A Dirty Shame
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A Dirty Shame
Plot
America's leading titan of bad taste, John Waters, returns to X-rated territory (well, actually NC-17-rated territory, but you get the idea) for this wildly over-the-top comedy. Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) is a wife and mother living in Baltimore who, along with her husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) and mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd), operates a local convenience store. One day, Sylvia receives a sharp blow to the head, which leaves her with a concussion. However, the concussion comes with an unexpected side effect -- Sylvia has suddenly become a sex addict, and is soon attended to by the perverse and lascivious sexual evangelist Ray-Ray (Johnny Knoxville). When it becomes evident that Vaughn can't keep up with her sensual appetites, Sylvia throws herself into the strange netherworld of Baltimore's community of erotic overachievers, which includes her daughter Caprice (Selma Blair), who is living a double life as über-buxom exotic entertainer Ursula Udders. A Dirty Shame also features supporting performances from Waters regulars Patricia Hearst, Mink Stole, Mary Vivian Pearce, Channing Wilroy, and Jean Hill. ~ Mark Deming, RoviReview
Like a cartoonish version of They Came From Within that substitutes head injuries for parasites and an uptight Baltimore neighborhood for a futuristic high-rise apartment complex, John Waters' A Dirty Shame finds the so-called "Prince of Puke"'s career coming full circle. For a while, it seemed that age had mellowed Waters somewhat, and though such later efforts as Serial Mom and Pecker certainly had a cheeky edge over the average Hollywood fare, it was simply harder to shock audiences into laughter in an era when South Park aired nightly and "special edition" DVDs offered raunchier, more explicit versions of films originally rated PG-13 or R when released to theaters. In short, it seemed that the precedent that Waters had set with his own shock classic Pink Flamingos had come back to haunt him. Thankfully for longtime fans, Waters was more than up to the challenge of regaining his former glory, and Fine Line Features was willing to support that decision by granting him the liberty to shoot an NC-17 film (though, even with that rating, one gets the occasional feeling that Waters was holding back). Supported by a game cast that includes Tracey Ullman and Chris Isaak, Waters not only takes on the sexual hypocrisy that has come to define the mores of post-nipplegate America, but also the very source of that anxiety by casting Johnny Knoxville as a sexual Jesus who has come to bring the "resurrsextion" to Hartford Street. The film also offers some of the most quotable dialogue of Waters' recent filmography, and when Ullman's sex-crazed Sylvia Stickles begs husband Vaughn (Isaak) to "discover the oyster," one can't help but chuckle at recalling the classic dialogue that defined such early efforts as Desperate Living. Though it doesn't possess the mean streak that defined Waters' early efforts, A Dirty Shame is still more Female Trouble than Cry-Baby, and the collection of naughty novelties that litters the soundtrack even finds his musical selections hearkening back to the pre-Polyester era. Leave it to Waters to revert back to his old deviant ways just as a Broadway version of his 1988 comedy Hairspray (the director's first PG-rated film) threatened to bring him some amount of "mainstream" respectability -- and longtime fans simply wouldn't have it any other way. ~ Jason Buchanan, RoviCast
- Tracey Ullman - Sylvia Stickles
- Johnny Knoxville - Ray-Ray Perkins
- Selma Blair - Caprice Stickles/Ursula Udders
- Chris Isaak - Vaughn Stickles
- Suzanne Shepherd - Big Ethel
Credit
