Hairspray (1988)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Baltimore, 1962. The heyday of hair-dos and hair-don'ts, Heartthrobs and hefty girls, hot dates and hip talkers, beatniks and hair hoppers, and one magical potion that keeps it all together.

Plot:

A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Integration | Hair Bangs Fringe | Racism | Obese Woman

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Sonny Bono	...	Franklin von Tussle
Ruth Brown	...	Motormouth Maybelle
Divine	...	Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile
Deborah Harry	...	Velma Von Tussle (as Debbie Harry)
Ricki Lake	...	Tracy Turnblad
Jerry Stiller	...	Wilbur Turnblad
Colleen Fitzpatrick	...	Amber von Tussle
Michael St. Gerard	...	Link Larkin
Leslie Ann Powers	...	Penny Pingleton
Clayton Prince	...	Seaweed
Mink Stole	...	Tammy
Shawn Thompson	...	Corny Collins
Ric Ocasek	...	Beatnik Cat (special apperances)
Pia Zadora	...	Beatnik Chick (special apperances)
Joann Havrilla	...	Prudence Pingleton

Also Known As:

White Lipstick (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

"Tilted Acres" was based on "Gwynn Oak Amusement Park" in Baltimore County, MD, where racial problems occurred.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the "Shake A Tail Feather" dance, the non-council members in the background are dancing along in close-up shots, but just watching in the long shots.

Quotes:

L'il Inez: Segregation never, integration now.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Roots of 'Hairspray' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Limbo Rock

See This Movie!

I saw it when it first came out, I've seen it several times since, and my last viewing was just a few weeks ago. It never seems flat or old.

It takes a look at an issue that doesn't necessarily seem to be a goldmine of laughs (racial difficulties in the early '60s) and turns it into just that without robbing it of any dignity or sense of importance. John Waters seems to have pulled out all the stops to insure this outcome, and it really paid off.

The "pleasingly plump" pre-talk show Ricki Lake turns in a great performance in a role that's an inspiration to "chunky" girls everywhere.

As always, Waters picks cameo and supporting actors that are dead-on perfect. His own turn as a psychologist is an absolute scream! Brimming with hysterical lines and set-ups, this is a comedy you need to see, if you haven't already.