I Want What I Want
Encyclopedia
I Want What I Want by Geoff Brown
was first published in 1966 by Great Britain's Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Limited. A film by the same title, the script of which was written by Gillian Freeman
, stars Anne Heywood
.
The novel's tagline suggests its content: "Roy was different from most boys--he was a girl. . . ."
I Want What I Want can be read online at http://antijen.org/iwant/WantMain.html.
, whose autobiography, April Ashley's Odyssey (1982) (ISBN 0-224-01849-3), co-written by April Ashley and Duncan Fallowell
and published in London by Jonathan Cape, recounts her experience after she was outed as a transsexual.
Prior to being outed, April had worked in Paris as a female impersonator at Le Carrousel nightclub, where she earned the money to pay for her sex-reassignment surgery.
April's autobiography can be read online at http://www.antijen.org/Aprilv1/.
, with transsexuals being referred to as "sexual inverts," "extreme homosexuals" or "transvestites."
Although Dr. Harry Benjamin used the term "transsexual" as early as 1952, it did not come into widespread use until the publication of his groundbreaking treatise on the subject, The Transsexual Phenomenon (1962).
as the protagonist, Roy/Wendy; Harry Andrews
as Roy's father; Jill Bennett as Margaret Stevenson; Paul Rogers as Mr. Waites; Michael Coles as Frank; Sheila Reid as June; and Virginia Stride
as Shirley.
Other cast members include Daphne Anderson
, John Baskcomb
, and Paul Prescott. The film, which is also known as I Want What I Want--To Be a Woman, was produced by Raymond Stross
and directed by John Dexter
.
I Want What I Want helped to pave the way for the release of many other transvestite and transsexual films or films that contain scenes or references to transsexuality.
Geoff Brown
Geoffrey "Geoff" Brown is a Scottish businessman. He was chairman of St. Johnstone from 1986 until November 2011....
was first published in 1966 by Great Britain's Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Limited. A film by the same title, the script of which was written by Gillian Freeman
Gillian Freeman
Gillian Freeman is a British writer.Born in London, daughter of Dr. Jack Freeman and his wife, she graduated in English Language and Literature from the University of Reading in 1951. She married Edward Thorpe, novelist and ballet critic of the Evening Standard, in 1955. They have two daughters...
, stars Anne Heywood
Anne Heywood
Anne Heywood is a British film actress. Born as Violet Pretty in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, she won the Miss Great Britain title under her real name in 1950,...
.
The novel's tagline suggests its content: "Roy was different from most boys--he was a girl. . . ."
I Want What I Want can be read online at http://antijen.org/iwant/WantMain.html.
April Ashley
One of Brown's inspirations for the protagonist of his novel may have been English model April AshleyApril Ashley
April Ashley is an English model and restaurant hostess. She was the first British person to be outed as a transsexual, which was by the Sunday People in 1961...
, whose autobiography, April Ashley's Odyssey (1982) (ISBN 0-224-01849-3), co-written by April Ashley and Duncan Fallowell
Duncan Fallowell
Duncan Fallowell is a novelist, travel writer and cultural commentator. Born in London in 1948, he graduated from Oxford in 1970, and at the age of 21 was given a rock column in the Spectator. He was subsequently the magazine's film critic and fiction critic...
and published in London by Jonathan Cape, recounts her experience after she was outed as a transsexual.
Prior to being outed, April had worked in Paris as a female impersonator at Le Carrousel nightclub, where she earned the money to pay for her sex-reassignment surgery.
April's autobiography can be read online at http://www.antijen.org/Aprilv1/.
Confused terminology
In the late 1960s, transsexuality was not widely understood, and as I Know What I Want shows in the use of the terms that were employed to describe this condition, transsexuality was confused with male homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, with transsexuals being referred to as "sexual inverts," "extreme homosexuals" or "transvestites."
Although Dr. Harry Benjamin used the term "transsexual" as early as 1952, it did not come into widespread use until the publication of his groundbreaking treatise on the subject, The Transsexual Phenomenon (1962).
Film
The film version of I Want What I Want (1972) starred Anne HeywoodAnne Heywood
Anne Heywood is a British film actress. Born as Violet Pretty in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, she won the Miss Great Britain title under her real name in 1950,...
as the protagonist, Roy/Wendy; Harry Andrews
Harry Andrews
Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
as Roy's father; Jill Bennett as Margaret Stevenson; Paul Rogers as Mr. Waites; Michael Coles as Frank; Sheila Reid as June; and Virginia Stride
Virginia Stride
Virginia Stride is a British actress of stage and screen who first came to public attention on television in the 1960s...
as Shirley.
Other cast members include Daphne Anderson
Daphne Anderson
-External links:...
, John Baskcomb
John Baskcomb
John Baskcomb was an English character actor who made numerous television and film appearances over a 35 year period....
, and Paul Prescott. The film, which is also known as I Want What I Want--To Be a Woman, was produced by Raymond Stross
Raymond Stross
Raymond Stross was a British film producer. He also directed the 1937 film The Reverse Be My Lot. He was married to Anne Heywood.-Selected filmography:Producer* The Tall Headlines * As Long as They're Happy...
and directed by John Dexter
John Dexter
John Dexter was an English theatre, opera, and film director.- Theatre :Born in Derby, England, Dexter left school at the age of fourteen to serve in the British army during World War II. Following the war, he began working as a stage actor before turning to producing and directing shows for...
.
I Want What I Want helped to pave the way for the release of many other transvestite and transsexual films or films that contain scenes or references to transsexuality.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/keyword/transsexual/ This web page lists 101 films featuring transsexual plots, themes, or references.
- http://www.antijen.org/iwant/WantIntro.html This is an introduction to the novel, I Want What I Want, to which it povides a link to the online text.
- http://antijen.org/iwant/WantMain.html Read the online text of the novel, I Want What I Want, at this site.