Myra Breckinridge Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A film critic gets a sex change to become Raquel Welch, then tries to steal money from his cowboy uncle in Hollywood by pretending to be his own widow, intercut with random old movie clips and Mae West hitting on young studs.

🍿 Myra Breckinridge: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Myron’s Transformation

The film begins with Myron Breckinridge, a gay film critic, undergoing gender confirmation surgery in a surreal operating room environment observed by an audience. Despite a seemingly inexperienced and drugged surgeon, the procedure is presented as a success. Myron emerges as Myra Breckinridge, personified by Raquel Welch.

Arrival in Hollywood and the Estate Claim

Myra travels to Hollywood with the intention of claiming half of the estate belonging to her uncle, Buck Loner, a former cowboy star who now runs an acting academy. Posing as Myron’s widow, Myra seeks to infiltrate Buck’s world under the guise of needing financial assistance.

Teaching Film History and Encounters

To stall her claim, Buck hires Myra to teach a class on the history of motion pictures at his academy. Here, she encounters various students, including the naive couple Rusty Godowski and Mary Ann Pringle, and the aging, sex-obsessed talent agent Leticia Van Allen. Myra begins her mission to ‘realign the sexes’ by targeting the traditional notions of manhood represented by figures like Buck and Rusty.

Sexual ‘Education’ and Manipulation

Myra uses her position to psychologically and sexually manipulate those around her. She becomes fixated on Rusty, leading to a controversial and disturbing non-consensual sexual encounter. She also attempts to seduce Mary Ann, challenging conventional sexual boundaries and relationships within the academy.

The Reveal

As Buck grows suspicious of Myra’s identity and motives, Myra decides to reveal the truth. Confronting Buck and his associate, Myra dramatically announces that she is, in fact, his nephew Myron, having undergone the gender transition.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Myra Breckinridge (Raquel Welch): The glamorous and cunning protagonist who undergoes gender reassignment and seeks her uncle’s inheritance while subverting traditional gender roles.
• Myron Breckinridge (Rex Reed): The protagonist’s former male self and recurring alter ego who appears after his sex change operation.
• Buck Loner (John Huston): Myra’s blustery uncle, a former cowboy star who runs an acting academy and is the target of her inheritance claim and social agenda.
• Leticia Van Allen (Mae West): An aging, lecherous Hollywood talent agent who runs an agency solely for male actors.
• Rusty Godowski (Roger Herren): A handsome and naive acting student whom Myra targets to challenge traditional masculinity.
• Mary Ann Pringle (Farrah Fawcett): Rusty’s innocent girlfriend and a fellow acting student Myra seeks to manipulate or seduce.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Myron: “It’s a dangerous thing, ambition. Ruined Mickey Mouse’s whole career.” – Myron delivers this line reflecting on the nature of ambition and fame in Hollywood, tying into the film’s satirical tone.
• Leticia: “Forget the six feet… and concentrate on the seven inches.” – Said by the sexually voracious talent agent Leticia Van Allen to a potential male client, making a clear double entendre about his physical attributes.
• Myra: “I am… the destruction of the last vestigial traces of traditional manhood from the race.” – Myra dramatically declares her mission statement, outlining her radical feminist agenda to dismantle conventional masculinity.
• Myron: “Where are my tits? Where are my tits?!” – Shouted in anguish by Myron upon waking up, discovering he has seemingly reverted to his male form at the end of the movie.
• Myra: “God bless Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck!” – Myra exclaims this seemingly nonsensical phrase during a surreal sequence, highlighting the film’s bizarre fascination with and mockery of classic Hollywood iconography.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,385,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: $1,455,946
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Myra Breckinridge Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Myra Breckinridge’ expecting a legendary train wreck, and holy cow, it delivered! It’s absolutely bonkers from the opening scene (sex change operation with an audience?) to the bizarre ending. I couldn’t always tell what was going on, and the old film clips popping up were totally wild and confusing, but I was weirdly captivated. Raquel Welch is stunning and somehow holds it together, and seeing Mae West just being Mae West, even late in her career, was a trip. It’s definitely not a movie for everyone – some parts are genuinely uncomfortable or just plain baffling. But if you appreciate pure, unadulterated camp and cinematic chaos, this is one you just have to experience. I laughed, I cringed, and I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. It’s a mess, but it’s *my* kind of mess.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult films and cinematic curiosities”
  • “Viewers interested in controversial or transgressive cinema”
  • “Film historians and buffs interested in Hollywood’s ‘New Hollywood’ era and infamous flops”
  • “Those curious about the film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Explicit sexual content (including non-consensual acts)”
  • “Mature themes and language”
  • “Sexual innuendo”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Surreal and disjointed narrative”
  • “Depictions of gender confirmation surgery (surreal/stylized)”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized from user reviews: “An infamous cinematic catastrophe, ‘Myra Breckinridge’ collapses under its own weight of misguided satire and incoherent plotting. Despite a game performance from Raquel Welch, the film feels like a messy, mean-spirited assault on Hollywood and its icons. The forced use of classic film clips and bizarre sexual antics only adds to the disjointed and often uncomfortable viewing experience. It’s a notorious bomb that rarely justifies its own outrageousness.
• Synthesized from user reviews: “While widely panned, ‘Myra Breckinridge’ remains a compellingly strange artifact of its time. It’s undeniably a mess, with erratic pacing and a plot that defies logic, but its sheer audacity and camp sensibility are undeniable. Raquel Welch is surprisingly effective amidst the chaos, and Mae West’s late-career appearance is a bizarre highlight. Not a ‘good’ movie by conventional standards, but a must-see for aficionados of cult cinema and glorious failures.

