A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Victor/Victoria is a 1982 British-American musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras, and John Rhys-Davies. The film was produced by Tony Adams, directed by Blake Edwards, and scored by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. It was adapted in 1995 as a Broadway musical. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won the Academy Award for Original Music Score. It is a remake of the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria.In this film version Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews), a down-and-out British soprano, struggles to find work in the nightclubs of 1930s Paris. While trying to scam a free meal, Grant meets cabaret performer Toddy (Robert Preston), who comes up with an idea that will change everything. Acting as her manager, Toddy bills Grant as a male female impersonator. When the nightclubs eat it up, the duo makes it big -- even a Chicago mobster (James Garner) is enamored with Grant. But keeping the truth a secret is no easy task.I was 15 when this movie was released. I loved it then and I still love this film now. It was way ahead of its time. The film holds up. In fact its one of the rare occasions that a film has improved with age! This movie was nominated for Best Picture of 1982. Other movies nominated that year were "ET', "Tootsie", " Missing","The Verdict". However V/V lost to Ghandi. Now almost years later what movies do people still love and talk about well its not "Ghandi". The only thing wrong with V/V is that it runs a little long. 10 minutes should have been cut. The scene in bed where they are singing "Home on the Range" should have been eliminated it was not needed and he halts the films! Despite that minor flaw this is one of might favorite movies of the 1980's. I think if this movie was to be made and released today it would be a huge hit. The movie was ahead of its time.

Darling Julie makes an amazing comeback in the movies after 15 years away as box office poison or supporting in hits like "10" that starred other actors. She had a semi success with "S.O.B." the year before this brought her a surprising Oscar nomination, but that was simply for showing off her perky boobies. "Victor/Victoria" gives her a chance to sing and dance, and she dragged her way back into the hearts of fans who had either forgotten about her or were content watching re- releases of "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" in the movie theater. Along with husband Blake Edwards, Julie dug out an old chestnut, a 1930's German film (later a British movie musical starring Jessie Matthews), and made it gayer than a picnic basket. Julie's a down on her luck soprano who can't find a legitimate job in an illegitimate cafe where a nun trying to pass as a streetwalker isn't the proprietor's idea of increasing incoming cash. Along comes the old queen with a head cold (Robert Preston) who entices her into going along with his scheme, playing a man pretending to be a woman, and eventually becoming the toast of all of Paris.Along comes Chicago gangster James Garner and his dizzy moll Lesley Ann Warren who have different impressions of "Victor". At first, Warren is jealous of her hot lover's obvious desires for Victoria, but when Andrews removes what appears to be a wig and Warren realizes what's up, she's in bitchy hog heaven as Garner stews over his macho image being threatened by being attracted to being a man. Of course, Blake Edwards takes this one step forward, and with his adept use of farce, turns Garner over to his secret gay desires, while his own bodyguard Alex Karras faces his own desires thanks to the flamboyant "Toddy" (Preston). Warren, in the meantime, stews over her losing her macho boyfriend to a man, already having told Preston that "the right woman could reform you" with desire in her eyes. Even soap in her mouth can't shut this delightfully obnoxious dumbbell up and that sets her on the path to revenge.Yes, two TV Cinderella's get the chance to play off of each other; Andrews, who originated that part on TV, and Warren, who starred in the 1965 revised version, play romantic rivals here, and get in some good digs at each other. This is elegant fun, a gay romp that came out after the French gay classic "La Cage Aux Folles", and prepared the way for Jerry Herman's stage version of "La Cage". When Edwards, Andrews and songwriter Henry Mancini got together for the stage version of "Victor/Victoria", it appeared to be a pale imitation of the movie and both the stage and film versions of "La Cage" (which went onto have two successful Tony winning revivals), but the legend which is this movie has not faded. Mancini's score is bouncy and fun, sometimes poignant, delightfully trashy and ultimately triumphant as Toddy takes the spotlight for a hysterical finale.While Andrews, Warren and Preston all went onto Oscar nominations (all well deserved), it is Preston whom you will be focusing on every time he is on screen. He takes his gay caballero way past the image of Professor Harold Hill and adds subtlety that eliminates any potential for obnoxious camp. The gay chorus boys add a realism to the show business scene, just bitchy enough with each other to get some laughs and move on. The photography and editing are stunning, particularly in "Le Jazz Hot" where the image of Warren stewing over Andrews' magic all of a sudden turns back to be triumphant when she "discovers" the truth. The "cockroach" scene in the restaurant is also a classic, as is the look of the miserable waiter who ends up being a server in a key scene at the end after Victoria has become the big hit. To top it off, there's the gorgeous "Crazy World" which in the right frame of mind can bring on tears.

Favorite movie quote - "Remember you're a drag queen." Hey! Are you ready for a 1980's movie about a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman?? Well, kiddies, here's Victor/Victoria for you in all of its gender-deception glory.Containing plenty of bitchy remarks, sarcastic banter, and some very choice moments of zany, slapstick comedy, Victor/Victoria is a sexual charade of sorts that, for the most part, held up fairly well considering its subject matter.Set in Gay Paree (Paris) in 1934, a couple of this film's absolute highlights were - (1) Watching Lesley Ann Warren chew up the scenery as the gold-digging, blond bimbo, Norma Cassady - and - (2) Julie Andrews, as the gay deceiver, Victoria Grant, really belting it out in the "Le Jazz Hot!" musical number.On the down side - This Comedy/Farce ran on for far too long at 2 hours and 13 minutes. And the unwelcome, cornball romance that got inserted into the story was basically all fizzle and no spark.

Movie was way ahead of it's time as first saw it as a eight-year old back in Fla at the time. As it showed Julie Andrews being directed by her husband, the late and great Blake Edwards.He helped revive her career after Mary Popppins was typecasting her. As this proved to really help her shake that image. As she plays a poor female singer who is struggling to make ends meet. As she meets a gay singer who would become her manager, played by the great and late, Robert Preston.As after an argument with Preston's lover and Andrews punching him out, they make up her being a man pretending to be a woman singer. In order to make ends meet and it helps along the way winning both of them, fame and fortune.But Andrews finds out her personal life will clash when she meets the handsome James Gardner, who's bodyguard is also gay, played by the late great Alex Karras and his nagging girlfriend, Leslie Ann Warren.Gardner sees right through Andrews and the two fall in love as Andrews must maintain this image despite a snooping PI wanting to expose her. The film really helped out her career in the 1980s with Edwards.Seen this movie thousands of times, as it was ahead of it's time for the taboo 1980s. RIP Alex Karras, Blake Edwards, and Robert Edwards!