Desperate Living (1977)

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

It isn't very pretty.....

Plot:

A rich housewife enlists her maid's help to murder her husband; they go on the lam and end up in Mortville, a homeless community built into a garbage dump.

Plot Keywords:

Midnight Movie | Insanity | Rats | Cannibalism | Leather Queen

Cast

Liz Renay	...	Muffy St. Jacques
Mink Stole	...	Peggy Gravel
Susan Lowe	...	Mole McHenry
Edith Massey	...	Queen Carlotta
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Princess Coo-Coo
Jean Hill	...	Grizelda Brown
Brook Yeaton	...	Bosley Jr. (as Brook Blake)
Karen Gerwig	...	Beth
Jay Allan	...	Kid
Al Strapelli	...	Doctor Evans
George Stover	...	Bosley Gravel
Turkey Joe	...	Motorcycle Cop
Willie Brooks	...	Pieman
James Yeaton	...	Dead Bum
Ed Peranio	...	Lieutenant Wilson

Also Known As:

Mortville (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:X (self applied) | France:-18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating) | UK:(Banned) (1977)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Charm City Productions

Trivia:

The Mortville extras are mostly homeless people who were bussed in for the day. The crew had to work fast to get shots of them before they wandered off.

Quotes:

Peggy Gravel: Why did you tell me to come this way, Grizelda? You know I hate nature! Look at those disgusting trees, stealing my oxygen. Oh, I can't stand this scenery another minute. All natural forests should be turned into housing developments! I want cement covering every blade of grass in this nation. Don't we taxpayers have a voice anymore?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Pink or Blue?: The Science of Sex Selection/John Waters (#7.1)" (2004)

Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Possibly more depraved than "Pink Flamingos", if that's possible, "Desperate Living" is a paradox for the senses. Although tasteless and shocking, it is ultimately warm hearted and uproariously hilarious. Those familiar with John's style know that these contradictions work splendidly within the context that he intended them to. Never mean spirited, the outrageousness lends itself to an overall statement on the callousness of society itself. Mink Stole is simply incredible as Peggy Gravel. Her ranting and raving throughout the film is side splitting. Special mention to Jean Hill as Grizelda, Liz Renay as Muffy, and of course the ever demure (ha!) Edith Massey as Queen Carlotta. Leave all inhibitions at the door and enjoy this twisted fairy tale roller coaster ride of a good time! A definite 9/10!!