The Queen [Blu-ray]

More than 40 years before RuPaul's Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas for the big event. Organized by pioneering LGBTQ+ icon and activist Jack Doroshow (better known by his stage persona Flawless Sabrina), the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern. But perhaps the most memorable moment occurs after the crowning ceremony: an epic diatribe by Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to form the influential House of LaBeija, prominently featured in Paris Is Burning (1990). A vibrant piece of queer history, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negatives. Special Features: • Audio commentary by artist and producer Zackary Drucker and journalist and author Diana Tourjée • Outtake footage • Theatrical trailers (original and re-release) • Interview with producer Si Litvinoff, by Shade Rupe • The Queen: After Party Outtakes, with Jack Doroshow, by Joe E. Jeffreys • Flawless Sabrina: Icon/Muse, a short documentary by Michelle Handelman • Irma Vep: The Last Breath, a short film by Michelle Handelman, featuring Flawless Sabrina • Queens at Heart, a 1967 short documentary on drag culture • Post-screening Q&A footage with Flawless Sabrina and Zackary Drucker • Booklet essay by Joe E. Jeffreys