TOP 25 CAMP FILMS OF ALL TIME - 14

PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT

This early 90s film nearly never made it into my countdown but then I realised, not having Priscilla in my top 25 would be like saying Hitler was a naughty boy - it would just be wrong.

I looked at another Aussie movie that cracked me up, Muriel's Wedding but decided that the camp value of Priscilla is higher than Muriel so it gets my vote in this cramped camper than camp list.

Priscilla is basically a road movie. With 3 bitchy drag queens heading across Australia to a gig at Alice Springs and all of their adventures, triumphs and tragedies along the way.

There's Mitzi who instigates the trip as it's his wife who hires them, he's nervous as he's going to meet his son he's never met.

Bernadette - she's more mature and refined who is really doing the trip under duress but actually finds romance along the way.

Felicia is loud, brash and causes more havoc than any drag queen you could imagine. She does have a heart of gold however.

The soundtrack to Priscilla is fabulous. It starts with Charlene's "I've Never Been To Me" which kicks the movie off. Famous disco classics such as Go West, I Love The Nightlife, Mamma Mia and more belt out with unashamed campness and delight the viewer. I Will Survive is also a great set piece and CeCe Peniston's Finally is the huge showstopping number when the queens arrive in Alice Springs with an array of costumers. You can't help but sing and strut when watching the movie.

The costumes won an Oscar and are truly ingenious. What's interesting is that they were made on a shoestring budget but looked uber glamourous as befits three drag queens in the outback. Seeing Guy Pearce wear an all in one silver ensemble atop a bus with full head dress is an iconic image in camp cinema. Hugo Weaving's character Mitzi puts on a dress made entirely of flip flops - it was supposed to be a credit card dress but no credit card company would allow the production to use their brand.

Then there's the story - you root for all 3 characters to have a happy ending. Despite all the bitching between them they all love each other and have dreams and aspirations outwith the show in Alice Springs.

The comedy is sharp and the cutting lines fit in fabulously. There are some great set pieces when Bob's Thai bride Cynthia decides to upstage the girls with her own party piece that has to be seen to be believed.

Some great lines of dialogue.....
BERNADETTE - I'll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba!
MITZI - Doesn't give us much to talk about then, does it?

BERNADETTE - Why don't you just light your tampon, blow your box apart? Because it's the only bang you're ever gonna get, sweetheart!

FELICIA - Mowing those lawns must have been murder on your heels, though.

BERNDATTE - What a lovely dog. What's it's name?
BOB - Herpes. If she's good, she'll heal.

FELICIA - Do you think I'm going to let you walk away with all the attention? No chance, come on girls. Let's go shopping.

The end of the movie is particularly uplifting after the queens get a lukewarm response in Alice Springs and end up back in Sydney to their appreciative audience, Mitzi has built a relationship with his son, Felicia has matured and Bernadette has found love with Bob!!! Very touching but very very camp.