A Dirty Shame (2004)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

24 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Threatening the very limits of common decency.

Plot:

An uptight, middle-aged, repressed woman turns into a sex addict after getting hit on the head, and she then falls into an underground subculture of sex addicts in suburban Baltimore.

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Sex Addict | Lust | Breasts | Exhibitionist

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Tracey Ullman	...	Sylvia Stickles
Johnny Knoxville	...	Ray Ray Perkins
Selma Blair	...	Caprice Stickles
Chris Isaak	...	Vaughn Stickles
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Big Ethel
Mink Stole	...	Marge the Neuter
Patricia Hearst	...	Paige
Jackie Hoffman	...	Dora
Nicholas E.I. Noble	...	Weird Paperboy
Lucy Newman-Williams	...	Neuter Yuppie Woman
Scott Morgan	...	Neuter Yuppie Man
Wes Johnson	...	Fat Freak Frank
David A. Dunham	...	Mama Bear
David Moretti	...	Papa Bear (as Dave Moretti)
Jeffrey Auerbach	...	Baby Bear

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for pervasive sexual content.; Rated R for pervasive strong crude sexual content, including fetishes. (The Neuter Version)

Runtime:

89 min | USA:84 min (R-rated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | France:U | Spain:18 | Singapore:(Banned) | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Québec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:R (Alberta) | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (home video version) | USA:NC-17 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

This Is That Productions

Trivia:

The opening theme song, "Sylvia" by The David Raskin Orchestra, was originally the love theme of the soap opera Sylvia (1965), starring Carroll Baker. A slightly different version, by the same ensemble: the "Dirty Shame" vocals are by the orchestra's chorus, while the older film's arrangement had Paul Anka as guest vocalist.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Before running out of gas, car is turned off and in park but is still driving.

Quotes:

Sylvia Stickles: Somebody, somewhere, finish me off!

Movie Connections:

Features The Red Shoes (1948)

Soundtrack:

The Backwards Alphabet

great satire on Jesus freaks and our repressed country

Waters does a great job at expressing how absurd our government and social efforts to repress sex have become. In a zombie type world where the zombies are the "crazy" people who actually enjoy sex and the "normal" people are the prudes who think all sex is dirty, Waters offers his typically absurd social commentary. I loved it and laughed at times more than I have in months. If you are a prude, conservative, or don't get satire, do yourself and other movie fans a favor and stay home. No in fact, go support the film so Waters can make more of the same. DISCLAIMER: Disregard the above if you don't want the opinion of an open minded, non bible beater.