Saturday, October 10, 2020

DVD/150: PINK FLAMINGOS (John Waters, 1972)

There are 1972 classics which are unmistakably from that time: THE GODFATHER, CABARET, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, WHAT'S UP DOC? but John Waters' anarchic, underground PINK FLAMINGOS feels oddly timeless!

PINK FLAMINGOS was Waters' third independant feature with a budget of $10,000 borrowed from his father.

Filmed around Baltimore, the action centres around a trailer-home which cost art director Vince Peranio $100 - half the production design budget!  Waters filmed during the winter - watch the cast's visible breath - using electricity provided by a cable from a nearby farmhouse!

PINK FLAMINGOS is still a hilarious, jaw-dropping experience!

Divine, the sickest person alive, is living as 'Babs Johnson' with her friend Cotton, her son Crackers and egg-loving mother Edie.

But Raymond and Connie Marble are disgusted they don't hold the title despite kidnapping girls to be inseminated then selling the babies to lesbians.

A filth war to the death is declared!

Shelf or charity shop?  PINK FLAMINGOS is squatting on the shelf with a dirty grin. A true original, John Waters' gloriously filthy film features his Dreamland ensemble, all acting IN INVERTED COMMAS.  Sadly most have died: Cookie Mueller, David Lochery, Danny Mills, Susan Walsh and the truly bizarre Edith Massey; but still with us are Mary Vivian Pearce, Channing Wilroy and the amazing Mink Stole, giving a performance that reminded me of her inferior, Cate Blanchett.  But of course the film belongs to Divine who is part Diana Dors, part Jayne Mansfield, and all Divine.  Watch this and never hear "The Girl Can't Help It", "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" or "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" the same way again.


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