John Waters Collection Volume 2, The - Polyester/ Desperate Living (1977)

Synopsis: POLYESTER: Francine Fishpaw (Divine) is a troubled housewife trapped in suburban Baltimore. Her household is a disaster--her husband is the philandering proprietor of a sleazy movie theater, her... POLYESTER: Francine Fishpaw (Divine) is a troubled housewife trapped in suburban Baltimore. Her household is a disaster--her husband is the philandering proprietor of a sleazy movie theater, her daughter performs lewd dances in her high school cafeteria for money, her son is a predatory foot fetishist, and the family pet is suicidal. After she hits alcoholic rock bottom, along comes Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), a dreamboat who runs an art-house drive-in theater. But is he really as angelic as he seems? Francine may require the help of her eccentric nouveau riche best friend, Cuddles (Edith Massey), to discover the truth. Inspired by soap operas and weepy 1950s melodramas, John Waters combines the conventions of that genre (soft lighting, teary organ music) with William Castle-like gimmickry for his most polished, biggest budgeted film yet. The original theatrical release was presented in Odorama--an innovative technique that allowed the audience to smell the movie with the aid of a scented card featuring the same scents Francine picks up with her overactive olfactory powers. Divine gives yet another wonderful comedic performance, and '50s idol Hunter proves that he's game for anything. DESPERATE LIVING: Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) is a frazzled housewife who has just been released from a mental hospital. Arriving at her suburban Baltimore home in a delicate state, she quickly decides that her husband is trying to kill her...and coerces her rotund maid, Grizelda (Jean Hill), to suffocate him with her ample bottom. In order to escape imprisonment, the unlikely duo seeks refuge in Mortville, a oddball shantytown populated by criminals and social outcasts. To the citizens' dismay, however, vicious Queen Carlotta (Edith Massey) rules the kingdom with an iron fist. With assistance from a cranky pre-op transsexual (Susan Lowe) and her sexpot lover (Liz Renay), Peggy and Grizelda attempt to navigate their strange new lives. [More]

Starring: Divine, Edith Massey, Tab Hunter, Mink Stole

Starring: Divine, Edith Massey, Tab Hunter, Mink Stole, Jean Hill, Susan Lowe, Liz Renay, Mary Vivian Pearce

Director: John Waters

Director: John Waters

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