 |
Edward Wood Jr.American director, actor, producer and screenwriter.
Date of Birth: 10.10.1924
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Edward Wood Jr. - The Cult Director
- Unconventional Childhood
- A Unique Journey
- The Infamous Debut
- The Rise of B-Movies
- The Legacy of Ed Wood
- Personal Life and Friends
Edward Wood Jr. - The Cult Director
Edward Wood Jr. was an American director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Despite making notoriously bad films, he became a cult figure and a legend in the world of cinema. Critics referred to him as the "worst director of all time" but still praised him. Audiences would cringe while watching his movies, yet they couldn't look away. Several books have been written about his life, and Tim Burton even made a feature film about him titled "Ed Wood".
Unconventional Childhood
Edward Wood Jr. was born on October 10, 1924, in Poughkeepsie, New York. His mother had dreamt of having a daughter, while his indifferent father, who worked as a postman, didn't care about the gender of their future child. As a result, Edward's upbringing was left to his mother. She dressed him in girls' clothes and treated him as if he were a girl. Over time, cross-dressing became Edward's secret obsession.
A Unique Journey
At the age of 17, Wood was drafted into the army and sent to the frontlines of World War II. It is said that he wore women's underwear underneath his uniform and feared getting injured, as it could reveal his secret to fellow soldiers. After returning from war, Wood moved to New York City with a burning desire to make movies and become a famous director. Since he was virtually unknown, he promoted his crazy projects through literature and theater. He offered his written stories, which usually featured transvestites, aliens, and various monsters, to publishers. To make a living, Wood took on odd jobs at movie studios and worked as a "bearded lady" at events.
The Infamous Debut
In 1953, Wood convinced the owner of the "Screen Classics" studio, George Weiss, to produce his debut film, "Glen or Glenda". It was the only film in Wood's career to have a professional producer. However, this didn't save the film from being a complete failure. Initially, the film was meant to tell the story of famous transsexual Christine Jorgensen and was titled "I Changed My Sex". But after Christine refused to participate, Wood rewrote the script as an autobiographical story and renamed it "Glen or Glenda". Edward played the lead role, and his friend Bela Lugosi made a brief appearance. Wood hoped that working with a famous actor like Lugosi would bring popularity to the film. However, none of Wood's collaborations with Lugosi, including "Glen or Glenda", were successful.
The Rise of B-Movies
Wood was the first to start making so-called "B-movies" or low-budget films. His creative peak came with the film "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (1959), which has long been labeled the "worst film of all time". Ironically, among fans of low-budget cinema, this film achieved cult status and became incredibly popular. The funding for this crazy project came from the Southern Baptist Church, which resulted in the film crew undergoing a baptism ceremony. Additionally, Wood had to give some roles to church representatives. The plot of the film was quite simple: an advanced alien civilization believed that humanity posed a threat to the universe, so they arrived on Earth to execute "Plan 9". They resurrected the dead, who were supposed to seek vengeance on the living.
The Legacy of Ed Wood
It is difficult to say whether this film is more famous for its awful screenplay or its cheap production. Cardboard tombstones, flying saucers bought from a toy store, illogical day-to-night transitions, and fragments from propaganda films all look so ridiculous that it resembles a parody. However, the most notorious mistake was Wood's decision to mix scenes featuring Bela Lugosi, who had passed away during the early days of production, with scenes featuring another actor who was a whole foot taller. Edward Wood directed several more feature films but failed to surpass the notoriety of "Plan 9". In the late 1960s, he developed a drinking problem and eventually turned to the porn industry, with his adult films being even worse than "Plan 9". On December 10, 1978, Edward Wood died of heart failure before reaching the age of 55.
Personal Life and Friends
During the early years of his career, Ed Wood was involved with Dolores Fuller. They met during a casting session for one of Wood's films, and their relationship soon turned romantic. They lived together for a while, but Fuller eventually left Wood, citing his cross-dressing as the reason. She went on to become a renowned poet and even wrote songs for the legendary Elvis Presley.
In 1955, Edward married Norma McCarty. They had a child together, but Norma left him upon discovering his cross-dressing tendencies. A year later, Wood married Katie O'Hara, with whom he remained until his death.
Wood had many famous and interesting friends. He was particularly close to Bela Lugosi, a horror film star who created one of the most iconic portrayals of Count Dracula on screen. He also befriended transvestite Bunny Breckinridge, showman Amazing Criswell, and wrestler Tor Johnson.
Edward Wood Jr. was such a unique and unconventional individual that his name cannot be erased from the world of cinema. His films may be considered the epitome of bad taste, but that doesn't stop them from being incredibly popular. Such is the paradox of the work of the most cult director of the 20th century.
