Hairspray (1988 film)
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| Hairspray | |
|---|---|
| Image:Hairsprayfilm.jpg Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Waters |
| Produced by | John Waters Robert Shaye Rachel Talalay Sara Risher Stanley F. Buchthal |
| Written by | John Waters |
| Starring | Divine Ricki Lake Jerry Stiller Debbie Harry Sonny Bono Ruth Brown |
| Cinematography | David Insley |
| Editing by | Janice Hampton |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | February 26, 1988 |
| Running time | 92 min. |
| Country | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
| Gross revenue | $6,671,108 |
| Followed by | Hairspray (2007) |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Hairspray is a 1988 comedy written and directed by John Waters. The film features Divine, Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry. Hairspray was a dramatic departure from Waters' earlier works, with a much broader intended audience, most of his previous films having been rated X by the MPAA. Hairspray has become notable for an unusual portrayal of racial issues through Waters' characteristic edgy humor.
In 2002, Hairspray was adapted into a Broadway musical of the same name, which won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2003. A second film version of Hairspray, an adaptation of the stage musical, was released by New Line on July 20, 2007.
Hairspray was only a moderate success upon its initial theatrical release in the United States, grossing only $6,671,108, however it became a success on home video rentals and sales. Many critics praised the film, while some were displeased with the overall campiness. The film's popularity was further boosted with the 2002 stage adaptation, and the 2007 version and has since become a cult film.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Outline
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film follows "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad, as she simultaneously pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.
[edit] Synopsis
Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) is an optimistic, self-proclaimed "pleasantly plump" high school student from Highlandtown, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962. She endures a day's worth of boring classes so that she and her best friend Penny Pingleton (Leslie Ann Powers) can race home to view their favorite TV program, The Corny Collins Show. The program, a dance show featuring teenagers aimed at the youth group, is broadcast from Baltimore's station WZZT on weekday afternoons. Some dancers featured on the show attend Tracy’s school, including Amber Von Tussle (Vitamin C), who is (according to Tracy) "stuck up", and very wealthy. Her heartthrob boyfriend, Link Larkin (Michael St. Gerard), is Tracy's idol, with whom she is madly in love.
However, after referring to Tracy in front of Corny Collins (Shawn Thompson) as a "trash can," Amber is given demerit points and loses her on-and-off-air boyfriend, Link Larkin, to Tracy. Tracy uses her newfound fame to champion the cause of racial integration with the help of her equally plus size, obnoxious but loving mother Edna Turnblad (Divine), and Penny. Corny Collins' Negro Day (the last Thursday of every month) host Motormouth Maybelle (Ruth Brown) and her son / Penny's boyfriend Seaweed (Clayton Prince) and ends winning the title of Miss Auto Show 1963 which erupts into a huge celebration. Velma and Franklin's plot to blow up the celebration is foiled when Velma's bomb hair lands on Amber's head.
The Corny Collins Show is based on a real show, The Buddy Deane Show, and the film's climax is based on an actual event that took place on that show in the summer of 1963.[1]
[edit] Cast
[edit] Main
- Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad
- Divine as Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile
- Jerry Stiller as Wilbur Turnblad
- Shawn Thompson as Corny Collins
- Michael St. Gerard as Link Larkin
- Deborah Harry as Velma Von Tussle
- Sonny Bono as Franklin Von Tussle
- Colleen Fitzpatrick (also known as Vitamin C) as Amber Von Tussle
- Leslie Ann Powers as Penny Pingleton
- Joann Havrilla as Prudence Pingleton
- Doug Roberts as Paddy Pingleton
- Ruth Brown as Motormouth Maybelle
- Clayton Prince as Seaweed J. Stubbs
- Cyrkle Milbourne as Little Inez
- Mink Stole as Tammy
[edit] Council members
- Josh Charles as Iggy
- Jason Downs as Bobby
- Holter Graham as IQ
- Dan Griffith as Brad
- Regina Hammond as Brenda
- Bridget Kimsey as Consuella
- Frankie Maldon as Dash
- Brooke Stacy Mills as Lou Ann
- John Orofino as Fender
- Kim Webb as Carmelita
- Vincent de Paul as Carmelita's Partner
- Debra Wirth as Shelly
[edit] Other characters
- Dawn Hill as Nadine
- Verna Day as Nadine's mom
- Lydia Troy as Mrs. Malinski
- Paul Zimmerman as Brent
- Donald Wheeler as Clinton
- Jennifer Johns as Amy
- Brook Yeaton as Tough Guy #1
- Jeff Gardner as Tough Guy #2
- Rhea Feiken as Geometry Teacher
- Mark Oliver as Geometry Student
- Keith Douglas as Lead Lafayette
- Al Granick as Lafayette #2
- Robert Di Santo as Lafayette #3
- Leo Rocca as Governor
[edit] Cameos
- Buddy Deane as Newsman
- John Waters as Dr. Fredrikson
- Toussaint McCall as Himself
- Mary Vivian Pearce as Hairhopper Mother
- Pia Zadora as Beatnik Chick
- Ric Ocasek as Beatnik Cat
[edit] Trivia
- An alternative title to the movie was White Lipstick.
- Ricki's hairdo in the film is her real hair, not a wig as many assumed.
- There was a cut scene that showed Tracy breaking into Amber's house, stealing her hair dye and using it, which explains the sudden change in Tracy's hair color.
[edit] Reception
[edit] Box office
Hairspray opened on February 26, 1988 in 79 North American theaters, where it grossed $577,287 ($7,307 per screen) in its opening weekend. On March 11, it expanded to 227 theaters, where it grossed $966,672 ($4,258 per screen) from March 11–13. It ended its theatrical run with $6,671,108.[1]
[edit] Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released January 1, 1995 by MCA Records. The CD featured one original song by Rachel Sweet and eleven other songs mostly from the 1960s by Gene Pitney, Toussaint McCall, among others.
[edit] DVD release
The film was released by New Line on DVD on September 4, 2003. The disc included an audio commentary by John Waters and Ricki Lake and a theatrical trailer.
[edit] See also
Cross-dressing in film and television
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Films directed by John Waters |
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Image:United States film.png American films of the 1980s |
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