Blonde Ambition

Queer aesthetics and screwball spirit in a cult classic

The misadventures of the fabulous Kane sisters take center stage: the sophisticated Candy (Dory Devon) and the scatterbrained Sugar (Suzy Mandel) start out with a disastrous vaudeville act in a rural Wyoming bar, where they get a call from their agent with a supposed job offer in New York. Before setting off, they cross paths with the handsome and wealthy British nobleman Stephen Carlisle III (Eric Edwards), who owns a valuable gemstone identical to a costume replica they carry. Upon arriving in Manhattan, they discover the job doesn't exist, but the millionaire lets them stay in his luxury apartment. Determined to achieve Broadway stardom, the sisters get caught up in a hilarious whirlwind involving a small-time private eye (Wade Nichols), monumental mix-ups, and the filming of a chaotic porn spoof of Gone with the Wind directed by an eccentric filmmaker (Jamie Gillis). It all culminates in a wild party and a hilarious drag queen contest at a local gay bar.

"Blonde Ambition" is a delightful, ahead-of-its-time camp fest. This is no conventional adult film; rather, it is a genuine love letter to Classic Hollywood and the screwball comedies of directors like Billy Wilder or Howard Hawks, fused with the irreverent, transgressive sensibility of John Waters. Originally promoted under the iconic tagline "If you loved 'Deep Throat' and 'Singing in the Rain', you'll love 'Blonde Ambition'!", the film stands out for its high production values compared to the standards of its era, featuring superb cinematography by the legendary Roberta Findlay.

The work is recognized in historical retrospectives like The Rialto Report for its brilliant comic tone and unashamedly queer atmosphere. Directed by two openly gay brothers, the film injects campy, queer humor, rapid-fire dialogue packed with double entendres, and a burlesque aesthetic bursting with charisma. Suzy Mandel truly knocks it out of the park with her phys...