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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
This exuberant comedy chronicles the lives of a zany troupe of daring performers from 1969-1972: from their early days in San Francisco to their bombastic Broadway engagement. Features interviews with the cast, John Waters, (Director of Hairspray) and many other colorful characters from that generation.
Product Description
In the late '60s and early '70s, a San Francisco-based group of transvestite performers formed a talented troupe known as "The Cockettes." This documentary tells the story of the group's short but memorable existence. Directors Bill Weber and David Weissman utilize a wealth of archive footage to relate how George Harris became "Hibiscus" and formed the gender-bending troupe that would perform street theater. By the time they have their glorious off-Broadway debut, most of the original members had already left. In addition to the flamboyant performers, the directors show how their scene interrelated with the booming San Francisco counterculture. The Cockettes was screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Customer Reviews
“ If you were there, this is a great memory piece; if you weren't there, this might help you understand the power of that transforming time. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By C. Harbison
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
beautifully constructed of original 1960/70s footage and modern day reminiscences--great scenes and great, as well as realistic, view of hippie life and dreams--honestly showing the transformation that commercialization brought to a clearly doomed utopian experiment. If you were there, this is a great memory piece; if you weren't there, this might help you understand the power of that transforming time.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I lived down the street from the Palace Theater in the early 70's and had a chance to see the Cockettes. They were, as the film shows vividly, fabulous! The clothes, the makeup, the in-your-face nonconformity! America has become so bland now in comparison. I love the music in the film, the silent movie quality, and the way they pop back and forth between the survivors and their remembrances. It's visually interesting and the characters draw you into their magical world. They may demonize welfare moms now, but, welfare did give the mentally disabled something creative to do with their time back in the 70's. This is proof positive. Much better than pushing a shopping cart and mumbling, I should say.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By David W
John Waters, Janis Joplin, David Bowie, Elton John, Bette Midler and many others got some of their style and attitude from this local San Francisco theatrical group. It was theater that literally scraped itself up off the streets and onto a stage at the Palace Theater -- and nothing has been the same since. You owe it to yourself to see something here that you will not see the likes of again. The film is beautifully made, historically accurate, and true blue. Don't miss this movie!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Barker333
Format:DVD
As a result of purchasing a used video at a local chain, I saw the preview of this title on the video. Even though I was a young adult at the time, this documentary was a total surprise to me. I knew nothing about this subject, nor had I ever heard any reference to it. Of course I had heard of the "Hippies" and what San Francisco was like at the time.
The interviews with participants, while making this film years later, was fascinating. One can see the devastating result of drugs and AIDS on some of the participants.
I certainly thought it was interesting and very well done. I highly recommend it.
The interviews with participants, while making this film years later, was fascinating. One can see the devastating result of drugs and AIDS on some of the participants.
I certainly thought it was interesting and very well done. I highly recommend it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By IDLF
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have played this movie at least three times a week since purchasing it. I never tire of it. It gives me inspiration to go out and face an excruciatingly dull and dreary world--even without dropping acid!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By SiggyRomberg
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Cockettes were an in-your-face, hippie, drug-and-drag theatrical collective. There was nothing too outrageous or offensive that they wouldn't do. The existed for a very brief time in San Francisco but while they existed they became a local legend. We flocked to their midnight shows at the Palace Theatre in North Beach. Their performances made it possible for many later mainstream performers to present exuberant and outrageous shows. Without the Cockettes, John Waters would probably have been simply a strange little man in Baltimore, Ziggy Stardust would never have become a rock persona, Bette Midler would never have become "Divine," and Harris Glenn Milstead would probably have just been an overweight transvestite.
This video should be required viewing for every student of contemporary American history, although it's guaranteed to turn conservative's hair white. For that reason alone it should be preserved as a cultural artifact in what has become a drab and dreary country.
Those were the days ...
This video should be required viewing for every student of contemporary American history, although it's guaranteed to turn conservative's hair white. For that reason alone it should be preserved as a cultural artifact in what has become a drab and dreary country.
Those were the days ...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Amaranth
Format:DVD
"The Cockettes" is a unique documentary. While most people assume the gay rights movement started at Stonewall in NYC or with Harvey Milk in '70s San Francisco,the Cockettes were strutting their stuff during the Summer of Love era. The Cockettes was a troupe of cross-dressers (quite a few kept their facial hair),along with a woman,who provided campy psychedelia. They influenced people such as director John Waters,his icon Divine,and even Iggy Pop spent time with them to get drugs.
"The Cockettes" appears to glamorize the era of sexual liberation, when gender identity was up for grabs. They were part of the first generation of gays to "come out of the closet." The Cockettes seem to have inspired groups like the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (who parody Catholicism) and the pagan Radical Faeries. For all the free love and psychedelia,there was a price. There are few remaining members of the Cockettes,since several died from AIDS.
"The Cockettes" is a fascinating,trippin' portrait of an era.
"The Cockettes" appears to glamorize the era of sexual liberation, when gender identity was up for grabs. They were part of the first generation of gays to "come out of the closet." The Cockettes seem to have inspired groups like the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (who parody Catholicism) and the pagan Radical Faeries. For all the free love and psychedelia,there was a price. There are few remaining members of the Cockettes,since several died from AIDS.
"The Cockettes" is a fascinating,trippin' portrait of an era.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
this film captures the real energy of the hippie movement before it got called that by Time magazine. while I was not there in SFO at that time, I was living on a commune, exploring many of the same things. The drug use at that time was so very different than it became later. It was part of the shattering of the rigid boundaries of society and reality and artistic expression. and while it didn't produce great art, it truly was a miracle of rare device. This film captures it all - the fun, the daring, the tawdry, the collapse, the ravaging effect of AIDS as time went by. A rare and precious window into a time we can still learn from!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
At the Vanguard of Possibility
More or less founded by George Harris (aka Hybiscus) in San Francisco of the 1960s, The Cockettes arose from a creative hippie commune and performed what you might call "guerilla... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gary F. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories
I was at some of the outrageous & hilarious live performances in San Francisco. 40+ years later I still remember them & the DVD helps me share those memories. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Zoner
3.0 out of 5 stars
The fatality of glitter
Loved the glitter, the candy colors, the spirit of breaking out of something to live free. To do all this on powerful, often deadly toxic substances, though, is a sign of alarm and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Marcus Itoga
5.0 out of 5 stars
The [...]Seventies
I had heard of Divine, only through her music and was unaware of his start. i had seen the movies BUT this archival documentary bring it all back into one place and a specific... Read more
Published on March 17, 2011 by Mr. A. Creighton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous! What else?!
This full two hour documentary does a great job of transporting you back to the early 1970s in San Francisco. Read more
Published on August 4, 2010 by Ronald B. Schneider
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun
This is the most fun I've had watching a documentary of all time. It takes you back to the carefree days of the 60's. I only wish I'd been there in California to see them!!
Published on June 9, 2010 by Goldie Girl
