By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.3 cats
Director: Bill Weber | David Weissman
Country: united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0303321
Clinton says: “This thoroughly charming and visually exciting documentary follows the hippie drag troupe who started a legendary anarchist gender-ambiguous theatre movement in late 60’s San Francisco. The Cockettes, a more ribald and daring kick-line than their New York namesakes, paved the way and inspired everything from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, to Divine (indeed, John Waters appears to recount her first meeting with the group), to pretty much every trashy, punky, filthy, and lovingly blasè drag farce since (including, methinks, HEDWIG herself). Fabulous, fun, funny, and dare I say educational (hey, I didn’t know their outlandish history, and I love this sort of thing) and inspiring. Well edited, with tons of archival footage, interviews with original members, and a touch of tragedy (many original Cockettes died of Aids in the 80s), THE COCKETTES is, overall, a joyful bash. A must see if only for the clips of the Cockettes’ film TRICIA’s WEDDING.”
Ivy says: “I agree that this film is really quite special. It was so much more than I expected it to be – and that guy with all the crazy outfits is pretty amazing – but it successfully captures the innocence and insanity of that time.”
Laura says: “Directors David Weissman and Bill Weber discovered common bonds, including a fascination for this legendary underground group. Having never made a documentary before, the duo set out to contact the remaining members of the group (many had died of drug overdoses and A.I.D.s). Cockette Martin Worman, who died in 1993, had begun a PhD dissertation on the group and his partner turned over a treasure trove of archival footage and stills to the filmmakers.
“Weissman and Weber take a great subject and do it justice, having been blessed by decades old footage that looks so crisp it is difficult to believe one is watching the real thing and not a reenactment. Ironically, the Haight Ashbury answer to Andy Warhol’s Factory was done in by what made it different. The group deserves to be every bit as well know, though, and THE COCKETTES is the microcosm of a culture entertainingly tied up in a ninety minute package.” 4 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thecockettes.htm”
Michael says: “This colorful documentary charts the brief career of a group of free-thinking performers living in San Francisco in the late-60’s and early 70’s. It was a time of artistic expression, and for a group of young people in San Francisco, it was a time of gender exploration and mind-altering drugs. Centering around the charismatic Hibiscus (nee George Harris) this group of mostly gay men, with a few straight men and women thrown in took to performing in drag at the Palace Theatre. Their performances grew to legendary status, with anyone who was anyone catching the show. But when New York called, the Cockettes’ amateurish, west coast sensibilities left the critics cold.
“The first-time documentary team of Bill Weber and David Weissman do a terrific job of doing more than just telling the story of The Cockettes, they tell the story of a time, a place and a way of thinking that hasn’t truly been seen since. The film alternates between archive performance footage and interviews with the many of the surviving Cockettes today, as well as several of their fans. The archived footage is so colorful and crisp, it looks brand new.
“I did have some trouble with THE COCKETTES. I remember about half way through the film I started to find it awfully repetitive. People kept saying, ‘Oh, they were so fabulous,’ or ‘Of course, everyone was on drugs,’ or ‘We were just all having a great time!’ I don’t know what I wanted instead of that. Maybe a little more on their lives now? For instance, it was neat
to see that one woman’s baby grown up and hear what he had to say. I might have liked even a little more of that.
“But John Waters is so funny.” 3 cats
Robin says: “The flamboyant founder and leader of the transvestite theatre troupe, Hibiscus (nee George Harris), was a visionary who saw a place in San Francisco culture for the gang of gender-bending street performers. They were amateur, for sure, but their unbridled zeal to perform, despite the sometimes obvious lack of talent, made them a fixture in the hilly city’s counter-culture society.
“The remembrances of the still-living members of the Cockettes, combined with the volumes of film footage from their performances, gives a rich insight into the workings of the group, their political temperament and their outrageous sexually oriented cabaret performances. They wore their amateur status on their collected sleeves and would pretty much do anything for fun and the shock factor. ” 3 cats
For Robin’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thecockettes.htm”