FIRST A GIRL (1935)
The 1935 British drag comedy FIRST A GIRL, Victor Saville’s adaptation of VIKTOR UND VIKTORIA (1933).
FIRST A GIRL
1935. UK.
Director: Victor Saville
Screenplay: Marjorie Gaffney
Based on: VIKTOR UND VIKTORIA (1933) by Reinhold Schünzel
Starring: Jessie Matthews, Sonnie Hale, Anna Lee, Griffith Jones & Alfred Drayton
The film originated as the successful German operetta VIKTOR UND VIKTORIA, which was shot in 1933 simultaneously with its 1934 French adaptation GEORGE ET GEORGETTE. It received two other adaptations as well – another German version in 1957 and the popular Julie Andrews musical VICTOR/VICTORIA in 1982.
FIRST A GIRL follows two newly acquainted aspiring actors, Elizabeth (Jessie Matthews) and Victor (Sonnie Hale), who are unsuccessful at an audition but begin to work together after Victor loses his voice and can’t sing on stage. Victor dresses Elizabeth as a young man and brings her to perform, in drag as a woman, in his place and the two soon find success in this new act. In drag, Elizabeth (now Victoria) and the real Victor perform, and travel together, across Europe. During one of their performances they catch the eye of the Princess Mironoff and her fiancé Robert.
Strangely, this version has Robert’s character (Elizabeth’s love interest) reacting with homophobia when he discovers Victoria is a “man.” In the original version he is unfazed by his attraction to the drag performer, which hints at the character’s bisexuality – something not surprising for a Weimar-era film. Robert begins to soften to “Victor” after he proves his masculinity through his expert imbibing of booze and cigars. Shortly after they’ve bonded, Robert and his fiancée begin to suspect Victor is a woman and devise a plan to unmask the drag artist.
Despite some of the changes made, FIRST A GIRL is quite a good musical. It’s not as queer as other adaptations, but still worth checking out – especially for the drag and gender-play.
You can find FIRST A GIRL on DVD, and also streaming (though low-quality) on YouTube.
