Hairspray (1988)

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

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters

Stars:

Sonny Bono, Ruth Brown, Divine

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Joann Havrilla	...	Prudence Pingleton

Storyline

'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.

---

Plot Keywords:

integration | dance | civil rights | irreverence | cross cultural relations | 

---

Taglines:

A movie with a beat you can laugh to!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Lipstick

Filming Locations:

Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$6,671,108 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Stanley F. Buchthal, Robert Shaye Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Waters' first PG-rated film.

---

Goofs

The Maryland Governor's Mansion is in Annapolis, not Baltimore.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Tracy Turnblad: Come on! Come on!
Penny Pingleton: Okay, all right.
Tracy Turnblad: Will you hurry up?

---

Crazy Credits

During the ending credits, there are footsteps moving to the beat of the song playing in the background.

---

Connections

Spoofed in That Thing You Do! (1996)

---

Soundtracks

"The Roach Dance"
Written by Alonzo B. Willis and Kathy Vanetoulis
Performed by Gene and Wendell
Courtesy of Original Sound Entertainment

User Reviews

I'm an integrationist. We shall overcome someday.

It is hard to believe that we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of this film this week. It is even harder to believe that just one week after it opened Divine left the world's stage forever.

But, the star of the show was Ricki Lake in her first year as a film actress. She camped up John Water's script and delivered an enjoyable musical movie with a message that is just as important today as it was 20 years ago.

It was really interesting seeing people like Sonny Bono, Blondie, Jerry Stiller, Pia Zadora, and, of course, writer/director John Waters himself.

A goofy satire that is just as good today as it was then.