CrocADyke Dundee

A lively, affectionate portrait of a larger-than-life outlaw figure, mixing colourful anecdotes with a wistful look at a hidden queer past.

Directed by

Fiona Cunningham-Reid

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Dawn O'Donnell

Tagline

The Legend of Dawn O'Donnell - the Godfather of Sydney's Mardi Gras

Overview

Dawn O’Donnell was a convent girl who became a professional ice skater, travelled the world and then landed up in 1950s Australia, a penniless lesbian. By the time of her death in 2007, she had stormed through Sydney’s gay underworld and built herself an empire of bars, clubs, steam rooms, sex shops and drag shows, inspiring The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. This fascinating documentary explores the mythology (was she a mobster? an arsonist? a murderer?) and life of this shrewd, silver-haired, butch businesswoman.

How it feels

Warm, earnest, satirical and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Identity, class, power, crime

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)