| Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) |
| Liz Renay | ... | Muffy St. Jacques | |
| Mink Stole | ... | Peggy Gravel | |
| Susan Lowe | ... | Mole McHenry | |
| Edith Massey | ... | Queen Carlotta | |
| Mary Vivian Pearce | ... | Princess Coo-Coo | |
| Jean Hill | ... | Grizelda Brown | |
| Brook Yeaton | ... | Bosley Jr. (as Brook Blake) | |
| Karen Gerwig | ... | Beth | |
| Jay Allan | ... | Kid | |
| Al Strapelli | ... | Doctor Evans | |
| George Stover | ... | Bosley Gravel | |
| Turkey Joe | ... | Motorcycle Cop | |
| Willie Brooks | ... | Pieman | |
| James Yeaton | ... | Dead Bum | |
| Ed Peranio | ... | Lieutenant Wilson | |
| Steve Butow | ... | Lt. Grogan | |
| Channing Wilroy | ... | Lieutenant Wilson | |
| Steve Parker | ... | Goon | |
| Pete Denzer | ... | Goon | |
| Chuck Yeaton | ... | Goon | |
| David Klein | ... | Goon | |
| Ralph Crocker | ... | Goon | |
| Peter Koper | ... | Goon | |
| Sally Albaugh | ... | Hag | |
| Kenny Orye | ... | Eater | |
| Warren Newcomb | ... | Page | |
| Roland Hertz | ... | Muffy's Husband | |
| Pirie Woods | ... | Baby Sitter | |
| Damien Overholser | ... | Baby In Refrigerator | |
| Ed Butner | ... | Referee | |
| H.C. Kliemisch | ... | Big Jimmy Dong | |
| Paul Swift | ... | Mr. Paul | |
| George Figgs | ... | Herbert | |
| Marina Melin | ... | Shina | |
| Cookie Mueller | ... | Flipper | |
| Pat Moran | ... | Bathroom Pervert | |
| Sharon Niesp | ... | Shotsie | |
| George Hulse | ... | Sex Change Doctor | |
| Delores Delux | ... | Nurse | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Frank J. Butler | ... | Harmonica Player (uncredited) | |
| Richard Ellsberry | ... | Patient in waiting room (uncredited) | |
| Alan Reese | ... | Extra (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| John Waters | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| John Waters | writer | |
Produced by | |||
| James McKenzie | .... | associate producer | |
| William Platt | .... | associate producer | |
| David Spencer | .... | associate producer | |
| John Waters | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Chris Lobingier | |||
| Allen Yarus | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Thomas Loizeaux | (director of photography) | ||
| John Waters | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Charles Roggero | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Vincent Peranio | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Van Smith | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Jon Aaron | .... | assistant hair stylist | |
| Celeste Hall | .... | assistant hair stylist | |
| Christine Mason | .... | hair stylist | |
| Van Smith | .... | makeup artist | |
Production Management | |||
| Robert Maier | .... | unit manager | |
| Pat Moran | .... | production manager | |
Art Department | |||
| Delores Delux | .... | assistant art director (as Dolores Deluxe) | |
| Steve Parker | .... | assistant set designer | |
| Ed Peranio | .... | assistant set designer | |
| Vincent Peranio | .... | set designer | |
Sound Department | |||
| Richard Ellsberry | .... | assistant sound | |
| Robert Maier | .... | sound | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Ed Peranio | .... | special effects | |
| Tom Watkins | .... | special effects | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Laurel Douglas | .... | still photographer | |
| David Insley | .... | assistant camera | |
| Kevin Weber | .... | lighting assistant | |
| Steve Yeager | .... | still photographer | |
Music Department | |||
| Chris Lobingier | .... | music arranger | |
| Allen Yarus | .... | music arranger | |
Other crew | |||
| William Platt | .... | video | |
| Alan Rose | .... | credits | |
| Pete Garey | .... | production advisor (uncredited) | |
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| Pink Flamingos | Basic Instinct | El topo | Caligola | A Dirty Shame |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
It's hard for me to believe that there could be John Waters fans who know only his mainstream films. They're pretty good movies, don't get me wrong; but they walk meekly in the shadow cast by his amazing Trash Trio (this, FEMALE TROUBLE & PINK FLAMINGOS). This one is his all-time best, partly because of Divine's absence. Had he been available, he would not only have nabbed the Queen Carlotta role, but become the focus of every viewer's attention as he usually did. (Well, nobody cites FEMALE TROUBLE for the Donald Dasher character, right?) The way DESPERATE LIVING worked out, you finally get a chance to see how good Waters' other Dreamland divas really were; and they're very, very good. Fact, DESPERATE features some of the most inspired, OTT female acting ever featured in a movie, "trash" or otherwise.
Mink Stole is unbeLIEVABLE as Peggy Gravel; she seethes with constant neurotic dementia throughout. Her portrayal of misery to the power of ten is less overacting than it is finding the perfect pitch for the role, and making camp on the very spot. The movie-opening running tantrum she spews is one of the funniest things I've ever seen - every third or fourth word is shouted for maniacal emphasis ("The CHILDREN are having SEX!! Beth is PREGNANT!! And I NARROWLY escaped an ASSASSINATION attempt!!") Brilliant. But she's matched, step for weaving step, by Susan Lowe's unforgettable diesel-dyke Mole and the nonpareil Edith Massey as the evil Queen of the criminal shanty-kingdom, Mortville. (If you've never experienced Edith Massey, nothing I can say could possibly prepare you for her....unique...greatness. Let's just leave it at that, okay?) And that's not to discount the typically outre work by Mary Vivian Pearce - who plays her character as if she'd gotten lost on her way to the set of a Julie Andrews musical - or the CGI effect that is Miss Jean Hill. This assembly of female firepower results in one incredible movie that STILL has the power to make you squirt liquid out your nose in helpless laughter, Farrelly Brothers or no Farrelly Brothers. As a matter of fact, the more Waters' early assaults on good taste have become absorbed into mainstream entertainment, the better and more shocking his films look for it. When DESPERATE LIVING stood alone, one hardly knew what to make of it. Now that every lesser talent in show-biz is trying to finance a swimming pool by imitating the Waters touch, it's easy to see, and appreciate, who the innovator and true original is. When Waters made this movie, he was a pariah with nothing to lose...he knew better, but still didn't care. Thus, there's an intoxicating power and thrift-shop integrity to DESPERATE LIVING that none of the Johnny-come-latelies can approach, now that "bad taste" is boxoffice, and safe as milk. If you're gonna wallow in slime, then accept no substitutes, folks: demand DESPERATE LIVING.