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Storyline
Retired singing star, Angela Arden, heads a dysfunctional family. Her husband, filmmaker Sol Sussman, hates her and has a kissy relationship with his nubile daughter, Edith. Angela carries on an affair with Tony Parker, a lounge lizard, who sleeps with both Edith and her brother, Lance, but not before Angela plots to murder Sol when he cuts off her allowance. Bootsie Carp, the family maid loyal to Sol, is on to Angela, but the diva works quickly and poisons Sol. Edith suspects foul play and wants Lance's help in proving mom's guilt. Lance, who loves his mother deeply, is conflicted. Will Edith succeed? Does love lurk somewhere? And what about Angela's long dead sister, Barbara? Written by
<jhailey@hotmail.com>
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
Hollywood...It's a dirty town but someone has to do it!
Motion Picture Rating
(MPAA)
Rated R for strong sexual content, language and a drug scene
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Did You Know?
Trivia
One of the framed photos the camera pans by while Angela (Charles Busch) is administering the deadly suppository to her husband is of Busch in his stage appearance as Gertrude(Gertie) Garnet in his play "The Lady in Question". The photo was used on all the play's promotional materials.
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Goofs
Movie is set in 1967 but Angela sings the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit "Spinning Wheel" which was not released until 1969.
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Quotes
Angela Arden:
[
to Lance]
Are you... a cocksucker?
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Crazy Credits
After the credits, there is silent black and white footage of Angela christening a ship.
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Soundtracks
"The Salt and Pepper Polka"
Music by Dick Gallagher
Lyrics by Dick Gallagher &
Charles Busch
Vocals by
Ruth Williamson See more »
Beautiful, glamorous, fading singer Angela Arden (Charles Busch) is miserable. Her horrible husband is making life hell; her daughter Edith (Natasha Lyonne) loves daddy--too much; her son Lance (Stark Sands) is gay and into drugs; her lover Tony Parker (Jason Priestley) is sleeping with her and Edith and Lance....Angela suffers exquisitely.
A parody and a loving remake of the womens pictures made from the 40s up to the 60s. Busch (a man in drag) looks perfect and suffers constantly; the settings are beautiful; the dialogue high camp; everybody and everything looks picture pretty...even the flashes of (male) nudity and sleazier aspects are handled in a very "pretty" fashion. Also it includes some hilariously obvious back screening. This works beautifully because the whole cast plays it straight--there's no winking at the camera or overacting. Busch is just great in his role--he evokes Susan Hayward and Joan Crawford at their best. Lyonne and Sands are having a fun time as her seriously disturbed children--especially Sands. And who ever though Priestley could be such a great actor. He plays everything straight-faced beautifully. Also there are a TON of film references for film buffs.
My only complaint--and this is minor--is the color isn't as bright and strong as it should be. It seems kind of washed out.
That aside this is really a great film. A must for gay men and film buffs.