Halina Gebarowicz - Art Director, Keith Matz - Character Animation, Pat Moran - Associate Producer, Carol Everson - Boom Operator, Kerry Barden - Casting, Pat Moran - Casting, Linda Snyder - Choreography, George S. Clinton - Conductor, Ann Ruark - Co-producer, Van Smith - Costume Designer, Shelly Ziegler - First Assistant Director, John Waters - Director, Jeffery Wolf - Editor, John Wells - Executive Producer, Mark Ordesky - Executive Producer, Mark Kaufman - Executive Producer, Merideth Finn - Executive Producer, the Fisher Brothers - Executive Producer, Anne Marie Izner-Preston - Hair Styles, Debra Donaldson Dorsy - Location Manager, George S. Clinton - Composer (Music Score), Tracy McKnight - Musical Direction/Supervision, Amanda Johnson - Makeup, David Insley - Camera Operator, Tom Schnaidt - Camera Operator, Vincent Peranio - Production Designer, Steve Gainer - Cinematographer, Ted Hope - Producer, Christine Vachon - Producer, Rick Angelella - Sound Mixer, Jay M. Boryea - Stunts, Norman Douglass - Stunts, Chazz Menedez - Stunts, Roy Farfel - Stunts, Melissa Morgan - Stunts, John Becker - Stunts, Peter Bucossi - Stunts Coordinator, Roy Farfel - Stunts Coordinator, Ann Ruark - Unit Production Manager, John Waters - Screenwriter, David Insley - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Ed Bellafiore - Production Assistant, Melissa DeMino - Production Assistant, Michael Dudek - Production Assistant, Thomas "Toby" Hessenauer - Production Assistant, Dawson Nolley - Production Assistant, Randall Balsmeyer - Visual Effects Supervisor, Mark Dornfeld - Visual Effects Supervisor, Magdaline Volaitis - Sound Effects Editor, Nita Long Mayer - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Jeff Hill - Unit Publicist, Andrew Weisblum - Associate Editor, Boots Shelton - First Assistant Camera, Shareen Saleh - First Assistant Camera, Jay Douglas Kemp - Gaffer, Joseph Bruce - Grip, Rick Strodel - Grip, Rodney French - Key Grip, Tom Villano - Music Editor, Thomas Bartke - Music Editor, Bryon Rickerson - Music Editor, George S. Clinton - Music Producer, Jimmy Intveld - Musical Performer, Greg Leisz - Musical Performer, Jim Cox - Musical Performer, Bernie Dressel - Musical Performer, Ann Gray - Post Production Coordinator, Paul A. Levin - Post Production Supervisor, Beth Boyd - Production Coordinator, Gwen Bialic - Production Supervisor, Brook Yeaton - Properties Master, Tony Gardner - Prosthetic Makeup Effects, Reilly Steele - Re-Recording Mixer, Christine Moore - Script Supervisor, Gary Romolo Fiorelli - Second Assistant Director, Drew Jiritano - Special Effects Coordinator, James Bridges - Still Photographer, Blake Leyh - Supervising Sound Editor, Michele Ferrone - Visual Effects Producer, Kathy Kelehan - Visual Effects Producer, Kenton Jakub - ADR Editor, David Boulton - ADR Mixer, Bobby Johanson - ADR Mixer, Charleen Richards-Steeves - ADR Mixer, David Lucarelli - ADR Recordist, Brian Gallagher - ADR Recordist, Krissopher Chevannes - ADR Recordist, Rehya Young - Assistant Location Manager, Michael Faulkner - Assistant Location Manager, Cindy Heidel - Assistant Location Manager, Brian Cooper - Assistant Production Coordinator, Jeffrey Pratt Gordon - Assistant Properties, Rick Chefalas - Assistant Sound Editor, Alex Soto - Assistant Sound Editor, Ted Ayd - Best Boy Electric, Dave Noble - Best Boy Grip, Charlie Newberry - Camera Loader, John Strawbridge - Casting Associate, Randy Herbert - Construction Coordinator, Catharine Fletcher Incaprera - Costumes Supervisor, Laura Civiello - Dialogue Editor, Dean Citroni - Dolly Grip, Shamos Fisher - Extra Casting, Jay Peck - Foley Artist, Jim Doherty - Greensman, Devra Kitterman - Greensman, Silvija Moess - Greensman, Rolande Glicenstein - Key Costumer, Howard "Hep" Preston - Key Hairstylist, Cheryl "Pickles" Kinion - Key Make-up, Clark Hospelhorn - Leadman, Jonny Solomon - Personal Assistant, Melissa "Stanley" Cohen - Personal Assistant, Susan Allenbach - Personal Assistant, Sonya Dawson - Personal Assistant, Tracey Frey - Personal Assistant, Chanelle S. Matthews - Personal Assistant, Alysia Oakley - Personal Assistant, Eric Papa - Personal Assistant, Charles Pugliese - Personal Assistant, Josh Slates - Personal Assistant, Heather Walker - Personal Assistant, Brian Dixon - Personal Assistant, Wayne Arnold - Second Assistant Camera, John Hamilton - Second Assistant Camera, Xanthus Valas - Second Second Assistant Director, Patrick Eagan - Set Dresser, John Millard - Set Dresser, Douglas Jones - Set Production Assistant, Cyndi "Cutter" Martin - Set Production Assistant, Andrea Roa - Set