| Cry-Baby | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | John Waters |
| Produced by | Rachel Talalay |
| Written by | John Waters |
| Starring | Johnny Depp Amy Locane Polly Bergen Susan Tyrrell Iggy Pop Ricki Lake Traci Lords |
| Music by | Patrick Williams |
| Cinematography | David Insley |
| Editing by | Janice Hampton |
| Studio | Imagine Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
| Release date(s) | April 6, 1990 |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $8,266,343 |
Cry-Baby is a 1990 American teen musical film written and directed by John Waters. It stars Johnny Depp as 1950s teen rebel "Cry-Baby" Wade Walker, and also features an expansive ensemble cast that includes Amy Locane, Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, Ricki Lake, Kim McGuire, David Nelson, Susan Tyrrell, and Patty Hearst. The film did not achieve high audience numbers in its initial release, but has subsequently become a cult classic and spawned a Broadway musical of the same name which was nominated for four Tony Awards.
The film is a parody of teen musicals (particularly Grease) and centers on a group of delinquents that refer to themselves as "drapes" and their interaction with the rest of the town and its other subculture, the "squares", in 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. "Cry-Baby" Walker, a drape, and Allison, a Square, create upheaval and turmoil in their little town of Baltimore by breaking the subculture taboos and falling in love. The film shows what the young couple have to overcome to be together and how their actions affect the rest of the town.
Part of the film takes place at the now-closed Enchanted Forest amusement park in Ellicott City, Maryland. Others take place in the Historic town of Sykesville, Maryland.
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In 1954 Baltimore, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker (Johnny Depp) is the leader of a gang of "Drapes", which includes his teenage mom sister Pepper (Ricki Lake), facially disfigured Mona "Hatchet Face" Malnorowski (Kim McGuire), wild and free-spirited Wanda Woodward (Traci Lords), and Milton Hackett (Darren E. Burrows), the nervous son of overzealous religious parents. His ability to shed a single tear drives all the girls wild. One day after school, he is approached by Allison Vernon-Williams (Amy Locane), a pretty girl tired of being a "square", and the two fall in love. That same day, Cry-Baby approaches the "square" part of town to a talent show ("Sh-Boom", "A Teenage Prayer") at the recreation center where Allison's grandmother (Polly Bergen) hosts events, and introduces himself to her, who is skeptical of his motives. Cry-Baby invites Allison to a party at Turkey Point, a local hangout spot for the drapes.
Despite her grandmother's skepticism, Allison accompanies Cry-Baby to Turkey Point and sings with the drapes ("King Cry-Baby"). As Cry-Baby and Allison tell each other about their orphan lives (Cry-Baby's father was sent to the electric chair after being the "Alphabet Bomber" - a killer who bombed places in alphabetical order airport, barber shop; and Allison's parents, who take separate planes so Allison won't be alone, die when both their planes crash), Allison's jealous square boyfriend, Baldwin (Stephen Mailer), starts a riot. Cry-Baby is blamed for the fight and sent to a penitentiary, outraging all his friends and even Allison's grandmother, who is impressed by Cry-Baby's posture, manners, and musical talent.
As Lenora Frigid (Kim Webb), a slutty girl with a crush on Cry-Baby but constantly rejected by him, claims to be pregnant with his child, Allison feels betrayed and returns to Baldwin and the squares, though her grandmother advises her against rushing into a decision. Meanwhile, in the penitentiary, Cry-Baby gets a teardrop tattoo. He tells the tattoo artist, fellow drape Dupree (Robert Tyree): "I've been hurt all my life, but real tears wash away. This one's for Allison, and I want it to last forever!".
Eventually, Allison is persuaded by the newly-established alliance between the Drapes and her grandmother to stand by Cry-Baby and join the campaign for his release ("Please, Mr. Jailer"). Cry-Baby is released but immediately insulted by Baldwin who, after revealing that his grandfather is the one who electrocuted Cry-Baby's father, challenges him to a chicken race. Cry-Baby wins, as Baldwin chickens out, and is reunited with Allison.
The film ends with all watching the chicken race crying a single tear, all except for Allison and Cry-Baby, who has finally let go of the past, enabling him to cry from both eyes.
The film was screened out of competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.[1]
The film currently holds a 76% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "John Waters' musical ode to the teen rebel genre is infectious and gleefully camp, providing star Johnny Depp with the perfect vehicle in which to lampoon his pin-up image."[2]
Cry-Baby opened on April 6, 1990 in 1,229 North American cinemas — an unprecedented number for a John Waters film. In its opening weekend, it grossed a soft $3,004,905 ($2,445 per screen) and grossed $8,266,343 by the end of its theatrical run.[3]
The film has a director's cut, adding an additional 6 minutes (91 minutes) to its original 85-minute release. The director's cut adds the following:
When shown on the USA Network, the airings include a few additional scenes not in the director's cut:
Cry-Baby is the second of Waters' films to be adapted for the stage as a musical comedy (following Hairspray). It was produced at the La Jolla Playhouse (California) as part of their 2007 season, as well as shadow-cast at the Nuart Theatre by Sins O' the Flesh and at Danbarry Cinemas by The Denton Affair.
The show opened at the Marquis Theatre on March 15, 2008. The show was a critical failure (with many critics comparing it unfavorably to Hairspray) and low tickets sales led the show to close on June 22, 2008 after 45 previews and 68 regular performances.
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