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| Shoot to Ill: John Waters looking "hippie
pimp," at work on Pink Flamingos. |
They haven’t mellowed—if anything, they’re worse!”
says John Waters of his notorious Pink Flamingos and Female
Trouble, screening this week in Two Boots Pioneer Theater’s
“Trash Sinema” series. “I love the 18-year-olds
who discover these films. They weren’t born when these movies
came out—their parents weren’t born when these
movies came out—but I’m proud to say they continue doing
their job.”
Through July 29
Two Boots Pioneer Theater
155 East 3rd St., at Ave. A, 212-254-3300
For more information, visit www.twoboots.com.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
Showing July 16-18 and July 20-22
The Story: In a battle to be “the
Filthiest People Alive,” a drag queen (played by Divine) wages
war against husband-and-wife heroin dealers. Divine’s break-out;
Waters’s most offensive and well-known.
The Back Story: “This movie was influenced
by the Manson family, whose trial I’d attended. Back then,
they were the filthiest people alive—today, that would
be Michael Jackson. What’s shocking is that when she opens
the gift-wrapped turd, that’s actually Divine’s! This
is a pothead movie. We didn’t do drugs while we filmed, but
I was stoned when I made this up.”
Female Trouble (1974)
Showing July 23-29
The Story: The rise and fall of Dawn Davenport
(Divine), a good girl who turns homicidally bad after her parents
refuse to buy her high heels. Waters’s favorite Divine film.
The Back Story: “Divine was 30, playing
a teenager. Before shooting, he made me watch all of these terrible
Elizabeth Taylor movies—The Driver’s Seat, Secret
Ceremony. He was like my E.T. This is my ‘Genet’
film, based on ‘crime is beauty.’ And some of it comes
from my childhood—like in the movie, my parents built me a
stage when I was young. I think all children should have their own
little stage.”
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