Glen or Glenda (1953)

Psychiatrist Dr Alton (Timothy Farrell) narrates two stories: one of a transvestite called Glen (Edward D. Wood Jr) who secretly dresses as a woman called Glenda but is afraid to tell his fiancée, Barbara (Dolores Fuller); the other of a pseudo-hermaphrodite called Alan (‘Tommy’ Haynes) who fights in World War II wearing women’s underwear and eventually undergoes a painful operation to become a woman named Anne.

There is a second narrator, called the Scientist (Bela Lugosi), whose commentary on the action contains more philosophical pronouncements than facts.

Meanwhile, Inspector Warren (Lyle Talbot) is investigating the suicide of a transvestite, which leads him to learn more about men in women’s clothes, such as Johnny (Charles Crafts), whose wife left him when she discovered what he wears when she’s away.

The second part of the film (“Alan or Anne”) is much shorter and told largely through stock footage. This segment was made to meet the distributor’s demand for a sex change film.

Alternate titles included I Changed My Sex, He or She, and I Led Two Lives.

Scientist
Bela Lugosi
Inspector Warren
Lyle Talbot
Dr Alton/Narrator
Timothy Farrell
Barbara
Dolores Fuller
Alan/Anne
‘Tommy’ Haynes
Glen/Glenda
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Johnny
Charles Crafts

Director
Edward D. Wood Jr.