"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is an Australian film about 2 drag queens and a transexual. They take a road trip to a remote town in a bus called "Priscilla". Anthony "Tick" Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) is invited to perform in Alice Springs, so he recruits flamboyant young stud Adam Whitlery/Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce) and the legendary Bernadette Bassenger (Terence Stamp) to join him. The trio lip-synch songs on the bus, create fabulous costumes, and meet many colorful characters along the way. They also have to cope with the less accepting attitudes of rural Australia, sexual violence, and the problems of vehicle breakdowns. The trio eventually arrives at their destination with costumes and dance routines prepared. Before they arrive, Tick reveals that he is married, and that the trip is a favor for his wife, who runs the casino where they will be performing. Upon arriving, they learn that Tick and his wife also have a young son. They perform a truly fabulous show, but it is not well received.
An uncomplicated comedy, this film takes its characters at face value and the plot is straightforward. Terrence Stamp is excellent, treading a fine line between over-acting and sentimentality. He usually portrays masculine characters, often villains. "Priscilla" is regarded in the gay community as a camp classic, and was ranked as number 11 on Logo's 50 Greatest Films. Guy Gross composed the music, and Stephan Elliott wrote the screenplay and directed.
