Boston,Massachusetts, and I absolutely loved it. I wish it were available on VHS as I feel it was so ahead of its time it would now be a great inspiration for young movie makers. It also would be greatly appreciated by the gay and lesbian film goers and film buffs.