The Queen

1968, Crystal LaBeija, Dorian Corey, English, Flawless Mother Sabrina, International Chrysis, Jackie Curtis, Rachel Harlow, USA,

Director: Frank Simon
Release Year: 1968

Synopsis:

Released in 1968, The Queen directed by Frank Simon is a pivotal documentary in the history of drag culture, providing a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the world of drag queens in a time when it was still illegal for men to dress as women. This documentary follows the contestants of the 1967 "Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest," a drag beauty pageant held at the Town and Country Hotel in New York City, and is perhaps most famous for being judged by the iconic Andy Warhol, alongside several other notable figures of the era. The film is more than just a snapshot of a subculture; it is a powerful piece of history that explores issues of gender identity, social norms, and the evolving drag performance scene in the United States.

 

In 1967, the legal environment for drag queens and LGBTQ+ individuals was markedly oppressive. Across the United States, it was illegal for men to dress in women’s clothing, and drag performances were considered a criminal act in many states.

 

However, drag culture continued to thrive underground in cities like New York, and The Queen captures a moment in time when gender expression was starting to push against the rigid boundaries of the law and mainstream society. Despite the legal and societal restrictions, the pageant in The Queen became an important platform for performers who sought not only to entertain but to challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality. The documentary follows several contestants, but three of the most prominent figures featured in the film — Crystal LaBeija, Richard Finochio (later known as Rachel Harlow), and Jack Doroshow (known as Flawless Sabrina) — would go on to become icons in their own right, shaping the future of drag culture for generations to come.

 

Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to found the legendary House of LaBeija, is perhaps one of the most memorable figures in The Queen. LaBeija was a trailblazer, and her role in the documentary is emblematic of her importance in the drag scene. Known for her sharp wit and striking presence, LaBeija was one of the leading queens in the New York drag scene and would forever leave her mark on the culture by founding the House of LaBeija in the early 1970s. This drag "house," which was made up of performers who supported and mentored each other, became one of the most influential drag houses in the history of the LGBTQ+ community, with LaBeija herself being one of the most powerful figures within it. Her role in The Queen also foreshadows her legacy in drag pageants, both in New York and beyond.

 

After the pageant, LaBeija’s House of LaBeija would come to define the structure of drag houses, and its prominence in the drag scene would later be showcased in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, a film that chronicled the voguing scene in Harlem. In Paris Is Burning, the House of LaBeija was depicted as one of the most respected and revered houses in the Harlem ballroom scene, an arena where LaBeija’s influence as a pioneer in both drag and LGBTQ+ activism was profoundly felt. In The Queen, LaBeija’s candidness and ferocity demonstrate the strength required to perform in a world that largely saw her — and other queens — as outcasts. It was clear that her presence, charisma, and unwavering confidence were a direct response to the discrimination and hostility she faced as a gender non-conforming person. LaBeija was, and still is, regarded as a trailblazer for drag queens and gender-nonconforming individuals everywhere.

 

Another key figure in The Queen is Richard Finochio, who performed as Rachel Harlow. Finochio would later undergo sex reassignment surgery in 1972 and continue her life as Rachel Harlow. Before transitioning, Finochio was an integral part of New York’s drag scene, and her portrayal in the film reveals the emotional and physical labor required of drag performers at the time. Rachel Harlow’s life after the film took several fascinating turns. After her transition, Harlow became romantically involved with John B. Kelly, the brother of actress Grace Kelly. However, their relationship ended when Kelly’s mother threatened to disinherit him if he married Harlow — a sobering reminder of how difficult it was for LGBTQ+ individuals to form lasting, accepted relationships at the time. Following the end of her relationship, Harlow continued to shape her legacy by opening the nightclub "Harlow’s" in Philadelphia during the 1970s, which became a hub for the local LGBTQ+ community. Harlow's club and its embrace of drag culture helped further push boundaries and provided a space where drag queens and trans women could perform and socialize without fear of legal or social retribution. Harlow’s life story highlights the intersection of drag performance, gender identity, and the burgeoning fight for LGBTQ+ rights, both in the United States and globally.

 

Another major personality in The Queen is Flawless Sabrina, born Jack Doroshow. Sabrina was a pioneering drag queen who became known not only for her performances but also for her role in bringing drag culture into the mainstream. Doroshow began performing in drag in the early 1960s and later became a key organizer of the Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest, the very event depicted in The Queen. Sabrina’s calm demeanor and striking beauty captured the attention of the film’s audience, and her presence as a prominent figure in the contest set the stage for drag queens to be seen as legitimate artists, rather than the mere subjects of ridicule that many mainstream outlets often portrayed them as. Flawless Sabrina’s efforts to legitimize drag as a form of artistic expression and cultural resistance continue to resonate today, especially in the wake of RuPaul's rise to international fame. Sabrina’s role in the film and her later contributions to drag culture place her at the heart of the evolution of drag as a performance art, one that would eventually find a prominent spot in both mainstream media and popular culture.

 

Another fascinating figure who appears in The Queen is International Chrysis (born 1951), a performer who is seen in the film as a young, ambitious drag queen rehearsing her numbers for the pageant. Chrysis would later go on to become an influential drag artist, gaining recognition in the 1970s and 1980s for her fierce performances. Chrysis would eventually evolve into a more prominent figure within the world of drag performance, becoming known for her innovative dance routines and her ability to transcend traditional notions of femininity and masculinity. She is often cited as one of the early queens who helped lay the foundation for the performers we see today on platforms like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Chrysis’ appearance in The Queen highlights the way drag performance was evolving, both artistically and politically. The performances depicted in the film often blur the lines between male and female, art and performance, making it clear that drag culture was about much more than entertainment; it was a form of social resistance.

 

The queens who appear in The Queen were revolutionary, paving the way for the drag performers of today. Without them, the world would not have seen the global phenomenon of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which has become a mainstay of television and pop culture. These queens’ fierce spirit, unapologetic confidence, and drive to carve out spaces for themselves in a world that sought to silence them laid the groundwork for the drag world that now thrives in mainstream media. By capturing the struggles, triumphs, and artistry of the drag queens of the late 1960s, The Queen not only helped bring drag culture into the public consciousness but also provided an enduring, empowering narrative for the LGBTQ+ community. It was a story of survival, creativity, and pride, laying the foundation for generations of drag queens to come — including RuPaul, who has since become one of the most famous drag performers in the world. The legacy of The Queen is undeniable: it is a time capsule that offers insight into the origins of drag pageantry, the fight for LGBTQ+ visibility, and the complex relationship between performance, identity, and freedom. The queens who graced the screen in 1968 may have faced societal rejection and legal persecution, but their contributions to art and culture have outlived those oppressive forces, and their influence continues to be felt around the world.

via: imdb.com
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