Victor/Victoria (1982)
Back in the 1980s, the film Victor/Victoria meant something different than it means in the 2020s. When it was originally made, audiences were able to laugh (quite heartily) about the idea of a female singer taking the only job she can get: a female impersonator. Nowadays, we can only imagine how badly such an idea would bomb at the box office – unless the lead character was actually played by a female impersonator. But angry, social protesters would probably picket if this film were released for the first time today, with Victoria played by an exquisitely beautiful woman (Julie Andrews) who has class, femininity, and a beautiful soprano voice.
Let’s just go back in time to 1982 for the sake of this review, shall we? In 1982, this gender-bender comedy was supposed to be extremely light. I mean, how much suspension of disbelief are we supposed to have? Julie Andrews is a beautiful woman with a very nice figure. She cuts her hair, slicks it down with gel, wear a tuxedo, and it’s supposed to be believable that she can pass as a man? It’s quite ridiculous, and it’s also very silly that James Garner is attracted to her without knowing or caring if she really is a man. There are tons of un-politically correct jokes and caricatures of homosexuals and transvestites which, let’s face it, weren’t excruciatingly funny even in 1982.
For me, this movie is difficult to watch because of Julie Andrews’s personal background. Her husband turned his screenplay into a Broadway musical in 1995, and due to repeated abuse of her vocal cords, she underwent the infamous surgery that left her without a voice. Someone with a beautiful, pure, operatic soprano voice should never have been asked to damage her instrument by belting and belting night after night after night. However, after My Fair Lady, she “dummied down” her singing capabilities for the rest of her career and instead appealed to the masses by belting during Star!, The Julie Andrews Hour, and Victor/Victoria. I just find it too tragic to watch this movie and laugh, or to marvel at her range during “Le Jazz Hot” when I know the consequences of practicing such a number.
More Julie Andrews movies here!
More James Garner movies here!
Let’s just go back in time to 1982 for the sake of this review, shall we? In 1982, this gender-bender comedy was supposed to be extremely light. I mean, how much suspension of disbelief are we supposed to have? Julie Andrews is a beautiful woman with a very nice figure. She cuts her hair, slicks it down with gel, wear a tuxedo, and it’s supposed to be believable that she can pass as a man? It’s quite ridiculous, and it’s also very silly that James Garner is attracted to her without knowing or caring if she really is a man. There are tons of un-politically correct jokes and caricatures of homosexuals and transvestites which, let’s face it, weren’t excruciatingly funny even in 1982.
For me, this movie is difficult to watch because of Julie Andrews’s personal background. Her husband turned his screenplay into a Broadway musical in 1995, and due to repeated abuse of her vocal cords, she underwent the infamous surgery that left her without a voice. Someone with a beautiful, pure, operatic soprano voice should never have been asked to damage her instrument by belting and belting night after night after night. However, after My Fair Lady, she “dummied down” her singing capabilities for the rest of her career and instead appealed to the masses by belting during Star!, The Julie Andrews Hour, and Victor/Victoria. I just find it too tragic to watch this movie and laugh, or to marvel at her range during “Le Jazz Hot” when I know the consequences of practicing such a number.
More Julie Andrews movies here!
More James Garner movies here!