Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A struggling female soprano finds work playing a male female impersonator, but it complicates her personal life.
Victor/Victoria is a sparkling gender-bending comedy built on a clever double-reversal conceit (a woman playing a man playing a woman) that feels genuinely singular in its execution. Julie Andrews delivers one of her finest performances, fully committed and charming, matched by James Garner and Robert Preston in superb supporting turns — the acting ensemble is a genuine highlight. The 1930s Paris setting is rendered with warmth and style, though the cinematography is more functional than distinctive. The plot sustains its comic premise with wit and sophistication, though it occasionally loses momentum in its romantic entanglements. The ending, while satisfying, is fairly conventional for the genre. Its novelty lies in how Blake Edwards orchestrates the identity farce with both broad comedy and genuine heart, making it a one-of-a-kind musical comedy of its era.