IMDb >
Hairspray (1988)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsHairspray (1988) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 16 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writer:
John Waters (written by)
Release Date:
26 February 1988 (USA)
more
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. more
Plot:
A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
7 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Facts about 'Fame' -- Then and Now
(From Extra. 25 September 2009, 12:36 PM, PDT)
All About Evil In Production! Starring Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker & Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson!
(From Icons of Fright. 19 March 2009, 3:24 PM, PDT)
(From Extra. 25 September 2009, 12:36 PM, PDT)
All About Evil In Production! Starring Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker & Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson!
(From Icons of Fright. 19 March 2009, 3:24 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Nostalgia gone askew
more (55 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
White Lipstick (USA) (working title)
more
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The Tilted Acres scenes were shot at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Corny introduces himself at the auto show, the audio is not in sync with his lips.
more
Quotes:
Edna Turnblad:
[about Amber] I watch that tramp and I'm embarrassed to be white.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Search for Tracy Turnblad (2007) (V)
more
Soundtrack:
Limbo Rock
more
FAQ
Both "Hairspray" films are rated PG. Why is this version more crude than the 2007 one?Outline and a semi-official detailed chapter headings
more
more (55 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hairspray (1988) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Hairspray | Pecker | American Beauty | Cry-Baby | Dick |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |







John Waters reveals a somewhat more sentimental side with "Hairspray", a movie several people have told me they absolutely hated. I wondered what it was about Waters' style as a filmmaker that could provoke such anger? I think it's his affection for '60s movie-clichés transposed through nostalgia and Waters' own gross-out sensibilities (and his particular brand of humor, which can be quite wicked). I didn't much care for the film the first time I saw it, but I gave it a second chance and it grew on me. The reckless amateurishness is off-putting at first, but you have to meet "Hairspray" halfway. There is much to enjoy here, not the least of which is Divine as Ricki Lake's mom (and also as a bigoted network bigwig); wheeling and dealing after her daughter finds TV fame, Divine becomes a coiffed society queen, twisting away in front of the television and tossing off jaded quips like, "It's the times...they're a-changin'." The performances are all happily hammy, colorful and amusing, and the lightweight story comfortably shoehorns-in relevant political issues to counterbalance the slapstick. Ricki Lake is very appealing in her debut; also hilarious, Pia Zadora as a beatnik and Debbie Harry as the mother of Lake's main rival ("1-2-cha-cha-CHA, 1-2-cha-cha-CHA!"). It's not a seamless, polished picture, but it does have heart and charm and this sold me--but on the second time around. *** from ****