The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
original movie poster
Directed by	Stephan Elliott
Produced by	Al Clark Michael Hamlyn
Written by	Stephan Elliott
Starring	Terence Stamp Hugo Weaving Guy Pearce Bill Hunter Julia Cortez
Music by	Guy Gross
Cinematography	Brian J. Breheny
Editing by	Sue Blainey
Distributed by	MGM Home Entertainment
Release date(s)	10 August 1994
Running time	104 min.
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Oscar-winning Australian film about two drag queens and a transsexual woman driving across the outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a large bus they have named Priscilla. The film stars Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp. It was written and directed by Stephan Elliott. Since its release it has became a significant cult film and opened as a major musical in Star City Casino Sydney, October 2006. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Stephan Elliott is an Australian film director, most notable for his work on the cult film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the 1997 comedy Welcome to Woop Woop. ... Al Clark can refer to: Al Clark (film editor) Al Clark (umpire) (born 1948), a baseball umpire This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Stephan Elliott is an Australian film director, most notable for his work on the cult film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the 1997 comedy Welcome to Woop Woop. ... Terence Stamp (born July 22, 1939) is an English actor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Guy Pearce in Memento (2000). ... Bill Hunter (born February 27, 1940) is one of Australias acting legends, having worked with almost every notable Australian director and actor of the last thirty years - evidence of his genuine popularity amongst the public and acting fraternity alike. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Well-known drag artist Lypsinka. ... A transsexual (sometimes transexual) person establishes a permanent identity with the opposite gender to their assigned (usually at birth) sex. ... For other uses, see Outback (disambiguation). ... This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ... Alice Springs on a large scale map Alice Springs is a large town in the Northern Territory of Australia located at 23°42′ S 133°52′ E. Its population of 28,178 (2001 Census) makes it the second-largest settlement in the Territory (the only other towns of... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Guy Pearce in Memento (2000). ... Terence Stamp (born July 22, 1939) is an English actor. ... Stephan Elliott is an Australian film director, most notable for his work on the cult film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the 1997 comedy Welcome to Woop Woop. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Plot synopsis

Anthony "Tick" Belrose, a.k.a. Mitzi Del Bra, a drag queen, accepts an offer to perform at a casino in Alice Springs, a remote town in central Australia. After persuading his friends and fellow performers, Bernadette Bassenger, a.k.a. Ralph – a recently bereaved transsexual woman – and Adam Whitely, a.k.a. Felicia Jollygoodfellow – an irritatingly flamboyant and obnoxious drag queen – to join him, the three set out for Alice Springs in a large tour bus which Adam/Felicia christens "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Guy Pearce plays Adam/Felicia, Terence Stamp plays Bernadette/Ralph and Hugo Weaving plays Tick/Mitzi. Well-known drag artist Lypsinka. ... Alice Springs on a large scale map Alice Springs is a large town in the Northern Territory of Australia located at 23°42′ S 133°52′ E. Its population of 28,178 (2001 Census) makes it the second-largest settlement in the Territory (the only other towns of... Guy Pearce in Memento (2000). ... Terence Stamp (born July 22, 1939) is an English actor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

They encounter on the way the less accepting attitudes of rural Australia, sexual violence, and the problems of vehicle breakdowns. The troupe eventually arrives at their destination with costumes and dance routines prepared. Before they arrive, Tick reveals that he is married (it is hinted that his wife is bisexual), and that the trip is a favour for his wife, who runs the casino where they will be performing. Upon arriving, they learn that Tick and his wife also have a young son. In human sexuality, bisexuality describes a man or woman having a sexual orientation to persons of either or both sexes (a man or woman who sexually likes both sexes; people who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to both males and females). ...

Cultural impact

The film achieved a strong cult status in the gay community as a camp classic, portraying Australia's outback in an idyllic way, showcasing its beauty and remoteness. The story also brought together the travelling troupe with a tribe of Aboriginals, a powerful image of two often socially outcast peoples singing and dancing together under unlikely circumstances. The film was ranked as number 11 on Logo's 50 Greatest Films. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... Camp is an aesthetic in which something has appeal because of its bad taste or ironic value. ... For other uses, see Outback (disambiguation). ... Languages Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group names Indigenous... Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacoms MTV Networks division. ...

The film also employed unusual casting with Terence Stamp, who has otherwise portrayed masculine characters, often villains. This film was the first large-scale venue for Pearce and Weaving, both of whom have gone on to larger film success. Terence Stamp (born July 22, 1939) is an English actor. ...

