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...

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Plot Keywords:

absurd violence | absurd humor | male frontal nudity | cult film | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for explicit sexuality and nudity

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.'

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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.

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Quotes

Donald Dasher: We are a private salon, catering to ravishing beauties only. Even one average customer would be enough to plummet our reputation forever. So, we must pick and choose with great care. Firstly, I'd like to know your occupations.
Stripper: I'm a stripper.
Telephone Company Girl: And I work for the telephone company.
Donald Dasher: Disqualified!

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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.

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Alternate Versions

Censored prints are in circulation; the Maryland Censor Board logo can be seen over an oral sex scene with Dawn and Gator

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Connections

Referenced in Polyester (1981)

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Soundtracks

Blue Kat
Written by Danny Flores (as Chuck Rio)
Performed by Danny Flores & The Originals
Courtesy of Masters International

User Reviews

The Most Realized of Waters films.

Female Trouble marks the last time the Waters' Dreamland crew works together. Divine plays two characters Dawn Davenport and Earl. This has to be Divine's finest hour in acting. Waters' subject matter and themes presented in this film still hold true to this day. This is my favorite John Waters film. He balances the humor and gross out set pieces perfectly. They compliment each other instead of overpowering one another. John Waters obsession with serial killers and their ilk is strongly represented here.

Female Trouble was shot on 16mm , in color and has been shown in several different running times.

Highly recommended.

A+

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)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$292

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