Cry-Baby (1990)

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

6 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Too young to be square... Too tough to be shocked... Too late to be saved

Plot:

"Drape" (or Greaser) Wade Walker, also known as Cry-Baby for his ability to shed a single tear, falls...

Plot Keywords:

Juvenile | Prison Break | Handcuffs | Forbidden Love | Father Daughter Relationship

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
Amy Locane	...	Allison Vernon-Williams
Susan Tyrrell	...	Ramona Rickettes
Polly Bergen	...	Mrs. Vernon-Williams
Iggy Pop	...	Uncle Belvedere Rickettes
Ricki Lake	...	Pepper Walker
Traci Lords	...	Wanda Woodward
Kim McGuire	...	Hatchet-Face
Darren E. Burrows	...	Milton Hackett
Stephen Mailer	...	Baldwin - Allison's Boyfriend
Kim Webb	...	Lenora Frigid
Alan J. Wendl	...	Toe-Joe Jackson
Troy Donahue	...	Hatchet's Father
Mink Stole	...	Hatchet's Mother
Joe Dallesandro	...	Milton's Father
Joey Heatherton	...	Milton's Mother
David Nelson	...	Wanda's Father
Patricia Hearst	...	Wanda's Mother
Willem Dafoe	...	Hateful Guard at Maryland Training School for Boys
Jonathan Benya	...	Snare-Drum, Pepper Walker's Son
Scout Raskin	...	Susie Q, Pepper Walker's Daughter (as Jessica Raskin)
Robert Tyree	...	Dupree
Angie Levroney	...	Dupree's Girlfriend
Drew Ebersole	...	Whiffle #1
Kenny Curtis	...	Whiffle #2
Scott Neilson	...	Whiffle #3
Robert Walsh	...	Judge
Jenni Blong	...	Inga (as Jeni Blong)
Craig Wallace	...	Conk #1
Phillip Broussard	...	Conk #2
Regi Davis	...	Conk #3 (as Reggie Davis)
Nick Fleming	...	Conk #4
Vivienne Shub	...	Mrs. Tadlock
Robert Marbury	...	Angelic Boyfriend
Skip Spencer	...	Strip Poker #1
Holter Graham	...	Strip Poker #2
Susan Lowe	...	Night Court Parent
Dan Griffiths	...	Snake-Eyes Hood
Kirk McEwen	...	Convict #1
Eric Lucas	...	Convict #2
Frank Maldonado	...	Convict #3
Patrick Mitchell	...	Convict #4
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Picnic Mother
Steve Aronson	...	Mean Guard
Kelly Goldberg	...	Pepper Walker's Newborn Baby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Blyth Barrymore	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Brad Baker	...	Mean Policeman (uncredited)
John Calvin Doyle	...	Drape Gang Friend (uncredited)
Patrick Egan	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cindy Geppi	...	Square (uncredited)
James Intveld	...	Wade 'Cry-Baby' Walker (singing voice) (uncredited)
Michael Stanton Kennedy	...	Baltimore Reporter (uncredited)
Peter Koper	...	Corrections Officer (uncredited)
Autumn Lucas	...	Drapette (uncredited)
Stephen William Moore	...	Howling Square-Boy (uncredited)
Mark Moorhead	...	Prison Screening Cop (uncredited)
Joey Perillo	...	Ko Jo Jackson (uncredited)
Carmen Renee Reynolds	...	Goody Two-Shoes (uncredited)
Rachel Sweet	...	Allison Vernon-Williams (singing voice) (uncredited)
Gary Wheeler	...	Reporter #2 (uncredited)
Greer Yeaton	...	Girl at Vaccine Row (uncredited)

Directed by
John Waters

Writing credits (WGA)
John Waters		(written by)

Produced by
Jim Abrahams	....	executive producer
Brian Grazer	....	executive producer
Pat Moran	....	associate producer
Rachel Talalay	....	producer

Original Music by
Patrick Williams

Cinematography by
David Insley

Film Editing by
Janice Hampton

Casting by
Paula Herold
Greg Mason
Pat Moran

Production Design by
Vincent Peranio

Art Direction by
Delores Delux		(as Dolores Deluxe)

Set Decoration by
Virginia Nichols
Chester Overlock III

Costume Design by
Van Smith

Makeup Department
Betty Beebe	....	key makeup artist
Nancy Broadfoot	....	key makeup artist
Denise Cellucci	....	hair stylist
Christine Mason	....	hair designer
Van Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	post-production supervisor
Karen Koch	....	unit production manager
Michael Nelson	....	executive in charge of production
Michael S. Nelson	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
F. Cameron MacRae	....	dga trainee (as Cameron MacRae)
Betsy C. Schrott	....	second second assistant director (as Betsy Schrott)
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	second assistant director
Mary Ellen Woods	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael Davis	....	construction coordinator
Wayne 'Spider' Kehs	....	set dresser
Ted Lubonovich II	....	propmaker
Lester Poser	....	set dresser
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Richard Salinas	....	painter
Curtis A. Schnell	....	art director: Los Angeles
Brook Yeaton	....	property master
Jay Koiwai	....	painter (uncredited)
Silvija L. Moess	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Angelella	....	production sound (as Richard Angelella)
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dwayne Dell	....	production sound
Victor Grodecki	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Grupp	....	additional sound engineer
David Kahne	....	additional sound engineer
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lance Laurienzo	....	first assistant sound editor
David Leonard	....	additional sound engineer
Mark Linett	....	additional sound engineer
Richard U.S. McIntosh	....	additional sound engineer
Craig M. Otte	....	sound effects editor
Craig Porteilis	....	additional sound engineer
Travis Powers	....	sound effects editor
Brian Risner	....	sound effects editor
Duane F. Seykora	....	additional sound engineer
Lisa Shaw Phillips	....	second assistant editor (as Lisa Shaw)
Lisa Shaw Phillips	....	sound editor (as Lisa Shaw)
Greg Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Thom	....	supervising re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Lou Carlucci	....	special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator (as Steve Kirshoff)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Dana D. Bertolette	....	stunts (as Dana Bertolette)
Dan Bradley	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
Lisa Cain	....	stunts
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jennifer Huggins	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts
Sean Kelly	....	stunts
Janet Lee Orcutt	....	stunts (as Janet Orcutt)
Candice Orsini	....	stunts (as Candi Orsini)
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Lori Petitti	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Erik Rondell	....	stunts
Harold T. Wright Jr.	....	stunts
Brad Baker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Murdoch Campbell	....	gaffer
Donne Daniels	....	key grip
Peter Deming	....	camera operator: additional photography
Robert W. Dorsey	....	camera operator (as Robert Dorsey)
Bryan Duggan	....	additional cinematographer
Rusty Gardner	....	electrician (as William 'Rusty' Gardner)
Steve Hurson	....	film loader
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator
Thomas Lappin	....	second assistant camera
Josh Spring	....	electrician

Casting Department
John Strawbridge	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Mara Majorowicz	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Paul Parsons	....	assistant editor
Stuart Sperling	....	assistant editor

Music Department
A. James Akimoto	....	music coordinator
Larry Benicewicz	....	music consultant
Michael Ferdie	....	music editor (director's cut)
Carey Johns	....	music consultant
Edward Karam	....	orchestrator: score (as Eddie Karam)
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	music supervisor (as Becky Mancuso)
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor: MCA Records
Celest Ray	....	music clearance
Dennis S. Sands	....	music recordist
Timothy R. Sexton	....	music supervisor (as Tim Sexton)
Channing Wilroy	....	music consultant

Transportation Department
Sara Gardner	....	picture car coordinator
Michael Luckeroth	....	driver
Frank Tamburo	....	picture car coordinator
Randy White	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Harriotte H. Aaron	....	script supervisor (as Harriotte Aaron)
Lori Eastside	....	choreographer
Granville Greene	....	production assistant
Gus Griffin	....	animal wrangler
Terry Gusto	....	location manager
Jesse Hadaway	....	helicopter pilot
Kathryn Loraine Hibbs	....	production accountant
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Robert Maier	....	location manager
Steve McAuliff	....	animal wrangler
Eric McLeod	....	production coordinator
Pat Moran	....	production associate

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Imagine Entertainment

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Esselte Video (1991) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• SubTV (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Temptu (tattoos)

Other Companies

• Magstripe Entertainment  music supervision
• Mobtown Props  property

Runtime:

85 min | USA:91 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Spain:13 | Peru:14 | Chile:14 | Sweden:15 | Venezuela:PG-13 | Puerto Rico:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:S | Netherlands:AL | USA:PG-13 | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

To find a young actor for the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, director John Waters bought $30 worth of teen magazines, all of which showed Johnny Depp of "21 Jump Street" (1987) on the cover. Depp thought the script was funny and strange, and took the offbeat role to avoid being typecast as a TV teen idol.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the courtroom, when the tire on Hatchet-Face's mothers "iron lung" blows out, you can see a cigarette-butt on the floor right next to the wheel, and when it cuts back to the main shot, her father throws the cigarette to the floor.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wanda's mother: Hi Kids. Remember, always look both ways before crossing.
Wanda: [embarassed] Mother!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Kisses (#1.11)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

(MY HEART GOES) PIDDILY PATTER, PATTER

Snazzy and fun musical-comedy with John Waters' style.

Don't expect to watch a movie in the style of "Grease" when you watch "Cry-Baby." This is a John Waters musical-comedy, and it's full of his style and humor. John Waters has his own style of directing, and his own style for writing dialogue. The dialogue and acting are usually out of the mainstream norm, and viewers who are not familiar with John Waters may not enjoy his films unless they open their minds to possibilities of silly, ridiculous, vulgar, and campy humor. "Cry-Baby" is set in the 1950's, and it's mainly about two groups of people who don't accept each other: The drapes and the squares. The drapes don't have a lot of money, are more accepting to different types of people, and listen to the hep sounds of rhythm and blues and rockabilly. Some of them get involved with crime, and are juvenile delinquents. The squares are very conservative, have more money, more attitude, and listen to "your hit parade" music. The drapes will hang out with anyone as long as there's a good time to be had, and the squares only socialize with other squares. There is friction and disgust whenever the two types meet. Within this is a love story concerning Cry-Baby and Allison. Cry-Baby is a drape, and Allison is a square tired of being so conservative. Cry-Baby and Allison are attracted to each other, and Allison decides to associate with the drapes. Conflicts emerge, and drapes and squares clash. That sounds clichéd, but the movie has a lot of humor and atmosphere. It's also full of color, spirit, and fun music. The locations and sets create a 1950's atmosphere of small town and rural America. The cars, clothing, and hairstyles are also effective. Sometimes clothes, hairstyles, props, and sets are exaggerated and outrageous, but these are trademarks of John Waters' style and sense of humor. "Cry-Baby" has its charm, and is effective as both a comedy and a musical. The musical numbers are fun and lively, and a lot of care went into making the songs sound authentic to the period. They are also well choreographed. Some of the musical numbers were written for the movie, and a few songs were originally 1950's hits newly recorded for "Cry-Baby" (such as the song that opens the movie, Allison singing "Teenage Prayer," etc.) There are also original vintage recordings throughout the movie (my favorite is "Jungle Drums," by Earl Bostic, which really gives a summer feeling to the Turkey Point location.) The background score is also well done, and professionally orchestrated. This is a John Waters film, and you have to expect unusual characters, and unusual acting and dialogue delivery. The casting of the movie is an interesting mix of performers (another Waters' trademark), and very much a delight. The cast is terrific! Johnny Depp and Amy Locane are wonderful as the teenagers who are attracted to each other, but live in different worlds. Their pairing brings out a believable chemistry, and a sense of fun. Polly Bergen's performance is excellent as the extremely conservative matriarch who finally learns how to have a good time with people who are different. Susan Tyrrell is as offbeat as she can be (see her in the bizarre musical-comedy "Forbidden Zone"), and Iggy Pop is interesting in his role. Ricki Lake returns in her second John Waters movie as Cry-Baby's pregnant sister. Kim McGuire, Darren E. Burrows, and Traci Lords create fun characters who are in Cry-Baby's gang and music group. Kim McGuire has a knack for creating a character who's kookie and bold, and yet deserves sympathy at times. Traci Lords is very good at comedy, and it would be nice to see her in more comedies. She does a great job with her mostly-cranky, tough-girl character. Stephen Mailer does a fine job of creating a character you really learn to loathe. "Cry-Baby" also features small parts played by noted stars such as Troy Donahue, Joe Dallesandro, Joey Heatherton, David Nelson, Willem Dafoe, and John Waters regular Mink Stole. Patricia Hearst Makes her feature film debut, and is very amusing as the naive mother of a drape daughter. "Cry-Baby" was a lot of fun to watch on the big screen, and I'm again enjoying it since it's been released on DVD (with added scenes that were cut for its theatrical release.) "Cry-Baby" is a snazzy and fun musical-comedy that seems to be pleasing people who are not regular John Waters fans! By the way, I was a scrape (part square, part drape) in high school, but that's a different story from a different era.