VICTOR/VICTORIA (1982)

Germany and Great Britain came to Hollywood for this spirited musical comedy of sexual politics. The tale of an out-of-work singer (Julie Andrews) who becomes a cabaret star by pretending to be a female impersonator in 1934 Paris had started out as the German film Viktor und Viktoria (1933). That was remade in England as First a Girl (1935) and then remade again in Germany with its original title in 1957. Writer-director Blake Edwards had envisioned pairing Andrews with his frequent star Peter Sellers. When Sellers died unexpectedly in 1980, Robert Preston took on the role of the gay performer who coaches Andrews in how to pass as a man, which nabbed the stage and screen veteran his only Oscar nomination. The film was a big hit and scored seven Oscar nominations in all, including one for Andrews and Edwards’ script, and a win for the score by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse.

d. Blake Edwards, 134m, DCP

Restoration by Warner Bros. Discovery.