Search - Lipstick & Dynamite - The First Ladies of Wrestling on DVD

A movie for wrestling fans and film fans alike!

Casey Boyer | Hollywood, CA. | 05/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary is a must see for wrestling fans and film fans. The movie spotlights the lives of Gladys "Killem" Gillem, The Fabulous Moolah, The Great Mae Young, Ida Mae Martinez and Penny Banner and a few others. All these women were the true pioneers of "girl" wrestling and paved the road for the ladies today, at a time when they weren't welcomed into the business. While you might only recognize Moolah and Mae Young from their WWE appearances, the other ladies have facinating stories to tell that draw you in. Gillem, the oldest living female wrestler goes back to the begining of the business, wrestling matches at the circus. Martinez became a nurse and was one of the first people to care for people with AIDS. The one sad part to the movie is seeing that some of the women still carry grudges against each other. Some have criticized the movie saying Moolah & Young treated it like wrestling was a shoot (real), but in those days kayfabe was alive and well. While the DVD isn't released yet, this is a movie you'll want in your collection! I was at the Los Angeles premiere that Gillem, Moolah, Young, Martinez and the director all attended. These women are all inspirational and they brought a tear to my eye. The director deserves extra credit for shining a light on these ladies and bringing them to the premiere...hopefully that's included on the DVD release. My only regret is I didn't bring my video camera. It was truly an honor and a pleasure meeting all these legends."

One of a Kind

Always A Lady | Hermosa Beach, Ca. | 08/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After you watch the movie you realize each of these ladies was

a one of a kind,in their own unique way. These women fought tooth and nail to give themselves a better life. It was good to see that because of Ruth Leitman these women have had a chance to tell their stories and will not be forgotten. How many women can say they were a lady wrestler, lion tamer,alligator wrestler, and to top it off raised three children by herself? It was interesting to hear how in spite of their occupation they still presented themselves as genteel ladies. Saw the movie and will definitely buy the DVD."

Wonderfully Entertaining...

Kenneth P. Raftery | Brooklyn, NY | 07/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this film first at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2004 and then I saw it several times in New York when it played there in March 2005. I have been a fan of Fabulous Moolah since 1984, and I always thought she deserved a lot of credit for what she did over the years. People who know her and Mae Young as the two silly characters they play on WWE tv don't know the real story. This movie tells the tale of the two of them as well as the other ladies who paved the way for women wrestlers. Nowadays, a woman can be called a "wrestler" if she wins a "Diva Search" contest, but back then the women really trained very hard to become true athletes. You don't have to be a wrestling fan to love this movie. I bought two copies...one for myself and one to loan to people. As the Daily News wrote, "Dynamite is the perfect word to describe this film"."

This film had me totally pinned!

Tom from Albuquerque | 10/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a knockout documentary this is! It should be right up there with the best of the best. Forget the current trendy, hip "anti-establishment," "subversive" documentaries (no names shall be mentioned). This film is a direct descendant of the works of Albert Maysles, Ross McElwee, and Bruce Sinofsky. It's about incredible women who broke the mold and found their own unique way in the world. It takes a director like Leitman to so perfectly capture the many complex sides of these incredible creatures. There is no resolution to their stories, no pat answers. They are muddling their way through life just like the rest of us, and Leitman catches the horror, the triumph, and the wonderful strength and sense of humor many of them possess. This doc is as engrossing as any terrific feature -- it lets you into a world you've never known and changes you as a result. Kudos to Leitman. I can't wait for her first narrative feature film. She's a director to watch!!"