A neurotic society woman murders her husband with the help of her maid and, on the lam, escape to Mortville, a homeless community ruled over by a fascist queen.
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Title: Desperate Living (1977)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Liz Renay | ... | Muffy St. Jacques | |
| Mink Stole | ... | Peggy Gravel | |
| Susan Lowe | ... | Mole McHenry | |
| Edith Massey | ... | Queen Carlotta | |
| Mary Vivian Pearce | ... | Princess Coo-Coo | |
| Jean Hill | ... | Grizelda Brown | |
| Brook Yeaton | ... | Bosley Jr. (as Brook Blake) | |
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Karen Gerwig | ... | Beth |
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Jay Allan | ... | Kid |
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Al Strapelli | ... | Doctor Evans |
| George Stover | ... | Bosley Gravel | |
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Turkey Joe | ... | Motorcycle Cop |
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Willie Brooks | ... | Pieman |
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James Yeaton | ... | Dead Bum |
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Ed Peranio | ... | Lieutenant Wilson |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
A rich housewife murders her husband with the help of her overweight maid, and the two go on the run, ending up in Mortville, a town providing refuge for criminals. They shack up with a lesbian ex-wrestler and her murderess lover, before running into the tyrannical Queen Carlotta, ruler of Mortville... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
Plot Keywords:
pubic hair | male nudity | male frontal nudity | graphic violence | murder |Taglines:
It isn't very pretty.....Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Did You Know?
Goofs
When Mole first meets Peggy and Grizelda she tells them that there are no toilets in Mortville, but at the lesbian bar there are toilets, where Peggy is harassed by the 'bathroom pervert'. See more »Quotes
Princess Coo-Coo: Oh Herbert, we're safe now. I'm sorry I had to drag you all that way, but those silly nudists wanted to BURY you! Oh I love you too, my darling- Mother can't hurt us now. We'll get married tonight. You don't look so well, I hope you perk up for our honeymoon!See more »
Crazy Credits
Desperate Living's opening credits appear beside an overhead shot of a formal table setting, in which a maid serves a cooked rat as the main course, which is salted and eaten. See more »Alternate Versions
In Italy, the film was heavily dubbed, censored, and retitled "Punk Story." See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
2 November 1980 (West Germany) See more »Also Known As:
Mortville See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$65,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
This is one of my all time favorites! John Waters is the coolest!! I only wish he still made movies like this. Pink Flamingos comes in a close second, but none live up to DESPERATE LIVING!!! Mink Stole and Edith Massey play their parts to perfection.