Production Assistant, Caleb Stine - Storyboard Artist, Custom Film Effects - Visual Effects, Susan Kessel - Set Decorator, Michael Almog - Co-Executive Producer, Bob Jason - Co-Executive Producer, Mike Stanwick - Color Timing, Jamie R. Baker - Foley Recordist, Dave B. Flynch - Foley Supervisor, Russell A. Wicks - Generator Operator, Negative People Incorporated - Negative Cutter, Erik Gorcynski - Production Secretary, Scott Wallace - Set Medic/First Aid, Hank Atterbury - Special Effects Technician, Chuck Khoury - Special Effects Technician, Beth Grunder - Swing Gang, Norm Thurston Jr. - Swing Gang, Lianne Williamson - Swing Gang, Alex Applefeld - Video Assist| A Dirty Little Business (1998 Film), A Dirty Carnival (2006 Film) | |
| A Disastrous Flirtation (1908 Film), A Disciple of Nietzsche (1915 Film) |
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A Dirty Shame
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A Dirty Shame
| A Dirty Shame | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | John Waters |
| Produced by | Christine Vachon Ted Hope Mark Ordesky Mark Kaufman The Fisher Brothers Pat Moran |
| Written by | John Waters |
| Starring | Tracey Ullman Johnny Knoxville Selma Blair Chris Isaak Suzanne Shepherd Mink Stole |
| Music by | George S. Clinton |
| Cinematography | Steve Gainer |
| Editing by | Jeffrey Wolf |
| Studio | Killer Films City Lights Pictures This Is That |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema Fine Line Features |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 88 minutes 84 minutes (The Neuter Version) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $1,914,166 |
A Dirty Shame is a 2004 satirical sex comedy written and directed by John Waters, and starring Tracey Ullman, Selma Blair, Johnny Knoxville, Chris Isaak, Suzanne Shepherd, and Mink Stole. As of 2012, this is Waters' most recent directorial effort.
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Contents
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Plot
The people of Harford Road are firmly divided into two camps; neuters, the puritanical residents who despise anything even remotely carnal, and the perverts, a group of sex addicts whose unique fetishes have all been brought to the fore by accidental concussions. Repressed Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) finds herself firmly entrenched in the former camp until one day when, after leaving her promiscuous daughter Caprice (Selma Blair) - nicknamed Ursula Udders because of her gargantuan breasts and penchant for indecent exposure - under house arrest 'for her own good', she is smacked on the head by a passing car and meets Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville), a local mechanic and self-styled 'sex saint' who opens her mind to a whole new world of sensual pleasure, as he and his followers search for the ultimate sex act. Eventually, through a series of bizarre head knockings, everyone in town becomes a sex addict, as Ray-Ray shoots semen out of his head, onto the camera.
Cast
- Tracey Ullman as Sylvia Stickles
- Johnny Knoxville as Ray-Ray Perkins
- Selma Blair as Caprice Stickles/Ursula Udders
- Chris Isaak as Vaughn Stickles
- Suzanne Shepherd as Big Ethel
- Mink Stole as Marge
- Patricia Hearst as Paige
- Jackie Hoffman as Dora
- Wes Johnson as Fat Fuck Frank
- Paul DeBoy as Wendell Doggett
- Gaelan Alexander Connell as Horny kid
- Channing Wilroy as Male motorist
- Alan J. Wendl as Officer Alvin
- David A. Dunham as Mama Bear
- Dave Moretti as Papa Bear
- Jeffrey Auerbach as Baby Bear
- Jonas Grey as Warren the mailman
- Doug Roberts as Driving neuter husband
- Mary Vivian Pearce as Unjudgemental ex-sex addict
- Jean Hill as Woman at fire escape
- Bob Adams as Bus passenger
- George Figgs (uncredited) as Neuter
- Ricki Lake (cameo) as Herself
- David Hasselhoff (cameo) as Himself
Production
According to John Waters, when he asked the MPAA what he would need to cut in order for them to give his film an R rating, they replied that "after a while, we just stopped taking notes", and if everything they objected to was cut, only ten minutes could be distributed.[1] They decided to simply release it with an NC-17 rating.
