Hairspray (1988)

A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters

Stars:

Sonny Bono, Ruth Brown, Divine

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sonny Bono	...	Franklin von Tussle
Ruth Brown	...	Motormouth Maybelle
Divine	...	Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile
Debbie Harry	...	Velma Von Tussle
Ricki Lake	...	Tracy Turnblad
Jerry Stiller	...	Wilbur Turnblad
Vitamin C	...	Amber von Tussle (as Colleen Fitzpatrick)
Michael St. Gerard	...	Link Larkin
Leslie Ann Powers	...	Penny Pingleton
Clayton Prince	...	Seaweed
Mink Stole	...	Tammy
Shawn Thompson	...	Corny Collins
Ric Ocasek	...	Beatnik Cat (special apperances)
Pia Zadora	...	Beatnik Chick
Jo Ann Havrilla	...	Prudence Pingleton (as Joann Havrilla)

Storyline

'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.

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Plot Keywords:

campy | overweight teenager | psychotronic film | nerd | cult director | 

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Taglines:

Baltimore, 1962. The heyday of hair-dos and hair-don'ts, Heartthrobs and hefty girls, hot dates and hip talkers, beatniks and hair hoppers, and one magical potion that keeps it all together.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Music | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Waters' first and only PG-rated film.

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Goofs

In the amusement park scene the Apollo ride is in the background. Apollo was installed at Dorney Park (Tilted Acres in the movie) for the 1984 season, 20 years after the time frame this movie is set in.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tracy Turnblad: Come on! Come on!
Penny Pingleton: Okay, all right.
Tracy Turnblad: Will you hurry up?

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Crazy Credits

During the ending credits, there are footsteps moving to the beat of the song playing in the background.

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Alternate Versions

The main title credits in the Italian version mis-spell Ric Ocasek's name as "Rock Ocasek"

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Connections

Referenced in My Place: Pat Moran (2017)

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Soundtracks

Hide and Go Seek, Part 1
Written by Bunker Hill
Performed by Bunker Hill
Courtesy of Arista Records Inc.

User Reviews

Fun and surprisingly watchable John Waters film...

1st watched 11/12/2008- (Dir-John Waters): Fun and surprisingly watchable John Waters film about an overweight teen trying to make it on a 50's dance show. Rikki Lake is great in the lead and Divine does a good job as her understanding mother. Despite the filmmakers reputation there are very few gross-out scenes and a good anti-racial theme protecting both overweight people and blacks. The movie has a silly premise and approach but actually does a good job of showing how stupid some of the laws against African-Americans were in the fifties and the sixties. The movie also just flat out entertains and doesn't try to take itself too seriously. I'm actually now looking forward to watching other John Water's films because of this one although I'm sure most of them are not as tame as this one.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Lipstick

Filming Locations:

Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$577,287, 28 February 1988

Gross USA:

$6,671,108

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,673,032

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Stanley F. Buchthal, Robert Shaye Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1