Polyester (1981)
- Starring:
- Divine, Tab Hunter, (more)
- Director(s):
- John Waters
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Polyester
After making a name for himself with such underground gross-out epics as Pink Flamingos and Desperate Living, director John Waters made a bid for somewhat wider acceptance with this black comedy, which is sedate only by the standards of his previous work. Francine Fishpaw (Divine) is a housewife whose life has become a living hell. Her husband Elmer (David Samson) runs a porno theater (currently showing the classic My Burning Bush) and is having an affair with secretary Sandra (Mink Stole), a vision of sleaze in Bo Derek-style cornrow braids who informs Elmer, "Children would only get in the way of our erotic lifestyle!" Francine has two teenage children, Dexter (Ken King), who likes to sniff glue and stomp on women's feet, and Lulu (Mary Garlington), a brazen slut who hangs out with overage juvenile delinquent Bobo (Stiv Bators) and gleefully anticipates her next abortion. Francine's best friend, Cuddles (Edith Massey), is a slightly insane heiress who is somehow convinced she's a debutante. Francine's life has become so miserable that her dog commits suicide rather than witness it, but a light appears on the horizon -- Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), the handsome and dashing owner of a local drive-in specializing in art films (their current bill is a Margurerite Duras triple feature), with whom Dawn enters into a torrid affair. Subversive on all fronts, Polyester was originally shown in "Odorama" (patrons were given a card with ten scratch-and-sniff patches, to be smelled at key points in the action) and featured a romantic theme song sung by that new hitmaking duo, Deborah Harry and Bill Murray. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 86 mins
Complete Cast of Polyester
- Divine - Francine Fishpaw
- Edith Massey - Cuddles
- David Samson - Elmer Fishpaw
- Mary Garlington - Lulu Fishpaw
- Hans Kramm - Chauffeur
- George Stover - Press A
- George Figgs - Abortion Picket
- Nancy Morgan - Alcoholic Leader
- Frank Tamburo - Pizza Man 3
- David Klein - Detective B
- Michael Watson - Freddy Ashton
- Cookie Mueller - Betty Lalinski
- Jim Hill - Picket Reporter
- Tommy Allen - Porno Picket
- Tab Hunter - Todd Tomorrow
- Mink Stole - Sandra
- Joni Ruth White - LaRue, mother
- Ken King - Dexter Fishpaw
- Stiv Bators - Bo-Bo Belsinger
- John Allen - Porno Picket
- Jean Hill - Gospel Bus Hijacker
- Derek Neal - Pimp
- Steve Yeager - Press B
- Brook Yeaton - Porno Picket
- Mary Vivian Pearce - Nun A
- Susan Lowe - Mall Victim
- Rick Breitenfeld - Dr. Quackenshaw
- Director(s):
- John Waters
- Writer(s):
- John Waters
- Producer(s):
- John Waters, Robert Maier
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Violence, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Not For Children)
- Categories:
- Comedy
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