The original book was just the (true) story of the love affair between Gerald/Geraldine and Monica Jay; the part about the business deal, the crooked boss and the Japanese clients was added for the film. I have to say that I found the sub-plot less than credible, but enormous fun all the same - especially the come-uppance. Yes, the ending is OTT, but it IS meant to be a dream sequence.
The UK transvestite association "Northern Concord" was involved in the research and some of its members were extras in the filming, which perhaps goes a long way to explaining why this is one of the very rare films which shows the world of cross-dressers as it really is. In most of the others (Tootsie, Mrs Doubtfire, Some Like it Hot...) the heroes aren't transvestites at all but ordinary guys who cross-dress to save their life, career or relationship with their children.
The UK transvestite association "Northern Concord" was involved in the research and some of its members were extras in the filming, which perhaps goes a long way to explaining why this is one of the very rare films which shows the world of cross-dressers as it really is. In most of the others (Tootsie, Mrs Doubtfire, Some Like it Hot...) the heroes aren't transvestites at all but ordinary guys who cross-dress to save their life, career or relationship with their children.