While changing my blog to a three column set-up (thank you Taj) and making some other adjustments a couple of Saturdays ago, I watched a couple of movies on DVD that I hadn't seen in awhile. One of them was the 1988 version of "Hairspray". Since the musical remake has just hit theaters, I thought I would take some time to discuss the John Waters original.
I first saw "Hairspray" when it came out on video back in the late 80s. Since I'm a sucker for movies/TV series about the early days of rock 'n' roll, it drew me in immediately. As you may already know, "Hairspray" is set in Baltimore in 1962 and tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teenager whose life changes when she becomes a dancer on "The Corny Collins Show".
One of the joys of "Hairspray" is its interesting casting choices... regardless of a performer's box-office appeal. Along with a pre-talk show Ricki Lake in the lead role of Tracy, the movie co-stars Sonny Bono, Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller, legendary R&B singer Ruth Brown, and Divine (in a dual role as Tracy's mom Edna and a racist station manager trying to block integration). Also featured in smaller roles are Pia Zadora and Cars' lead singer Ric Ocasek as two beatniks. Another casting plus is that the younger roles are played by performers who if they weren't, could at least pass for teenagers... instead of ones who looked like they are getting ready for their 10 year high school reunion. I know that "Grease" is the word, but 34-year old Stockard Channing in the role of a high schooler is really stretching it.
The dances, the hairdos, clothing, etc. also help set the mood for "Hairspray". You almost start to believe that it's really 1962. The use of some great platters on the soundtrack also helps with the overall tone. In addition to some of the big hits of the era ("Let's Twist Again" and "You'll Lose A Good Thing", for example), "Hairspray" also features some lesser known (but fantastic) tunes like "Shake A Tail Feather", "Foot Stompin", and "Hide and Seek". Even the film's anachronistic use of the 1967 song "Nothing Takes the Place of You" fits because it sounds like it was recorded in the early 1960s.
Another thing that I enjoyed about "Hairspray" is its satirical treatment of race relations in early 60s America (one of the subplots deals with the fight for and against integration). Most comedies set during this time period barely acknowledge that minorities existed... let alone tackle the subject of race. One of my favorite scenes is where Tracy, her boyfriend Link, and best friend Penny catch the bus to Motormouth Records over on the black side of town. In hot pursuit is Penny's mother (aptly named Prudy) who completely makes a fool out of herself in trying to "rescue" Penny. Prudy's hysterics lead to Motormouth Maybelle's classic line "Ooh Papa Tooney, we got a looney". When Penny falls for Motormouth Maybelle's son Seaweed, Penny's parents go so far as to hire a psychiatrist (played by none other than John Waters) to deprogram her so that she will start liking white boys again!
In addition to the "Papa Tooney" line, "Hairspray" has many other memorable quotes:
Edna Turnblad (speaking to Tracy and Penny): Now, I've got nothin' but hampers of ironing to do... and my diet pill is wearing off.
Motormouth Maybelle introducing the Gene Pitney hit: You can't hide your face in this godforsaken place. Here in your own city, there's a town without pity.
Response by a black dancer trying out for "The Corny Collins Show" when she is asked if she can relate to Lesley Gore's music: Look, she ain't no James Brown... but I can dance to Lawrence Welk if I have to.
Tracy to her mom: Oh mother, you're so 50s!
Beatnik Chick: Let's get naked and smoke.
I hope that the release of the 2007 version of "Hairspray" will lead people to seek out the original 1988 film. To quote Tracy's rival Amber, "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it."
Below is the trailer to "Hairspray":
AN HONORABLE MENTION
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4 comments:
Excellent review of the original movie. I do think those who have not seen the original will definitely seek it out after viewing the new version. While the newer version also has some very good lines and scenes, the 1988 version in incomparable. The original is one of my all time cult classics and what I especially missed in the newer version was the music, which were original tunes made especially for the musical, rather than early 60's recordings.
As you mentioned the 1988 version had the wonderful rock and roll era sound track with the songs in your review, but also with songs like Chubby Checker's "Pony Time" and one of the first line dances "Madison Time". Movie goers will enjoy the new version, but I encourage everyone who has not seen the original to definitely rent it and give it a whirl. You'll be so glad you did.
I've tagged you on my blog because you are such a (pop) culture vulture that I'd be fascinated to see what your alternate career choices would be. Please play along.
Thanks Pjazzy! Years ago, I almost purchased a copy of the soundtrack. However, I passed because many of the songs weren't on it due to licensing issues. Many of the songs missing (tunes by Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, and the Dovells) were orig. released on the Cameo/Parkway label.
A couple of years ago, the company that owned the rights to the Cameo/Parkway tunes finally made them available on CD. I purchased the boxed set and was lucky enough to get free copies of some of the artist "best of" collections (The Dovells and Bobby Rydell). Although it took them forever, it was nice to see the "powers that be" finally do the right thing.
I noticed in the original Hair Spray (when her teacher was nagging her about her hair) Tracy commented that her hair was "feathered", but being someone that was a teenager in the early 60's, it was called teasing (teased hair), not feathered. Although it was called feathered when that movie was made.
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