freakboy on film: DINAH EAST (1970)

I was hungry for something different, so I searched eBay for “weird queer movies.”  A few titles caught my half-blind eyes, but DINAH EAST intrigued me the most.  No, I didn’t immediately order a copy.  There was research to be done and when I learned DINAH EAST is considered an early trans film, the choice was a no-brainer.  Out of the two versions on DVD, the one with the most spectacular cover ended up in my eBay cart. 

The only weird thing about DINAH EAST, in my opinion, is the structure of the film.  It all begins with famous film star Dinah East, after an odd exchange between her and her naked adult son, dying from a medical crisis in the back of her limousine.  Then a pervy mortician, who is a little too eager as he undresses Dinah’s corpse, discovers the woman of his fantasies was biologically male.  The press is called and soon Dinah’s death is overshadowed by her gender nonconforming secret. 

It’s here where the life of Dinah East is told through flashbacks as the important people in her life hear of her passing.  All the flashbacks are fascinating, but a few stand out for me.  In one, we learn how Dinah, dressed in traditionally male attire, shows up at a film studio and is told there are no parts for men.  The next day Dinah appears at the studio gate in traditionally female attire, explaining how she is herself now and the day before she was just foolin’.  This feels like an extremely progressive view of identity for a decades old film. 

Another of my favorite flashbacks is when Dinah meets Daniela, a lesbian fashion designer.  It could have been a case of blackmail when Dinah accidentally walks in on Daniela being intimate with a model, but instead, these two women find allies in each other.  Throughout the rest of Dinah’s career, Daniela is in charge of her wardrobe, even winning an Academy award.  Finding friends and allies outside and within the LGBTQ+ community seems like a newer concept, but this film shows how it’s always been important to cultivate such relationships.  

My favorite flashback involves Dinah’s chauffeur Tank Swenson.  Tank is a hunky boxing instructor for the film studio and he catches Dinah’s eye.  She also catches Tank’s eye  and soon they are involved in a wonderfully sweet courtship.  Even when his boxing career ends and he becomes her chauffeur, their love for each other remains true.  Honestly, this flashback brought a few happy tears to my eyes, especially when Tank tells Dinah it doesn’t matter if she’s a man or a woman as long as she loves him.  This romance feels beyond progressive.  Maybe groundbreaking would be the word if DINAH EAST had not become so seemingly obscure. 

I was expecting DINAH EAST to be a wham-bam production like MYRA BRECKINRIDGE, but writer/director Gene Nash keeps the pacing and acting low-key.  The most remarkable aspect is how the script is sympathetic to Dinah East.  She is who she is, with no apologies, even when facing personal attacks.  As for the acting, the range varies from person to person.  In my opinion, there are three to watch.  Jeremy
Stockwell brings strength and sincerity to Dinah.  Matt Bennett makes Tank a lovable goofball with surprising depth.  With a name like Ultra Violet, you’d think Daniela would be bold and flashy, but UV gives the fashion designer a down-to-earth vulnerability. 

When researching DINAH EAST, I stumbled upon some juicy Hollywood gossip and a star-studded urban legend!  Legendary sex-positive icon Mae West allegedly filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers and tried to have all prints of DINAH EAST destroyed, supposedly explaining how the film fell into obscurity.  If Mae West actually took such action, the question would be, “Why?”  Well, according to one of several urban legends surrounding her, the fabulous Mae West was, allegedly, a man in female drag and she saw DINAH EAST as a personal attack.  Honestly, if I hadn’t read this before watching the film, I wouldn’t have connected West with East.  The only time Dinah reminded me of Mae was maybe in how she was dressed in one scene. 

In conclusion…
DINAH EAST may not have been what I expected, but it was just what I needed.  A dramatically touching story of someone who, in today’s language, would be considered a trans woman.  While her death in the film is tragic, the character of Dinah East is not.  She lived her life on her terms, with strength and kindness.  We could all learn a lesson from Dinah.  So if you are in the mood for an obscure 1970’s LGBTQ+ film about the complexities of being human, then keep an eye out for DINAH EAST.  

NOTE: According to IMDB, DINAH EAST is available to stream through IndiePix Unlimited and Fawesome, the latter being similar to Tubi.

Freak Out, 
JLH 

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