Victor/Victoria

Victor/Victoria (1982) starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston. Directed by Blake Edwards. In 1934 Paris, a starving singer named Victoria Grant (Andrews) decides to try playing a transvestite performer named Victor. In other words, she's a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. But not fooled is King Marchan (Garner), an American visiting Paris who believes that "Victor" is really a woman. Problem is, Victoria Grant is a huge success (the "toast of Paris") as a female impersonator, and she doesn't want to give it up. The movie deals amusingly with gay themes, but I didn't buy Andrews' portrayal of a "man." She wouldn't have fooled me, and I don't think she would have fooled all of Paris. The musical numbers, although they won an Oscar, don't strike me as top-notch, nor particularly memorable. Andrews and Garner are charming in the lead roles, and the movie is entertaining, but it's just not first rate. Andrews was married to director Edwards. (Subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B