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Hairspray (1988)

6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 11,435 users   Metascore: 76/100
Reviews: 59 user | 33 critic | 13 from Metacritic.com

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

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Title: Hairspray (1988)

Hairspray (1988) on IMDb 6.7/10

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Ruth Brown ...
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Velma Von Tussle (as Debbie Harry)
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Michael St. Gerard ...
Leslie Ann Powers ...
Clayton Prince ...
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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. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher <rocher@fiberbit.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The 60's Comedy That Shows No Mercy! See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

White Lipstick  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$6,671,108 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

John Waters cast Pia Zadora because he was impressed with her performance in Voyage of the Rock Aliens. See more »

Goofs

When Corny introduces himself at the auto show, the audio is not in sync with his lips. See more »

Quotes

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

Crazy Credits

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

Connections

Spoofs Grease (1978) See more »

Soundtracks

"Shake A Tail Feather"
Written by Verlie Rice, Otis Hayes, and Andre Williams
Performed by The Five Du-Tones
Courtesy of Onederful Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Nostalgia gone askew
10 October 2001 | by (las vegas, nv) – See all my reviews

John Waters reveals a somewhat more sentimental side with "Hairspray", a movie several people have told me they absolutely hated. I wondered what it was about Waters' style as a filmmaker that could provoke such anger? I think it's his affection for '60s movie-clichés transposed through nostalgia and Waters' own gross-out sensibilities (and his particular brand of humor, which can be quite wicked). I didn't much care for the film the first time I saw it, but I gave it a second chance and it grew on me. The reckless amateurishness is off-putting at first, but you have to meet "Hairspray" halfway. There is much to enjoy here, not the least of which is Divine as Ricki Lake's mom (and also as a bigoted network bigwig); wheeling and dealing after her daughter finds TV fame, Divine becomes a coiffed society queen, twisting away in front of the television and tossing off jaded quips like, "It's the times...they're a-changin'." The performances are all happily hammy, colorful and amusing, and the lightweight story comfortably shoehorns-in relevant political issues to counterbalance the slapstick. Ricki Lake is very appealing in her debut; also hilarious, Pia Zadora as a beatnik and Debbie Harry as the mother of Lake's main rival ("1-2-cha-cha-CHA, 1-2-cha-cha-CHA!"). It's not a seamless, polished picture, but it does have heart and charm and this sold me--but on the second time around. *** from ****


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