In 1995, an American film, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, was released, and featured a similar plot line. To Wong Foo began production during the middle of Priscilla's filming. Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is a 1995 Hollywood film, starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo. ...

During the Closing Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Priscilla was part of a parade of iconic images of Australian popular culture. A refurbished and decorated 1980 Ford Denning (the same make of bus used in the movie) featuring a giant steel Stiletto heel which extended from and retracted into the roof -- inspired by some of the scenes from the film -- was paraded around the Olympic Stadium. The bus was also accompanied by several stiletto heels tricyle floats and drag queens donning big wigs as a tribute to the film's international success and the local gay community [1]. (Redirected from 2000 Olympic Games) Categories: 2000 Summer Olympics ... For other uses, see Stiletto (disambiguation). ... This page is for Telstra Stadium, Sydney. ...

Production

Much of the movie was filmed on location on a bus owned by The Whitlams and in various places in Australia. The opening and closing scenes were both filmed on the same day at the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville, a Sydney suburb. The Whitlams is an Australian band famous for songs such as No Aphrodisiacand Blow up the Pokies. The Whitlams sound can best be described as Piano rock founded in lyrics of charming cynicism. The bands name is a tribute to former Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. ... Erskineville Erskineville is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ... This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ...

The filming was plagued by many problems due to time and location constraints. For example, Bill Hunter was filming Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla at the same time, each requiring him to have different length hair, beard and to be in different parts of the country. The heavy filming schedule, also required much of the filming to be done while the entire crew was on the road. Because the bus was such a small set, there was little room for the crew. As such in many scenes, they are actually in shot, hiding under clothes and other props. Bill Hunter (born February 27, 1940) is one of Australias acting legends, having worked with almost every notable Australian director and actor of the last thirty years - evidence of his genuine popularity amongst the public and acting fraternity alike. ... Muriels Wedding is a 1994 Australian film written and directed by P. J. Hogan. ...

During its initial run, some cinemas used a mirror-ball and colored lighting during the "Finally" dance number. This was acknowledged by the line in the closing credits "Shown in Dragarama at select theatres."

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In the video store is a poster for Frauds (1993), also directed by Stephan Elliott and also starring Hugo Weaving.
• The famous thong dress, which led to the movie winning an Academy Award, cost only $7 to make. Originally a credit-card dress was wanted but was refused by all companies.
• Hugo Weaving's character was based on Sydney drag-queen Cindy Pastel, who like the character has a son and female companion.
• Tim Curry turned down the role of Mitzi.
• The film was banned in South Korea for fears it might encourage homosexuality.
• Julia Cortez, Bob's mail-order bride, Cynthia, provided her own catsuit costume complete with the strategically placed zipper for the scene in the bar after the Shake Your Groove Thing number.
• Nikki Webster has one of her first screen roles in this film.
• Referenced in The Drew Carey Show episode New York and Queens when Mimi and her cohorts have a dance-off in full Priscilla costume against Drew and his friends in their Rocky Horror Picture Show costumes.
• A clip from Felicia's operatic performance atop the bus was featured briefly in a montage of famous film clips at the 2007 Academy Awards.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Stephan Elliott is an Australian film director, most notable for his work on the cult film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the 1997 comedy Welcome to Woop Woop. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Timothy James Curry (born April 19, 1946) is an English actor, singer and composer, perhaps best known for his role as mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... Peaches & Herb are a vocalist duo, once comprising Herb Fame, and Francine Peaches Hurd Barker (born April 28, 1947, died August 13, 2005). ... Nikki Webster (born April 30, 1987) is an Australian pop performer. ... The Drew Carey Show was a long-running American sitcom (set in Cleveland, Ohio) that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004 and was known for its everyman characters and themes. ... New York and Queens is the 46th episode of the sitcom The Drew Carey Show and is also the season finale of the second season. ... The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 musical comedy film that parodies horror films, based on the British musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, with the screenplay written by Richard OBrien and Jim Sharman. ...

