A man sets out to win the decathalon, he does it and then he finally shares with the world that he’s always wanted to be a woman.
Here’s the Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner story from the “Untold” series.
If you want another great “Untold” doc check out Untold: Crimes & Penalties (I gave that an even higher rating than this one!).
Trailer for “Untold: Caitlyn Jenner”
Watch “Untold: Caitlyn Jenner”
You can watch “Untold: Caitlyn Jenner” on Netflix here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81026436
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: Release Date: August 24, 2021
My Review of “Untold: Caitlyn Jenner”
The Setup
In this 69-min. Netflix doc, we see Bruce Jenner grow up in Connecticut. Then he wins Olympic gold.
Years later, he becomes Caitlyn Jenner. This film stays away from Kardashian drama and keeps the focus on sports and identity. Jenner tells most of the story herself.
Director’s Note — This “Untold” is directed by two great directors: Crystal Moselle and Chapman Way. Crystal directed “The Wolfpack” (which I rank 96/100) and Chapman Way did “Wild Wild Country” (which I rank 100/100!)
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Bruce was not a natural athlete. He had dyslexia and didn’t do well at first. But he found his place in the decathlon, where mental toughness was just as important as being strong.
- Caitlyn’s son Burt wonders if Bruce could have won the gold if he wasn’t hiding being transgender. Was being an Olympic star just an escape?
More Highlights from the Doc
- At age 10 or 11, Bruce put on his mom’s clothes and lipstick in secret. This made him feel good, but he couldn’t tell anyone why.
- Before the 1976 Olympics, Bruce said, “Win, lose, or draw, I will put everything into this event.” This mindset led to the most dominant decathlon win ever.
- The 1976 Olympics came after Vietnam and Watergate. America needed a hero, and Jenner stepped up. He set a world record and became “the world’s greatest athlete.”
- After winning, Bruce became a brand. He got on the Wheaties box, made TV shows, and got big deals. This made him very famous.
- Bruce was so upset about his gender issues that he had surgery. In the 1980s, he had his beard removed and got breast implants. Later, he had the implants taken out because he was scared.
- We learn about Bruce’s many wives, including Kris Jenner. Being on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” was hard for him. But it also gave him a way to come out later.
- In 2015, at age 65, Bruce changed to Caitlyn. He did this with a big Vanity Fair cover that shocked people.
Cameos
- Kendall Jenner talks about her dad and the change
- Kris Jenner is not in the film
- Bart Conner, an Olympic medal winner, talks about Bruce’s sports wins
- Diane Sawyer from ABC News is seen in clips from her 2015 talk with Bruce. This is when Bruce first said he was transgender.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Jenner almost quit sports in 1975. His wife Chrystie Crownover talked him into trying one more time for the Olympics.
- After winning gold, Bruce felt lost. He sat alone in his hotel room, not happy even after his big win.
- Bruce never got paid for being on the Wheaties box. Back then, deals were set up very differently.
- Bruce tried acting after the Olympics. He was in “CHiPs” and other TV shows. But Hollywood didn’t make him a star.
- When Bruce told his older kids about becoming Caitlyn, he made them keep it from his younger girls, Kendall and Kylie. This caused family fights.
- Bruce kept his Olympic gold medal in his sock drawer for years. The big symbol of manhood was hidden away, not shown off.
Wrap Up
“Untold: Caitlyn Jenner” doesn’t try to shock you. It gives a real, personal look at sports, identity, and accepting yourself.
If you want Kardashian drama, look elsewhere. But if you want to learn about one of America’s most interesting athletes ever, this film delivers.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc