The Lady and the Dale

About The Lady and the Dale

The Lady and the Dale is an American documentary television miniseries revolving around Elizabeth Carmichael, who launched Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation and promoted a futuristic, low-cost fuel-efficient three-wheeled vehicle named 'The Dale.' The series significantly chronicles the high-octane drama and personal life trials faced by Carmichael, a transwoman who became a media sensation with her vehicle’s promotional campaign but encountered troubles amid accusations of fraud and criminal past.

Making / Production

Produced by Duplass Brothers Productions, the series aired on HBO in 2021. Created by Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker, the series reflects on societal prejudices faced by Carmichael, money fraud, and gender identity with a blend of rich archival footage and interviews.

Actors

• Gerrit Graham as Dick Carlson: Graham played Dick Carlson, a news reporter with a unique characterization that greatly contributed to the series' dynamism.
• Elizabeth Carmichael as herself: Elizabeth’s archival footage from the '70s forms a critical part of the series, projecting a vivid picture of her personality and struggles.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series incorporates hand-drawn animation to bring out Carmichael’s story that helped replicate the 70s era on screen.
• Elizabeth Carmichael’s family, who had never spoken about the case openly, shared their thoughts in this documentary.

Quotes

• "I'm not any different than anyone else. I'm a mother to five children. I'm a woman of the world." - Elizabeth Carmichael.
• "She had us all fooled. We wanted to believe in this so much." - Reporter in the series.

Music, Soundtrack

• Given its real-life drama context, the documentary mostly relies on its sound design rather than songs or an extensive musical score. The sound design highly contributes to the series’ tone, making it more gripping and immersive.