Alternate versions

• A joke – explaining where Bernadette's recently deceased boyfriend, Trumpet, got his name – was omitted for the film's US release, but included on most home video versions. The gag - that Trumpet lacked any musical ability, and instead had a foreskin so large that it could wrap around a biscuit - was also reintroduced to the Live Musical as performed at Star City.
• The flashback to Adam's childhood was originally longer, revealing more clearly that he had been molested as a child. Producers felt that it was not funny and demanded it be excised. Rather than being cut entirely, it was made shorter and more humorous.
• Paul Mercurio actually plays a starring role in the film, however due to widespread racism in Australia against "Eye Talians" at the time, his identity was masked. Mercurio had to endure over 5 hours of make up each day while on set, so as to assume the appearance of Guy Pearce. Although this sleight of hand on the producers part has fooled most veiwers, those versed in the history of film can easily determine the true identity of the lead.

Stage adaptation

The film was adapted into the stage musical Priscilla: Queen of the Desert the Musical and premiered 2006-10-07 at the Star City Casino, Sydney. The opening cast was as follows: Priscilla: Queen of the Desert the Musical written by Australian film director/writer Stephan Elliott and British screenwriter Allan Scott, is a stage adaptation of the 1994 Latent Image/Specific Films motion picture distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, staring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Bernadette - Tony Sheldon (The Producers)

Tick/Mitzi - Jeremy Stanford (Buddy, Certified Male, High Society)

Adam/Felicia - Daniel Scott (Dusty: The Original Pop Diva)

Bob - Michael Caton

Due to Scott being injured on two separate occasions, Nick Hardcastle was required to take over the role for an extended period of time. The Producers may refer to one of the following: American actor and writer director Mel Brooks comedy about two con-men who attempt to cheat theatre investors out of their investment money. ... Look up Buddy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Buddy may refer to: Friend Buddy (Looney Tunes), an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ... High Society is a 1956 musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in VistaVision with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. ... Daniel Scott is probably best known for his role as Adam/Felicia in the musical adaptation of The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. He was born and raised in the Western suburbs of Sydney and by age fourteen, he was an accomplished pianist and had appeared in productions... Michael Caton (born 1943 in Queensland, Australia) is an actor best known for playing Darryl Kerrigan from 1997s low budget hit The Castle. ...

The stage show which features live performances of the songs featured in the film including 'I Love The Nightlife', 'I Will Survive', 'Finally', 'I've Never Been To Me', 'Shake Your Groove Thing' and 'Go West' as well as some new additions, such as 'Confide In Me', 'Downtown', 'What's Love Got To Do With It', 'Hot Stuff' and 'Macarthur Park'.

The beauty of the outback appears on stage with over 20 full-scale production numbers and the famous battered bus itself 'Priscilla' which is on a revolving stage. The costumes of Bernadette, Mitzi, Felicia and the entire cast have re-designed by Oscar-winning duo Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is produced by Back Row Productions, a UK-based company owned by Australians Liz Koops and Garry McQuinn, best known for Dein Perry's Tap Dogs; two time Tony Award winning impresario John Frost, Michael Hamlyn of Specific Films, an original producer of the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; and acclaimed screenwriter and playwright Allan Scott, well known for the Julie Christie / Donald Sutherland psychological thriller Don't Look Now. It is directed by Simon Phillips. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Dein Perry is the person mainly credited for creating Tap Dogs. Six men who grew up in the northern town Newcastle (Sydney, Australia), developed a style of dancing which uses techniques from Tap Dancing but with strength and power of workmen. The Tap Dogs website The Tap Dogs website Categories... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... For the 1983 PBS sketch-comedy, see You Cant Do That On Television. ...

See also

• Cross-dressing in film and television

Film poster for Glen or Glenda Cross-dressing in motion pictures began in the early days of the silent films. ...

External links

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Internet Movie Database
• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Rotten Tomatoes
• Australian Films
• The adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert at the National Film and Sound Archive

v • d • e Cinema of Australia

Lists of films: 1896-1919  • 1920s • 1930s  • 1940s • 1950s  • 1960s  • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s Actors • Animators • Awards • Directors • Films A-Z • Cinematographers • Composers • Critics • Editors • Festivals • Producers • Schools • Screenwriters The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Ned Kelly depicted in the first ever feature-length narrative film The cinema of Australia has a long history and has produced many internationally-recognized films, actors and filmmakers. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This is a list of Australian films of the 1920s. ... This is a list of Australian films of the 1930s. ... This is a list of Australian films of the 1940s. ... This is a chronological list of Australian films of the 1950s. ... This is a list of Australian films of the 1960s. ... This is a list of Australian films of the 1970s. ... This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year for years 1980s. ... This is a chronological list of Australian films by decade and year for years 1940s-1990s. ... This is a list of Australian films from 2000 to present. ...