Female Trouble (1974)

A spoiled schoolgirl runs away from home, gets pregnant while hitch-hiking, and ends up as a fashion model for a pair of beauticians who like to photograph women committing crimes.

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters

Stars:

Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Divine	...	Dawn Davenport / Earl Peterson
David Lochary	...	Donald Dasher
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Donna Dasher
Mink Stole	...	Taffy Davenport
Edith Massey	...	Aunt Ida
Cookie Mueller	...	Concetta
Susan Walsh	...	Chicklette
Michael Potter	...	Gater
Ed Peranio	...	Wink
Paul Swift	...	Butterfly
George Figgs	...	Dribbles
Susan Lowe	...	Vikki
George Hulse	...	Teacher
Margie Skidmore	...	School Snitch
Berenica Cipcus	...	Mean Girl

Storyline

The life and times of Dawn Davenport, showing her progress from loving schoolgirl to crazed mass murderer - all of which stems from her parents' refusal to buy her cha-cha heels for Christmas. She runs away from home, is raped, becomes a single mother, criminal and glamorous model before her inevitable rendezvous with the electric chair...

---

Plot Keywords:

absurd violence | absurd humor | disfigurement | male frontal nudity | cult film | 

---

Taglines:

Divine Returns! with the whole "Pink Flamingos" gang in John Waters' Female Trouble

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for explicit sexuality and nudity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1984 (France)

Also Known As:

Rotten Mind, Rotten Face

Filming Locations:

Little Tavern, 519 East 25th Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 92 min (16 mm) 97 min (original length)

Sound Mix:

Chace Surround (2001 re-release) Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Waters says an early working title was 'Rotten Mind, Rotten Face' but he feared this would only encourage critics to respond by calling it a 'rotten movie.'

---

Goofs

When Dawn returns home from hospital with the Dashers and unwraps the birdcage containing Aunt Ida, Donald instructs her to, 'Cut off the hand that threw the acid!' Dawn then chops off Ida's left hand. Ida, however, threw the acid with her right hand.

---

Quotes

Aunt Ida: Oh, Ernie! Have another pretzel for Chrissakes! Wait 'til you meet my little Gater. You two are gonna fall right in love.
Ernie: My dear, I hope so. Are you sure he's gay?
Aunt Ida: Well I just use common sense. I mean, if they're smart they're queer, and if they're stupid they're straight, right Earnie? Are you sure you won't have another pretzel?
Ernie: I'm sure, Miss Thing, I'm sure. Pretzels give you plaque.

---

Crazy Credits

For Charles Watson (the Manson Family member). Waters' prison visits to Watson inspired the "crime is beauty" theme of the film, and Waters used a toy wooden helicopter Watson made for him in the credits.

---

Alternate Versions

The initial 16mm release of the film which was shown at colleges ran 92 minutes. However, when the film was blown up to 35mm and shown theatrically, it was cut to 89 minutes. This version was the only version seen for many years. However, a recent restoration was done of the original cut, which ran 97 minutes (it played at this length in Europe, however, since its initial release). The 97 minute version was shown in only selected theatres and is included on the DVD set, paired with PINK FLAMINGOS. This version also has a soundtrack remixed in stereo surround. The 97 minute version contains some additional scenes, including the chase through the woods, as well as an appearance by Sally Albaugh (aka Sally Turner) as Sally, a customer in the Lipstick Beauty Salon. Albaugh served also as Divine's double in the junkyard love-making scene between Dawn Davenport and Earl Peterson.

---

Connections

References Written on the Wind (1956)

---

Soundtracks

Dig
Written by Jimmy Drake
Performed by Jimmy Drake (as Nervous Norvus)
Courtesy of MCA Records
under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

A film so perfect, it's revolting

"Female Trouble" is one of John Water's best movies, probably the best of his pre-respectable (read: pre-"Hairspray") flicks. Posessing a much more strong (and bizarre) plotline than the also brilliant "Pink Flamingos", "Female Trouble" documents the exploits of Dawn Davenport, a horrible juvenial delinquent turned criminal played by the unbeatable Divine.

This was Water's last film to features his entire original ensemble of actors (Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole, Mary Vivian Pierce, and Edith Massey) and each has a memorable and hilarious role. Stole steals the show as Dawn's "retarded" 14 year old daughter, but Edith Massey is also great as Aunt Ida, who constantly urges her nephew Gator to turn gay ("The world of the heterosexual is a sick and boring life!").

The scene where Dawn hits Ida on the head with a fish is worth the whole price of admission. Recommended!!!