Hairspray (1988)

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Romance

Tagline:

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.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Integration | Teenage Daughter | Cult Director | Interracial Love

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Sonny Bono	...	Franklin von Tussle
Ruth Brown	...	Motormouth Maybelle
Divine	...	Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile
Deborah Harry	...	Velma Von Tussle (as Debbie Harry)
Ricki Lake	...	Tracy Turnblad
Jerry Stiller	...	Wilbur Turnblad
Colleen Fitzpatrick	...	Amber von Tussle
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 (special apperances)
Joann Havrilla	...	Prudence Pingleton
Alan J. Wendl	...	Mr. Pinky (as Alan Wendl)
Josh Charles	...	Iggy
Jason Downs	...	Bobby
Holter Graham	...	I.Q.
Dan Griffith	...	Brad
Regina Hammond	...	Pam
Bridget Kimsey	...	Consuella
Frankie Maldon	...	Dash
Brooke Stacy Mills	...	Lou Ann
John Orofino	...	Fender
Kim Webb	...	Carmelita
Debra Wirth	...	Shelly
Dawn Hill	...	Nadine
Cyrkle Milbourne	...	L'il Inez
Doug Roberts	...	Paddy Pingleton
Toussaint McCall	...	Himself
Lydia Troy	...	Mrs. Malinski
Verna Day	...	Nadine's Mother
Kevin Joseph	...	Joke Store Customer
Cory Tabachow	...	Joke Store Customer
Marcy Brodsky	...	Joke Store Customer
Donald Wheeler	...	Clinton
Paul Zimmerman	...	Brent
Jennifer Johns	...	Amy
Brook Yeaton	...	Tough Guy #1
Jeff Gardner	...	Tough Guy #2
Jay Hillmer	...	Principal Davidson
Rhea Feikin	...	Geometry Teacher
Mark Oliver	...	Geometry Student
Coley Sohn	...	Slapped Girl
Susan Lowe	...	Angry Mother
Rosemary Knower	...	Mrs. Shipley
Colleen Simon	...	Girl in Lunchroom
Kathleen Wallace	...	Gym Teacher
Keith Douglas	...	Lead Lafayette
Al Granick	...	Lafayette #2
Robert Di Santo	...	Lafayette #3
Mollie Hall	...	Girl in Classroom
Dorie Ellwood	...	Girl in Classroom
Maggie Linton	...	Trinklette #1
Brenda Alford	...	Trinklette #2
Carolyn Walker	...	Trinklette #3
Mary Jefferson	...	Street Lady #1
Alfie Brown	...	Street Lady #2
Tipper Burton	...	Wino
Leo Rocca	...	Governor
Jim Parisi	...	Governor's Aide
Margo Tully	...	First Lady
Matt Myers	...	Singing Bum
Beverly Brigham	...	Snoopy Old Lady
Wilbur Griffin	...	Teen Center Boy
Adam Tucker	...	Cop
David Samson	...	WZZT Official
Robb Case	...	WZZT Official
Joey Perillo	...	TV Secruity Guard
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Hairhopper Mother
Mojo Gentry	...	Street Watcher
Dale Guy Madison	...	Street Watcher
Mark Murray-Mazwi	...	Street Watcher
Christine Mason	...	Montrose Guard
Mmekutmfon Essien	...	Montrose Inmate
Bill Lee Brown	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets (as W.H. Brown)
Fredella Calloway	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Joseph Eubanks	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Angel Harper	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Cornell Hills	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Gorham Scott	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Darrell Taylor	...	Governor's Mansion Pickets
Peter Koper	...	Governor's Mansion Policeman
Kevin Murray	...	Governor's Mansion Policeman
George Stover	...	Governor's Mansion Policeman
Buddy Deane	...	Governor's Mansion Newsman
Michael Willis	...	Governor's Mansion Newsman
Chuck Yeaton	...	Governor's Mansion Newsman
Rick Anderson	...	Von Tussle Pickets
Harold Anthony	...	Von Tussle Pickets
Milton Clark Jr.	...	Von Tussle Pickets
Harold A. Cornish	...	Von Tussle Pickets
Bernice Moore	...	Von Tussle Pickets
June Thorne	...	Von Tussle Pickets
Scheryll Anderson	...	Amusement Park Patron
Cheryl Andrews	...	Amusement Park Patron
Sonja Bonair	...	Amusement Park Patron
Sylvia Byrd-Leitner	...	Amusement Park Patron
Charlie Hawke	...	Amusement Park Patron
Rudy Jones	...	Amusement Park Patron
William Rose	...	Amusement Park Patron
Miriam Kiss	...	Slob Redneck Woman
Patrick Mitchell	...	Teen Street Fan
Jim Lyons	...	News Announcer
Frederick Strother	...	Policeman (as Frederick Strother Jr.)
Christopher Golley	...	Redneck Puncher
Mary Lou Barber	...	Dodge 'em Car Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brad Baker	...	Amusement Park Patron
John Waters	...	Dr. Fredrickson
John Carhart III	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lisa M. DeHaven	...	Hair Hoppin' Mother (uncredited)
Vincent De Paul	...	Carmelita's Partner (uncredited)
Christopher Eaves	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lewis Erskine	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jeff Vespa	...	The Creep (uncredited)

