Just watched this again. I love early John Waters, but this one is REALLY over the top. Was Divine supposed to play Grazelda instead of Jean Hill? Mink Stole is divine as Peggy Gravel. Edith Massey is sick as Queen Carlotta. Mary Vivien Pearce as Princess Koo-Koo is too much.

by Anonymous

reply 61

July 10, 2020 1:37 AM

I'm not sure which character Divine was supposed to play, but I believe at the time of shooting Divine was busy doing a stage show called "Women Behind Bars" and couldn't get out of it. It's the first film that Waters did without him and you could really feel his presence missed. But the first five minutes alone is vintage Waters.

by Anonymous

reply 1

August 8, 2012 8:57 PM

that movie was disgusting... especially when they shot the crazy bitch in the ass and roasted the fat queen like a sucking pig and the people were eating from her.

by Anonymous

reply 2

August 8, 2012 8:57 PM

Love the outfit that Peggy Gravel puts on when she becomes Queen Carlotta's heir. It's black and evil. She plans to infect everyone with rabies.

by Anonymous

reply 3

August 8, 2012 9:17 PM

it's one of his worst. Not engaging or funny, just gross. Feels like a rushed druggy production. Hated it!

by Anonymous

reply 4

August 8, 2012 9:31 PM

The only thing about it for me that I like is the leather guy who goes naked for Queen Carlotta. The rest of the film is very ugly. Stole's rampage at the beginning of the film is funny but it's just too much of a freakshow and, as stated above, not especially funny.

by Anonymous

reply 5

August 8, 2012 9:36 PM

I only like the opening scene with Mink Stole screaming at her kids. That part of the movie is a good as anything else Waters did, but the rest of the movie is way too weird for me. Divine said it even shocked him. I like Pink Flamingos (slightly), Female Trouble, Polyester, Hairspray, and Serial Mom (slightly.)

by Anonymous

reply 6

August 8, 2012 9:40 PM

"Female Trouble" is my favorite of his earlier stuff.

by Anonymous

reply 7

August 8, 2012 9:47 PM

totally agree with r4. I'm thinking OP is John Waters himself. Every few months one of threads pops up, extolling the genius of some John Waters film. Most of them are really really bad. Pretty much what you'd expect from a young trustafarian with a ton of money, a drug habit, and a movie camera.

by Anonymous

reply 8

August 8, 2012 9:49 PM

Seize her and fuck her!

R8, you sound bitter baby, bet you talk shit about Kenneth Anger too.

by Anonymous

reply 10

August 8, 2012 9:55 PM

I think it's his best film.

De gustibus non est disputandum.

by Anonymous

reply 11

August 8, 2012 10:02 PM

The film doesn't hang together well, but it has so many hilarious moments. I far prefer Desperate Living to Hairspray- Hairspray hangs together well, but it's not very funny and lowest common denominator camp. I like early/ mid career Waters- Pink Flamingoes and Female Trouble.

by Anonymous

reply 12

August 8, 2012 10:03 PM

I'm the OP and not John Waters. Loved "backward day" too! Where exactly is Mortville?

by Anonymous

reply 13

August 8, 2012 10:03 PM

Hate the subplot of the two lesbians, and the one who gets the penis operation. Just gross. Love Grazelda in the opening scenes when she is stealing from the Gravels, and Mr. Gravel catches her! The Grazelda/Peggy sex scenes are beyond disgusting. Poor Mink Stole. What she had to do for John. But Taffy Davenport was truly her best role.

by Anonymous

reply 14

August 9, 2012 5:23 PM

You ain't looking in MY purse!

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 15

August 9, 2012 5:28 PM

The children are having sex!!

by Anonymous

reply 16

August 9, 2012 5:29 PM

From Polyester! "Dont Mess With A Sister of the Church"! Is this Grizelda?

by Anonymous

reply 17

August 9, 2012 5:32 PM

It;s been a while since I've seen it but I remember liking it.

The fairytale setting is inventive, as is the take on feminism.

It's often much more fun to watch Waters' movies listening to his comments on the DVD than it is to just watch them with the original soundtrack.

by Anonymous

reply 18

August 9, 2012 5:43 PM

[quote]Love the outfit that Peggy Gravel puts on when she becomes Queen Carlotta's heir. It's black and evil.

From what I remember, it was reminiscent of the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty.

by Anonymous

reply 19

August 9, 2012 5:49 PM

This title should be a magazine.

