“I’ve never met a woman who was more man.”
\n< p>Joan. Crawford. Ms. No Wire Hangers herself. A queer icon. A legendary pair of eyebrows. The Ultimate Movie Star. In choosing which Crawford f ilm to screen as part of Queer Film Theory 101\, we really could’ve gone in any direction. We decided to go with a somewhat lesser-known yet hig hly influential gem from director Nicholas Ray\, JOHNNY GUITAR from 1954 . \nWhen reformed gunslinger Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden) retu rns to the small Arizona cattle town he once resided in\, he’s met with a complicated reception from his former lover\, saloon owner Vienna (Joa n Crawford). The drama escalates as Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge)\, Vienna’s rival\, targets her and her establishment for associating with local gang leader “Dancin' Kid” (Scott Brady)\, the man responsible for killing her brother. Now don’t get it twisted\, the film may be called J OHHNY GUITAR\, but the real action of this stylized western isn’t focuse d on the titular Mr. Guitar at all\; instead\, the true story and so muc h of the film's queerness comes from the tense and sexually charged rela tionship between its female leads\, Crawford and McCambridge. These two women (and actresses for that matter) hold a bitter and violent resentme nt of each other\, but at the same time\, so clearly and desperately wan t to have gay sex. These two tough cookies can't take their eyes off eac h other\, and every scene they share oozes with hatred and desire. Mix a ll of this with Crawford’s exceptionally butch styling and dommy mommy c harisma\, and you’ve got a potently queer-coded film perfect for Queer F ilm Theory 101. See you out on the range\, cowgirls!
\n\nhttps://draf thouse.com/nyc/show/queer-film-theory-101-johnny-guitar LOCATION:Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan URL:https://drafthouse.com/nyc/show/queer-film-theory-101-johnny-guitar END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR