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:

In 1950s Baltimore, a bad-boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good-girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Greaser | Juvenile | Baby | Cult Director | Social Satire

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Cry-Baby
Amy Locane	...	Allison Vernon-Williams
Susan Tyrrell	...	Ramona Rickettes
Polly Bergen	...	Mrs. Vernon-Williams
Iggy Pop	...	Belvedere Rickettes
Ricki Lake	...	Pepper Walker
Traci Lords	...	Wanda Woodward
Kim McGuire	...	Mona 'Hatchet-Face' Malnorowski
Darren E. Burrows	...	Milton Hackett
Stephen Mailer	...	Baldwin
Kim Webb	...	Lenora Frigid
Alan J. Wendl	...	Toe-Joe
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
Jonathan Benya	...	Snare-Drum
Scout Raskin	...	Susie-Q (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
Robbie Jones	...	Conk #5
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's Baby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brad Baker	...	Mean Policeman (uncredited)
John Blyth Barrymore	...	Additional Voices (voice) (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)
Christopher Kelley	...	Additional Conk (uncredited)
Michael Stanton Kennedy	...	Baltimore Reporter (uncredited)
Peter Koper	...	Corrections Officer (uncredited)
Autumn Lucas	...	Drapette (uncredited)
Jeff Mandon	...	Smoker Kid (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		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Janice Hampton

Casting by
Paula Herold
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 (as Betty A. Beebe)
Nancy Broadfoot	....	key makeup artist
Denise Cellucci	....	hair stylist
Delia H. Hoover	....	additional hair stylist
Cheryl 'Pickles' Kinion	....	additional makeup artist (as Cheryl Kinion)
Christine Mason	....	hair designer
Howard 'Hep' Preston	....	barber
Van Smith	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	post-production supervisor (as Chic Ciccolini)
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
Robert Barnaby	....	construction coordinator (as Bob Barnaby)
Patty Burgee	....	graphic designer (as Pat Burgee)
Michael Davis	....	construction coordinator (as Michael E. Davis)
Kelley Finn	....	art department assistant
Francesca Gerlach	....	scenic painter (as Fran Gerlack)
Wayne 'Spider' Kehs	....	set dresser
Michael Lambason	....	carpenter
Ted Lubonovich II	....	propmaker
Mark Oliver	....	art department assistant
Lester Poser	....	set dresser
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Richard Salinas	....	painter
Curtis A. Schnell	....	art director: Los Angeles
Douglas Scrivener	....	carpenter
Patti Tronolone	....	carpenter
Keith Weaver	....	scenic painter
Brook Yeaton	....	property master
Jay Koiwai	....	painter (uncredited)
Silvija L. Moess	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Angelella	....	production sound (as Richard Angelella)
Bobbi Banks	....	sound effects editor
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joel Berkovitz	....	assistant sound editor
Noah Blough	....	adr editor
Russell Brower	....	sound effects editor (as Russel Brower)
Midge Costin	....	dialogue editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	dialogue editor
Dwayne Dell	....	production sound
Lily Diamond	....	foley editor
Carol Everson	....	sound playback
Teresa García	....	assistant sound editor (as Theresa Garcia)
David Gates	....	apprentice sound editor
Gary Gegan	....	adr mixer
Victor Grodecki	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Grupp	....	additional sound engineer
Julie Hall	....	sound effects editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
David Kahne	....	additional sound engineer
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathan Klein	....	foley editor
Lance Laurienzo	....	first assistant sound editor
David Leonard	....	additional sound engineer
Mark Linett	....	additional sound engineer
Mark 'Frito' Long	....	sound recordist
Richard U.S. McIntosh	....	additional sound engineer
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	dialogue editor
Craig M. Otte	....	sound effects editor (as Craig Otte)
Craig Porteilis	....	additional sound engineer
Travis Powers	....	sound effects editor
Brian Risner	....	sound effects editor
Duane F. Seykora	....	additional sound engineer
Lisa Shaw Phillips	....	assistant sound editor (as Lisa Shaw)
Greg Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Thom	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lee Tinkham	....	adr recordist

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

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunts (as George Aguilar)
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Dana D. Bertolette	....	stunts (as Dana Bertolette)
Dan Bradley	....	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)
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Applefeld	....	video assist operator
Scott Browner	....	first assistant camera
Murdoch Campbell	....	gaffer
Matt Craven	....	grip
Donne Daniels	....	key grip
Philip Davis	....	grip
Mike DeMeyer	....	musco lighting technician
Peter Deming	....	additional camera operator
Dominic DeSantis	....	additional first assistant camera
Robert W. Dorsey	....	camera operator (as Robert Dorsey)
Bryan Duggan	....	additional photographer
Bryan Duggan	....	camera operator
Rusty Gardner	....	electrician
Henny Garunkel	....	still photographer (as Henny Garfunkel)
Francis J. Gill	....	grip
William J. Gray	....	additional first assistant camera (as Bill Gray)
Steve Hurson	....	additional second assistant camera
Marianna Kissell	....	electrician
Dave Kramer	....	electrician
Michael Krebs	....	additional second assistant camera
Ron Kunecke	....	musco lighting technician
Thomas Lappin	....	second assistant camera (as Tom Lappin)
Thomas Loizeaux	....	additional camera operator (as Tom Loizeaux)
Edgar Martin	....	best boy grip
Patrick McAllister	....	electrician
Patrick McAllister	....	generator operator
Michael Murray	....	electrician
Doug Nelson	....	electrician
Michael J. Purbaugh	....	crane operator: Olympian crane (as Michael Purbaugh)
Steve Seitz	....	electrician (as Steven Seitz)
Lee Shapira	....	grip
Blackford 'Boots' Shelton	....	first assistant camera (as Boots Shelton)
Josh Spring	....	best boy electric
Keith Weiner	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Adam Fusco	....	casting assistant: Baltimore
Jonathan Gorrie	....	casting assistant: Baltimore
Greg Mason	....	casting associate (as Gregg Mason)
Diane Silverstadt	....	casting assistant: New York
Rei Spinnichio	....	casting assistant: Baltimore (as Rei Spinnicchio)
John Strawbridge	....	casting assistant: Baltimore

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rolande Berman	....	wardrobe assistant
Bernice Blake	....	wardrobe assistant
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Mara Majorowicz	....	wardrobe assistant
Kathy Oberlin	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Anny Lowery Meza	....	assistant editor
Paul Parsons	....	assistant editor
Erica Shaevitz	....	associate editor
Stuart Sperling	....	assistant editor
Josie Wechsler	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
A. James Akimoto	....	music coordinator
Dave Alvin	....	lyric adapter
Larry Benicewicz	....	music consultant
George Doering	....	musician
Michael Ferdie	....	music editor (director's cut)
Garey Johns	....	music consultant
Edward Karam	....	orchestrator: score (as Eddie Karam)
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor
Al Kooper	....	lyric adapter
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	music supervisor (as Becky Mancuso)
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor: MCA Records
Celest Ray	....	music clearance
Dennis S. Sands	....	score recordist (as Dennis Sands)
Timothy R. Sexton	....	music supervisor (as Tim Sexton)
Rachel Sweet	....	lyric adapter
John Waters	....	lyric adapter
Channing Wilroy	....	music consultant

Transportation Department
Larry Alexander	....	transportation coordinator
Carole Fontana	....	transportation coordinator
Sara Gardner	....	picture car coordinator
Roy A. Grace	....	driver
Lonnie Mace	....	driver
Stephen C. Pollock	....	driver (as Stephen Pollock)
Salvatore A. Raimond	....	driver (as Sal Raimond)
Ronald Smith	....	driver (as Ron Smith)
Frank Tamburo	....	picture car coordinator
Foard J. Wilgis	....	transportation captain (as Foard Wilgis)
Joe Zappacosta	....	driver
Michael Luckeroth	....	driver (uncredited)
Randy White	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
David L. Aaron	....	title coordinator: end titles
Harriotte H. Aaron	....	script supervisor (as Harriotte Aaron)
Mike Annen	....	mechanic
Paul Bowman	....	production assistant
Allison Caine	....	adr group coordinator
Paula M. Cerrone	....	assistant: Ms. Talalay (as Paula Cerrone)
Lori Eastside	....	choreographer
Paul Ellis	....	assistant craft service
Jerry Erwin	....	assistant accountant
Christin Everly	....	assistant location manager
Frank Ferro	....	production assistant
Andrew Giannetta	....	location assistant (as Drew Giannetta)
Katie Gilbert	....	assistant production coordinator
Granville Greene	....	production assistant
Gus Griffin	....	animal wrangler
Rochelle Gross	....	production assistant
Terry Gusto	....	location manager
Peter Haas	....	unit publicist
Jesse Hadaway	....	helicopter pilot
Kathryn Loraine Hibbs	....	production accountant (as Kathryn Hibbs)
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Robert Maier	....	location manager
Steve McAuliff	....	animal wrangler
Eric McLeod	....	production coordinator
Pat Moran	....	production associate
Chris Mosner	....	location intern
David O'Ferrall	....	production assistant
Alan Rose	....	title designer
Colleen Roome Shelton	....	assistant: Mr. Waters (as Colleen Roome)
Beth Siegel	....	craft service
Cara Tapper	....	post-production scheduler
Kathleen M. Woolley	....	assistant craft service

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Imagine Entertainment

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (France) (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)
• Sub (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• SubTV (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (2011) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (1997) (2007) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Temptu (tattoos)

Other Companies

• Axis Video  video playback services
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• Magstripe Entertainment  music supervision
• Mobtown Props  property
• Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd.  special lighting
• R.L. Blackburn & Associates  security
• Skywalker Sound South  re-recording facilities
• Valencia Studios  stage facilities provided by

Also Known As:

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 | Puerto Rico:PG-13 | Venezuela:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG13 | 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:

Willem Dafoe only gets a minute of screentime.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the "King Cry-Baby" song, Hatchet-Face has a very impressive saxophone solo. However, it is clear that she is not really playing, because her hands never move up and down the saxophone.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Soundtrack:

JAILBIRD

Something Wonderful

There's really nothing wrong with this film. It's funny, it's fun, and it's got a cameo of Willem Dafoe. With Johnny Depp as the star, what else could you want? Apart from being a satire, it's an entertaining and hysterical, relatable satire. It takes a lot of skill to take a concept that could so easily teeter from funny to ridiculous, and while certain parts of the film seem to be heading towards that thin barrier, they always save face at the last minute. The movie doesn't just ride on Johnny Depp's talent, either. Every member of the cast displays a genuine understanding of the somewhat SNL-esque humour required to make everything work. I've yet to meet someone face to face that has not seen this movie and truly enjoyed it for what it is: something wonderful.