Briefly, Ed Wood

Full name:Edward D. Wood Jr.

Pseudonym:Ann Gora.

Dates:1924-1978.

Occupation:Jaw-droppingly inept but newly hot Z-movie director/transvestite.

How Z Is Z?InPlan 9 from Outer Space(1956), Wood had spinning hubcaps stand in for flying saucers; when Bela Lugosi died during the filming. Wood replaced him with Mrs. Wood's chiropodist, who hid behind a cape.

How Hot Is Hot?Wood has been (or is about to be) the subject of film festivals, books (notablyNightmare of Ecstasy), a musical, a video documentary, and now a major Hollywood movie: Johnny Depp is starring in Tim Burton'sEd Wood,which also features Martin Landau as Lugosi and Patricia Arquette as Mrs. Wood.

How Transvestite Is Transvestite?

In the highly personal fakedocumentary sex-change sagaGlen or Glenda?(1953), Wood directed himself in the dual starring role. In real life. Wood claimed that he'd landed on the beach at Normandy during World War II wearing a bra and pink panties under his fatigues.

How History Is Treating Ed Wood: Grandly.

GEORGE KALOGERAKIS