Thursday, November 11, 2010

Yankee Doodle Wears A Dress

yankee-doodle-in-berlin---1919---bothwell_browne-101110 I tired quickly watching the country and western music award show last night, so I perused the competing television fare and discovered a 1919 silent film on Turner Classic Movies. Titled Yankee Doodle in Berlin, its description read "A U.S. spy infiltrates the German Army disguised as a woman."

I was intrigued.

The film starred Bothwell Browne.

That name rang a bell, so I looked him up and, voila!, Mr. Browne was "a noted theatrical female impersonator at the top of his profession when this movie was filmed," according to IMDB.

I decided to watch the film, which turned out to be a farcical romp.

Mr. Browne's femulation was excellent (see photo). Despite his flat-chested female presentation, he definitely passed.

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2 comments:

  1. Trish MifflinNovember 11, 2010

    Stana's eagle eyes strike again! I think the flat-chested look was much in vogue in 1919, so I'm not sure that wasn't intentional.

    Have you seen these photos of Bothwell Browne on the New York Public Library's website?

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  2. CallMeMegNovember 11, 2010

    I wonder if the flat chest was to not draw attention to "the male with the bosom". This was a time when ankles were hidden!

    "In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking Now heaven knows
    Anything goes"

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