Martha Stewart Desperate Living.

by Anonymous

reply 20

August 9, 2012 5:53 PM

I've always wanted to see a band called "Edie and the Eggmen"!

by Anonymous

reply 21

August 9, 2012 6:07 PM

I love the lesbian boobie gloryhole.

by Anonymous

reply 22

August 9, 2012 6:16 PM

Mink Stole is one of the last of his old crew still around. Love her.

by Anonymous

reply 23

August 9, 2012 6:37 PM

I also think it's it's one of his funniest! But also one of the ugliest as well. Peggy's rants are classic as are edith's lines as Queen Carlotta. Love Liz Renay as the lesbian sexpot I think the funniest scene in the film is when there is a flashback story about how she had baby named "Freddy"!

by Anonymous

reply 24

August 9, 2012 6:41 PM

I think Divine was supposed to play the role of Mole McHenry eventually done by Susan Lowe. You know, a kind of triple gender fuck casting. I think it would have been wittier and funnier if Divine had done it, as talented as Susan Lowe is.

by Anonymous

reply 25

August 9, 2012 6:47 PM

Whenever I want a Waters fix I will always go straight for Female Trouble. It's hysterical from start to finish. I've only seen DL once, I should probably give it another try, I remember that opening scene vividly but the rest felt kinda limp.

by Anonymous

reply 26

August 9, 2012 6:54 PM

I love it for the reasons that other people don't -- it's joyless, shrieky and ugly from start to finish. And, besides, I don't want no white man looking at my Tampax, either.

by Anonymous

reply 27

August 9, 2012 7:40 PM

"Hold still, Mink, while I get this close-up shot of your bloody asshole."

by Anonymous

reply 28

August 9, 2012 8:16 PM

I don't know how even the most jaded cineaste can be immune to the charms of seeing Edith Massey, in royal velvets and silks, being carried through the streets on a litter, screaming "Hey, STUPID! Hi, UGLY!" at her subjects.

by Anonymous

reply 29

August 9, 2012 8:28 PM

Divine was indeed supposed to play Mole. I could only imagine it would have made the sex change scene a little more believable.

I love the "Ah, blow it out your ASS" scene, especially how the "filthy muffdivers" start laughing.

by Anonymous

reply 30

August 9, 2012 9:08 PM

Susan Lowe died a couple of years back.

by Anonymous

reply 31

August 9, 2012 9:09 PM

She sure loves her eggies.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 32

August 9, 2012 10:33 PM

There's a scene tantamount to kiddie porn where a little black girl is shown leaving the car of one of the dykes who was naked inside... that was really creepy. How did it pass the censors?

by Anonymous

reply 33

August 10, 2012 12:13 AM

r33, that wasn't a child, it was a Little Person(TM).

("You lazy bitch! I'm out workin' my tail off all day, and you're in there FUCKIN' MIDGETS!")

by Anonymous

reply 34

August 10, 2012 5:21 PM

But it was a real baby they put in the refrigerator during the party scene! (just for a couple seconds apparently LOL)

by Anonymous

reply 35

August 10, 2012 5:27 PM

yeah and the kid was crying so you just know he grew up to be permanently distrustful of adults. Waters is unique and has produced some good, funny films, but this is not one of 'em. Polyester also has not aged well.

by Anonymous

reply 36

August 10, 2012 5:36 PM

The children are having sex, Beth is pregnant, I narrowly missed an assassination attempt a few moments ago. Will you please do something?!!?

by Anonymous

reply 37

August 10, 2012 5:42 PM

I can't stand any of the early Waters films. Cheap and trying way too hard.

When I came out an older gay had me watch Female Trouble, as if he were revealing Tennessee Williams to me for the first time. I had trouble caring.

by Anonymous

reply 38

August 10, 2012 5:46 PM

R2 needs to go back to the church basement and sniff he fingers obsessively after tinkling, like she did before coming here to the DL.

And use capital letters, you cunt.

by Anonymous

reply 39

August 10, 2012 5:52 PM

Waters fans should see the drag movie "Girls Will Be Girls." It's very funny and reminds me of what I loved about Water's best movies. They're currently making a sequel.

by Anonymous

reply 40

August 10, 2012 5:59 PM

Nobody is watching for the production values [R38] It's for the dialogue.

by Anonymous

reply 41

August 10, 2012 6:03 PM

You're just like all the rest of the common dykes in this town!

by Anonymous

reply 42

August 10, 2012 6:09 PM

R40 I thought that movie was hilarious, much funnier than Waters'.