It was shot entirely on-location in Baltimore on Harford Road which is prominently featured in the film.
In a featurette that accompanied the film's DVD release, veteran stage actress Suzanne Shepherd recalled that when she was cast as Big Ethel, she was completely unfamiliar with Waters' work, and she had no idea what to expect when she showed up for the first script review. Horrified by what she was reading, she became so distraught that she began to cry. She tried to quit the project, but Waters and her castmates managed to persuade her to stay.[2]
Critical reception
A Dirty Shame received a mixed response from critics, half of whom have lauded its unashamed vulgarity, while the other half have lampooned it for much the same reason. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film is listed as having a 53% critical approval rating, with 53% among the 'cream of the crop.[3]
One of the more positive reviews came from Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times, who wrote:
"A gross-out pioneer, Waters has always had more on his mind than delirious, sex-crazed silliness. By allowing people to speak freely about their sexual urges and practices with a bluntness that is jaw-droppingly hilarious, Waters has drawn deeply upon comedy's liberating power. The more the sex addicts talk about their hang-ups the more comically harmless they seem, and thus it's all the more absurd for the puritanical to try to punish them for their various pursuits of pleasure. Waters has always harnessed poor taste to lampoon attempts to limit freedom of expression. This raucously gritty and high-spirited film could scarcely be bluer in terms of the language, but from Waters it comes as a gust of fresh air."[2]
Also enthusiastic was Peter Travers of Rolling Stone:
"A Dirty Shame is Waters unleashed, and wicked, kinky fun for anyone except the twits who rated it NC-17...You may even shed a tear when Sylvia bonds with her daughter by confessing, "I'm a cunnilingus bottom." OK, the jokes are hit-and-miss and the plot is nonexistent, but the Waters spirit stays consistently and sweetly twisted. When the cast takes to the streets singing, "Let's go sexin'," you want to cheer them on."[4]
On the other end of the spectrum was Roger Ebert, who gave the film one star out of a possible four:
"There is in show biz something known as "a bad laugh." That's the laugh you don't want to get, because it indicates not amusement but incredulity, nervousness or disapproval. John Waters' A Dirty Shame is the only comedy I can think of that gets more bad laughs than good ones...We go to a Waters film expecting bad taste, but we also expect to laugh, and A Dirty Shame is monotonous, repetitive and sometimes wildly wrong in what it hopes is funny."[5]
Box office
A Dirty Shame opened on September 17, 2004 on one Baltimore screen to $29,384. The next weekend, it expanded to 133 venues, where it grossed $448,914 ($3,375 per screen). It ended its North American run with $1,339,668 (as of November 7, 2004).[6]
Overseas, the film earned an additional $574,498 (as of July 14, 2005), making its global box office total $1,914,166.[6]
Home media
There is both a full uncensored version and an edited, R-rated cut sold through Blockbuster and Wal-Mart as "A Dirty Shame: The Neuter Version". The "R" rated version is heavily censored and removes all profanities and nudity. In an interview, Waters stated that this version is "essentially for brainless people and 'really weird collectors'."[7] Netflix proclaims to stream the NC-17 version of the film, but for a time it was actually the censored version. They have since replaced it with the uncensored cut. The censored version airs on LOGO, a cable channel for gay interest.
Despite several internet sites and even the spine of the DVD stating that it is "The Neuter Version", the Australian release of the film is the fully uncut NC-17 version with all profanity and nudity intact. It is rated R18+ for sexual references and adult themes.
References
- ^ John Waters (2006). [1] (Movie). Independent Film Channel (IFC).
- ^ "All the Dirt on A Dirty Shame," New Line Home Video, 2005.
- ^ Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Dirty Shame : Review : Rolling Stone
- ^ "A Dirty Shame". Chicago Sun-Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040924/REVIEWS/40913001/1023.
- ^ a b "Box Office Mojo -- Weekly Box Office Results -- A Dirty Shame". IMDb.com, Inc.. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=dirtyshame.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ See the documentary film, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, in which Waters discusses many aspects of the difficulties he had with the MPAA rating system.
External links
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: A Dirty Shame |
- Official website
- A Dirty Shame at the Internet Movie Database
- A Dirty Shame at AllRovi
- A Dirty Shame at Box Office Mojo
- A Dirty Shame at Rotten Tomatoes
- A Dirty Shame at Metacritic
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