Conservative England was shaken when he came out: Quentin Crisp. He was cheeky, flamboyant, extravagant. And he was the first Briton ever to officially acknowledge his homosexuality. This film portrays the life of the flamboyant man who shaped an entire generation. This biopic by Jack Gold is based on Quentin Crisp's autobiography, published in 1968. Crisp himself makes a brief appearance in an introduction. The Encyclopedia of International Film judged: "Filmed in a very confident style, balancing seriousness and comedy: a thoughtful plea for tolerance and understanding, featuring a fascinating lead actor." When the production was re-screened at the Berlinale in 2009, it was described as follows: "Portrayed with congenial grandeur by John Hurt, Jack Gold's adaptation transformed Crisp into an icon of the gay rights movement and a globally accepted 'fashion queen'."