Directed by
John Waters

Writing credits
John Waters		(written by)

Produced by
Stanley F. Buchthal	....	co-producer
Robert Maier	....	line producer
Pat Moran	....	associate producer
Sara Risher	....	executive producer
Robert Shaye	....	executive producer
Rachel Talalay	....	producer
John Waters	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Kenny Vance

Cinematography by
David Insley

Film Editing by
Janice Hampton
Charles Roggero		(co-editor)

Casting by
Mary Colquhoun
Pat Moran

Production Design by
Vincent Peranio

Art Direction by
Vincent Peranio

Costume Design by
Van Smith

Makeup Department
Nancy Broadfoot	....	makeup artist
Chuckie Dennis	....	makeup artist
Bridgid Hoover	....	hair stylist
Christine Mason	....	key hair stylist
Chris Rubel	....	assistant makeup artist
Van Smith	....	key makeup artist
Shae Williams	....	assistant hair stylist
Patricia Wintermeyer	....	barber
Patricia Wintermeyer	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Katherine Cerio	....	assistant unit manager
Joe Fineman	....	post-production supervisor
Carol Flaisher	....	unit manager: Allentown
Pat Moran	....	production manager
Nancy Swenton	....	unit manager
Aron Warner	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Apicella	....	first assistant director
Julia Cort	....	second assistant director
Andrew M. Flinn	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Robert Barnaby	....	scenic carpenter
Wayne 'Innerspace' Kehs	....	set dresser
Lester Poser	....	art department production assistant
Frank Tamburo	....	carpenter
Lorraine Walker	....	assistant art director
Brook Yeaton	....	property master
John Sigmon	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
John Sigmon	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Angelella	....	sound mixer
Dwayne Dell	....	boom operator
Michael Dressel	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Foster	....	supervising sound editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Warren Kleiman	....	adr mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jackson Schwartz	....	foley mixer
Frank Smathers	....	dialogue editor
Hamilton Sterling	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Douglas Retzler	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	opticals

