Red Ribbon Blues

1996 American film

June 7, 1996 (1996-06-07)

Running time

97 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$3,000,000 (estimated)

Red Ribbon Blues is a 1996 comedy-drama with classic heist/caper elements and written and directed by Charles Winkler and starring Paul Mercurio, RuPaul, and Debi Mazar.^[1] The film played the gay and lesbian film festival circuit in 1996.

Synopsis

Troy (Paul Mercurio) and Duke (RuPaul) have attended dozens of funerals for friends who have died of AIDS. Many of them were unable to afford the prohibitively expensive drugs they needed to stay alive. With their own funds running low, Troy and Duke decide to stage a series of robberies, stealing supplies of the life-saving drugs. Their heists are so successful that they're soon able to begin distributing medications throughout the community.

Cast

Paul Mercurio as Troy
Debi Mazar as Darcy
RuPaul as "Duke"
John Epperson as Harold
Lisa Waltz as "Bones"
David Spielberg as Yorkin
Leland Orser as James
Alan Boyce as Craig
Gabriella Lamiel as Nadine Scott
Robert Sherman as Alex
Steve Park as Kris Lee
Margo Winkler as Helen
Lee Mathis as Francis
Paul Bartel as Fred, The Pharmacist
Charles Winkler as Angry Man With Shotgun

Reception

Steve Persall of the Tampa Bay Times praised the film, comparing its "lighter-in-tone" storyline to Robin Hood. He rated the film with a B+.^[2]

Awards and nominations

It was nominated for a Special Grand Prize at Deauville Film Festival.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Sandra Brennan. "Red Ribbon Blues". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31.
^ Persall, Steve (October 11, 1996). "Strong closing lineup for an excellent Pride Fest". Tampa Bay Times. p. 82. Retrieved April 14, 2022.