The thing that makes the early Waters films unwatchable to me is the less-than-community-theater style acting, made all the worse by tha awkward pauses between each dead line reading.

by Anonymous

reply 43

August 10, 2012 6:11 PM

[quote]The thing that makes the early Waters films unwatchable to me is the less-than-community-theater style acting, made all the worse by tha awkward pauses between each dead line reading.

To me that's what makes them so wonderful.

by Anonymous

reply 44

August 10, 2012 6:35 PM

can someone start a thread on this fim?

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 45

August 11, 2012 4:18 AM

[quote]Waters fans should see the drag movie "Girls Will Be Girls." It's very funny and reminds me of what I loved about Water's best movies. They're currently making a sequel

Are you nutz? "Girls Will Be Girls" sucked. It's poster isn't even worth wiping your ass with. "Desperate Living" is a work of art.

"I'm so hungry I could eat Cancer!"

by Anonymous

reply 47

August 11, 2012 4:37 AM

"I ain't your maid any more, BITCH. I'm your SISTER IN CRIME!"

"Please don't sit on me!"

by Anonymous

reply 48

August 11, 2012 4:51 AM

I don't think "Girls Will Be Girls" would appeal to people who love Desperate Living, but that's not all Waters fans. It isn't a fan favorite, lots of people think it's repulsive and unfunny.

by Anonymous

reply 49

August 11, 2012 4:53 AM

"Girls Will Be Girls" is camp; "Desperate Living" is straight-up punk. I like them both, but I can see where they don't necessarily appeal to the same people.

by Anonymous

reply 50

August 11, 2012 5:02 AM

Here is the finest scene in cinematic history.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 51

August 11, 2012 5:20 AM

[quote]"Girls Will Be Girls" is camp;

"Girls Will Be Girls" is crap, you can't manufacture camp.

by Anonymous

reply 52

August 11, 2012 11:47 AM

Bosley Gravel: WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU PILFERED? I THINK I'LL HAVE A LOOK IN THAT PURSE.

Grizelda: YOU AIN'T LOOKING IN MY PURSE

Bosley Gravel: WHY NOT? GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE?

Grizelda: DON'T YOU KNOW MEN AREN'T SUPPOSED TO LOOK IN A LADY'S HANDBAG?

Bosley Gravel: LADY? YOU'RE FIRED GRIZELDA. NO WONDER YOU PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE. NOW GIVE ME THAT BAG!

Grizelda: I DON'T WANT NO WHITE MAN LOOKING AT MY TAMPAX!

Bosley Gravel: I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR TAMPAX IF I WERE YOU... WELL, LOOK AT THIS--

MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT BOOK...WITH WITHDRAWAL SLIPS

MY LOTTERY TICKET...

AND TWO ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER!!

by Anonymous

reply 53

August 11, 2012 12:13 PM

Mole: Should we give our "sister" a little rectal reminder that we don't like social climbers in Mortville?

Peggy: A single gunshot can never destroy the beauty of fascism. You're so low you make white trash look positively top draw.

by Anonymous

reply 54

August 11, 2012 3:02 PM

My fave Waters film actually - savage, brutal, and a wonderful socioeconomic underpinning in these Rand-ian times. Besides, we don't go for status climbers in Mortville.

Runner-up - due to your present condition, might we ask that you refrain from using the kitchen utensils?

by Anonymous

reply 55

August 12, 2012 11:08 PM

I sleep in the room right next to you...NAKED!

by Anonymous

reply 56

August 13, 2012 6:18 AM

R55 is right- DL is another scathing screed against the absurdities of the powerful and the gap between rich and poor.

this wasn't lost on the queer kids at Occupy Baltimore, who named their camp Mortville.

"and when I finally did fall asleep, my dreams were not exactly dry"

queens, if you don't like Desperate Living or Girls Will Be Girls, then there's really something wrong with you

by Anonymous

reply 57

August 13, 2012 7:21 AM

[R53] AND TWO ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER!! That's the best!

by Anonymous

reply 58

August 13, 2012 3:46 PM

I wasn't always like this—oh, of course, I was [italic]always[/italic] visually stunning ...

by Anonymous

reply 59

August 13, 2012 3:54 PM

Um, NEWS FLASH, R31. Susan Lowe is alive and well.

by Anonymous

reply 60

January 14, 2015 7:44 AM

Don't tell ME what Vietnam was like!

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 61

July 10, 2020 1:37 AM