Camera and Electrical Department
Bret Bagley	....	crane operator
Murdoch Campbell	....	gaffer
Joel Davidson	....	video assist operator
Philip Davis	....	grip
Dominic DeSantis	....	additional first assistant camera
Robert W. Dorsey	....	second camera operator
Rusty Gardner	....	electrician (as William 'Rusty' Gardner)
Henny Garunkel	....	still photographer
Andrew Lakin	....	camera intern
Thomas Lappin	....	second assistant camera
Claiborne Lashley	....	best boy grip
Edgar Martin	....	electrician
Lee Shapira	....	key grip
Blackford 'Boots' Shelton	....	first assistant camera
Josh Spring	....	best boy electric
Keith Weiner	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Jennifer Feiken	....	casting intern
Betsy Gearow	....	casting: Allentown
Hank Greenberg	....	casting assistant
Laurie Rome	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rolande Berman	....	wardrobe supervisor
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Lori Heddinger	....	wardrobe graphics
Mara Majorowicz	....	wardrobe assistant
Elena Moscatt	....	wardrobe intern

Editorial Department
Scott Arundale	....	assistant editor
Dale Caldwell	....	color timer
Deborah Newman	....	apprentice editor
Paul Parsons	....	apprentice film editor
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
Erica Shaevitz	....	assistant editor
Stuart Sperling	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Larry Benicewicz	....	music consultant
Jeff Charbonneau	....	music editor
Mark DeSimone	....	scoring engineer
William Garrett	....	composer: song "Mashed Potato Time"
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Sara Gardner	....	picture car coordinator
Patrick McCallister	....	driver

Other crew
Harriotte H. Aaron	....	script supervisor
Richard Anderson	....	production assistant
Ed Cook	....	additional voice
Andrew Eisenberg	....	production assistant
Neil Friedman	....	legal services
Katie Gilbert	....	production coordinator
Susan 'Mother' Gotschall	....	craft service
Walter Hall	....	location manager
Linda Hart	....	assistant location manager
Elizabeth Holder	....	production assistant
Joan Insley	....	production accountant
Marco Londoner	....	production assistant
Edward Love	....	choreographer
Mary Lugo	....	unit publicist
Marian Mohsenn	....	production assistant
Deborah Moore	....	production consultant
Tim J. Nelson	....	production assistant
Lester Poser	....	production assistant
Alan Rose	....	title designer
Katja Shaye	....	production intern
Kiki Shepard	....	assistant choreographer
Larry 'Ratso' Sloman	....	developer
Linda Snyder	....	dance consultant
Rick Strodel	....	production assistant
Jayson Wall	....	film restoration coordinator
James Whitaker	....	assistant craft service (as Jim Whitaker)
Greer Yeaton	....	production intern

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Stanley F. Buchthal (in association with)
• Robert Shaye Production

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Network (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• New Line Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• New Line Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Succéfilm AB (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Astral Films (Canada)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Associate Productions Music Inc.  additional music
• B&D Sound  sound re-recording
• Mobtown Props  property
• Ray Mercer & Company  optical effects
• Saschas  catering
• Superloopers  additional voices

Also Known As:

White Lipstick (USA) (working title)
Grasso è bello (Italy) [it]
Hairspray (Greece) [el]
Hairspray (Argentina) [es]
Hairspray (Finland) [fi]
Hairspray - E Éramos Todos Jovens (Brazil) [pt]
Hajlakk (Hungary) [hu]
Laca (Portugal) [pt]
Lakier do wlosów (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The Tilted Acres scenes were shot at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Corny introduces himself at the auto show, the audio is not in sync with his lips.

Quotes:

Edna Turnblad: [about Amber] I watch that tramp and I'm embarrassed to be white.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Search for Tracy Turnblad (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Limbo Rock

Waters' talent undeniable.

After an abomination like 'Pink Flamingos' it was a surprise for me to learn that this guy had talent. Like Spike Lee or Oliver Stone, you've got to admit that John Waters, like him or not, is a born moviemaker. Also like those two (and ultimately all great directors) he knows how to speak with his own voice and translate his vision to the screen.

His writing is most impressive here as he manages to point up the evils of racism and segregation while not abandoning his wacked-out comedic style. And his eye for period detail is uncanny (as long as the period wasn't too long ago!) 'Hairspray' is great entertainment, fun to watch and edifying, too. Who would have thought that?