The Queen

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1:42

The Queen

1968

1h 8m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1967, New York City is host to the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant. This documentary from Frank Simon takes a look behind the scenes, transporting the viewer into rehearsals and dressing rooms as the drag queen subculture prepares for this big national beauty contest. Jack/Sabrina is the master/mistress of ceremonies, and his protégé, Richard/Miss Harlow, is in the competition. But, as the pageant approaches, the glamorous contestants veer from camaraderie to tension.

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Critics Consensus

Celebrating its subjects without ever losing sight of their story, The Queen is a fascinating time capsule that has only gained resonance since its release.

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Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

Mar 3, 2020

It's the spark of a true legend.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Oct 2, 2019

This is a fantastic doc... I just thought it was fascinating and so much fun.

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David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

Aug 1, 2019

4/4

The gender identity and racial undercurrents of "The Queen" have a prescient quality, foreshadowing some of the tensions that the LGBTQ community is dealing with today.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Mar 30, 2025

B-

Takes you behind the scenes of the 1967 national drag queen contest held in NYC's Town Hall.

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Dennis Schuetz

Gay Community News (Boston)

Sep 21, 2022

The Queen is an important film not only because of it’s study of the drag queen, but because, simply, it is a very good film.

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B.L. Panther

The Spool

Jun 9, 2021

Simon's camera documents a glorious age of drag with monolithic wigs, Cleopatra cut creases, and feather boas.

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dave d

@RT34924333 May 10, 2020

As a doc lover I happened across a film chronicling a national drag show from the 1960s. It's just over an hour, but it's neat and of course not for everyone. The film has been digitally restored and it looks vibrant as some of the contestants in the show. Stay until the end as there's a twist and some controversy which means DRAMA definitely has been going on for a long time. Final Score: 7.2/10

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Sep 26, 2019

Such an amazing documentary about drag in the late sixties! Very touching. Worth seeing!!

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Jul 1, 2019

I was excited to see a movie portraying gay life pre-Stonewall. I thought it would be about sexuality, and maybe gender also. It was. But it was even deeper about race and class. And very fun. Great movie.

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Phil D

@RT09335864 Feb 11, 2014

An utterly fascinating artefact of the drag scene from almost 50 years before RuPaul's Drag Race.

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Francis Simon

Director

Jack Doroshow

Flawless Sabrina

Andy Warhol

Self

Lewis M. Allen

Producer

Robert Elfstrom

Cinematographer

Francis Simon

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Synopsis

In 1967, New York City is host to the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant. This documentary from Frank Simon takes a look behind the scenes, transporting the viewer into rehearsals and dressing rooms as the drag queen subculture prepares for this big national beauty contest. Jack/Sabrina is the master/mistress of ceremonies, and his protégé, Richard/Miss Harlow, is in the competition. But, as the pageant approaches, the glamorous contestants veer from camaraderie to tension.

Director: Francis Simon
Producer: Lewis M. Allen
Production Co: Vineyard, MDH, Si Litvinoff Film Production
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 1968, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.5K
Runtime: 1h 8m

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