Wrangler: Anatomy of An Icon [DVD]

Unlike the Peter Berlin documentary, this attempt at understanding the colourful life of an 'iconic' porn star was far more interesting and well researched.

What made this interesting for me was the sheer effervescent, colourful and dare I say eccentric personality of 'Jack Wrangler' (born John Robert Stillman). His transition from a privileged young man born to established Hollywood personalities, to then becoming a gay porn star, only to then move on to heterosexual porn late in his career, and then finally being a married man, was within itself a fascinating and bumpy ride. Many would accuse 'Jack Wrangler' of betraying the homosexual cause and identity by transitioning to the normative lifestyle he currently enjoys. Others would say that sexuality is as fluid as the man himself, who identifies as gay, yet loves a woman (who in turn ideally compliments his personality, style and purpose in life). Whilst I understood much of what the man had to say about his own choices in life, I can't help but feel that he has ultimately compromised on a large part of who he is.

Indeed he may be a successful and happily married man (as many closeted gay men are, or at least try to be), yet three quarters of his life was spent as an openly and dare I say proud gay man. The anomaly is jarring, and one cannot help but think the pressure of normative society, his wife's (Margaret Whiting) own concerns about him being gay (and that of her daughter), as well as his own overwhelming desire to be accepted, had any part in his final choices. He himself says the gay life is far too competitive and difficult.

Throughout the movie one realises that this is a man, who desperately wished to be accepted by his father. His life is full of attempts to do just that, although somewhat distorted by his own sense of failure. He longs to be seen as the virulent man portrayed by his director father in many of his movies (an idealises the young Michael Lambert hired by his father for the equally iconic 'Bonanza'). This idealisation manifests in his own confusing identity, and is ultimately portrayed in his pornographic representations. He is the strong, 'straight acting', 'straight sounding' man whose sexual identity is gay but who is not seen as such.

My suspicion is that he wanted to transcend the social barriers and vilification of gay men at the time, in order to exist as the virulent and desirable man. In this way he could achieve his father's acceptance, as well as reconcile his own sense of self. Unfortunately a life built on compromise, where everyone else's happiness is more important than one's own, ultimately forces one into hard choices. His father's own words resonate, in that when told of his desire to be accepted, his father replied: "It's time you get over that."

In the end he makes those choices, but only after a long and interesting ride.In the end, this is an enjoyable documentary, with some valuable insight by third parties approached for comment. Well worth the time spent watching it.