Audience Reactions

Raquel Welch and Mae West’s wild performances are unforgettable.: Viewers are often fascinated by its sheer strangeness, the use of vintage film clips, and its status as a notorious cult film or ‘so bad it’s good’ movie.

The film’s outrageousness and camp humor provide unintentional (or intentional?) laughs.: Many appreciate its audacity and the way it pushed boundaries for its time, despite its technical and narrative flaws.

Overall Consensus: Widely regarded as a chaotic and deeply flawed film, bordering on one of the worst ever made, but appreciated by a niche audience for its camp value, historical notoriety, and bizarre cultural commentary.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Lee Majors was offered the role of Rusty but turned it down; he suggested his then-girlfriend Farrah Fawcett for the role of Mary Ann, marking her second film appearance.”
• “Director Michael Sarne was known for unusual behavior on set, including sometimes locking himself in his dressing room for hours, causing production delays and cost overruns.”
• “The film was plagued by significant feuds between the cast and director, as well as between stars Raquel Welch and Mae West, who reportedly did not get along.”
• “Several actors whose clips were used in the film, including Shirley Temple and Loretta Young, reportedly objected or even sued to have their footage removed, highlighting the controversial nature of how the archival material was utilized.”
• “Despite being based on a controversial bestseller by Gore Vidal, Vidal publicly disowned the film, calling it a ‘disaster’ and ‘one of the worst films ever made’.”
• “The film’s initial ‘X’ rating was controversial; it was later edited and re-rated ‘R’ for television and home video release, but this version omits some controversial content.”

🖥️ How to Watch Myra Breckinridge?

As a controversial and historically panned film, ‘Myra Breckinridge’ is not widely available on major streaming platforms. It may occasionally be found on niche streaming services specializing in cult or classic cinema. For reliable access, look for physical media releases (DVD, Blu-ray) available for purchase or rent from retailers like Amazon or specialized film stores. Digital purchase or rental options may also be available via platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play, or Vudu, but availability can vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Myra Breckinridge, you might like these similar films:

• Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970): Released the same year and also by 20th Century Fox, this film shares a similar campy, sexually explicit, and bizarre approach to satirizing Hollywood and counter-culture themes, and was often double-billed with Myra Breckinridge.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): A quintessential cult classic known for its gender-bending themes, camp aesthetic, and unconventional narrative, appealing to audiences who appreciate bizarre and boundary-pushing cinema, albeit in a musical format.
• Harold and Maude (1971): An era-specific dark comedy that became a beloved cult classic for its unconventional themes, exploration of mortality and connection, and offbeat sensibility, resonating with audiences looking for alternatives to mainstream cinema.
• Showgirls (1995): A modern notorious flop that gained significant cult status for its unintentional camp humor, over-the-top performances, and explicit content set in the world of performance, often cited as a modern equivalent of a ‘so bad it’s good’ film.
• Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957): Widely regarded as one of the ‘worst movies ever made,’ appealing to fans of notorious cinematic disasters and camp classics. Notably, the main character’s name is derived from actor Bunny Breckinridge, who appeared in Plan 9.

🛒 Myra Breckinridge Related Products

• Myra Breckinridge (Cult Classic DVD/Blu-ray): Own the notorious cinematic adaptation of Gore Vidal’s controversial novel. This edition often includes commentary and features exploring the film’s troubled production and cult status.
• Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal (Novel): Read the groundbreaking, darkly satirical novel that inspired the film. Dive deeper into the complex characters, themes, and social commentary that the movie struggled to adapt.
• Cult Movies: The Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful by Danny Peary: Explore the world of cult cinema with critical essays and analyses of films that have defied conventional success, often including discussions of infamous flops like Myra Breckinridge.
• Raquel Welch Vintage Movie Poster Print: A high-quality print of a vintage movie poster featuring the film’s star, Raquel Welch, often highlighting her iconic status and the film’s provocative imagery.

🎧 Soundtrack

Myra Breckinridge features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Secret Place” – performed by John Phillips

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Raquel Welch On Playing a Transgender Woman in ‘Myra Breckinridge’ | The Dick Cavett Show

Ever wonder what the star thought about tackling such a wild and controversial role? Here’s Raquel Welch herself on The Dick Cavett Show, spilling the tea on playing Myra Breckinridge back in 1970 – pretty fascinating to hear her take directly!

The DISTURBING Scene in MYRA BRECKINRIDGE That SHOCKED Hollywood—And Raquel Welch Was at Its Center!

Wow, this movie had *issues* behind the scenes! Dive into the bonkers production drama, Hollywood scandals, and that one infamous scene that supposedly freaked out the White House – makes you appreciate when movies actually *work*, doesn’t it?

Raquel Welch Was Mobbed at a Film Premiere | The Dick Cavett Show

Imagine getting mobbed just for showing up to your own movie premiere! Raquel Welch tells the wild story of the chaotic ‘Myra Breckinridge’ premiere – sounds like the reaction was as intense as the film itself!

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