Customer Reviews

John Waters Collection #3: Pink Flamingos/ Female Trouble

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You have NO idea how happy I am that Female Trouble is finally being released on DVD. It has to be my all time favorite cult movie ever. John Waters brings so much of his trade-mark trash to the movie that it stands-out as one of his most signature early pieces, even though he had already made movies such as Pink Flamingos, Mondo Trasho and Eat Your Make-Up. Divine definately shines in the staring role as Dawn Davenport. Tired of her common social life at home, Dawn decides that she will make her own mark on the world and does so as no other woman can! Dawn goes from a high school misfit, to a go-go dancer, a cafe waitress, a theif, a high-fashion crime model, and a serial killer, all while trying to be a loving mother to her obnoxious retarded daughter Taffy, played by another John Waters star regular Mink Stole. And let's not forget about the third star of the movie who you won't be able to forget no matter how hard you try: Edith Massey! Edith, the grotesque diva that also stars in a number of John's films, plays Aunt Ida, the aunt to Divine's worthless hairdresser husband. John gives her more of a 'glamorous' role compared to her earlier character in Pink Flamingos. In Female Trouble, just give Edith a glass of Sherry and she becomes a black spandex wearing diva who can put Olivia Newton-John to shame! While this is definately NOT a movie for everyone, it is very high on humor and camp. So, if you're a big cult classic fan, and not prudish or weak-of-stomach, this is one DVD you should NOT miss out on!

Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble are among the best films by director John Waters, and to have them TOGETHER and on DVD is a thrill. Since I bought the disks, my life has been like a vacation!

There are one or two things, however, which probably need to be said about the DVD. Because Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble were originated on 16mm. film, the current wide-screen transfer is somewhat of a violation. Most of the time it isn't really a problem -- especially in Pink Flamingos. But there are scenes in Female Trouble when the reframing necessary to approximate a wide-screen image has almost eliminated important visual information at the top and bottom of the frame.

In the Christmas Tree scene, for example, one can now only barely glimpse Dawn's slippers as she goes on her elephantesque rampage. The scene is still funny, but not as much so. There are several other examples, but I leave them for you to discover. I wish that NewLine had the courage to "Window Box" these films, or at least used standard TV screen ratio instead of cropping them into a widescreen ratio they were never meant to have.

I am puzzled, too, by some of the soundtrack from Pink Flamingos. My ancient VHS copy (and all the film copies I have seen) use music cues from "The Planets" for those shots where the Marbles spy on Divine's birthday party. Though the party music itself remains the same on the DVD (and on the previous Laser-Disk), the intercut shots now have a different musical accompanyment. What happened?

I am very pleased that the end credit sequence in Female Trouble has been _restored_ so to speak (actually, it was re-created rather than truly restored. But it's nice all the same).

Now that I have that out of my system, let me go on to say that I am looking forward to the day when ALL of the works of John's are on DVD. Wouldn't a disk set of Multiple Maniacs and Mondo Trasho be especially nice? Maybe they could throw in The Diane Linkletter Story as an extra feature. Or how about a reissue of Polyester, complete with the Scratch and Sniff cards? I could personally really go for a disk combining Water's VERY EARLY films - such as Roman Candles, Hag in a Black Leather Jacket and Eat Your Makeup.

Watch with: Each other, of course! What else could you possibly need? But if you wanted to make a marathon of it, why not: "Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill", "Blood Feast", "2,000 Maniacs", Querelle, or anything starring Jayne Mansfield.

As an opening disclaimer, if you are a big fan of "Hairspray" (in either ints movie or musical form), these films are not necessarily for you. Even after the films of the Farrelly Brothers, MTV's "Jackass," and countless other bits of media that suggest the fall of Western Civilization, "Pink Flamingos" and "Female Trouble" remain the crowning gems of shock cinema. These films have not only crossed the line of good taste; they've taken a paid vacation to a tropical island that sits 3,000 miles past the line.

"Pink Flamingos" is the generally recognized classic. The film features infamous scenes of feces eating, meat smuggling, and singing rectums among its accomplishments of sleeze. Amazing, there is still a plot that involves two families vying to earn the title of "the filthiest people alive." What makes the movie work amidst its vile setpieces is the sense of fun behind it all, and the strangest delivery of some of the stranges lines ever.

"Female Trouble" is even better. The convoluted but followable story revolves around Dawn Davenport and her lifelong attempts to become notorious, culminating in her completely insane presentation of murder as art. All of Waters' regulars appear once again, and the film trumps the disgustingness of "Pink Flamingos" (even if it has nothing quite as vomit inducing as eating dog poo).

The commentaries on these discs are as great as the movie. I'm not a big fan of commentaries, but I always take the extra effort to give John Waters' rants a listen. Much of the info for these films may also be found in Waters' book "Shock Value" (which is also wonderful), but his speaking style is really infectious and captivating.

"Female Trouble" is, by far, John Waters' best film. Ironically, it is also the most sadly neglected of all of his films. Long unavailable for several years, I am ecstatic to see it remastered and rereleased on DVD (with "Pink Flamingos" added in).

There's a reason why the majority of reviews of this release focus on "Trouble" instead of the more well-known "Flamingos": "Trouble" outclasses "Flamingos" in almost every respect. While "Flamingos" may be more visually shocking, "Trouble" is much funnier ... and meaner.

While Waters' skills as a director have improved immeasurably since 1974, "Trouble" is his best script. In conclusion, "Flamingos" is an occasionally funny freakshow, while "Trouble" is a masterpiece and should be ranked with "Duck Soup" and "M*A*S*H" as one of the best film comedies ever made.

This is, by far, the best John Waters dvd two-pack. With "Female Trouble" as one of the films, how could it not be? As others have noted before, "Female Trouble" is John Waters' best early film, and perhaps the best film of his career.

Notable facts about this dvd release:

"Female Trouble" has been "restored" to the "original uncut full-length version". Many scenes are longer, some significantly so. Some of the lines which have been edited out over the years are truly priceless, such as Aunt Ida saying to Taffy: "If you ever get tired of being a Hairy Krishner [sic], you come live with me and be a lesbian." What surprised me is how much was cut. The Castro Theater in San Francisco periodically features "Female Trouble," and the print they use has always contained a few additional lines here and there. The version on this dvd goes much further. While I didn't see "Female Trouble" in its initial theatrical release (I was only 12 years old!), I assume that the packaging is correct and that the film now appears in its original length. The audio has definitely been improved over the previous VHS tape release, particularly noticable on some of the music clips; the video also looks cleaner.

Included on the "Pink Flamingos" disc are deleted scenes.
I haven't listened to the commentary tracks yet, but based on John's commentaries for his other films, I'm sure they'll be a hoot.
Definitely a must-own for John Waters fans or anyone with an appreciation for high camp.

I was introduced to John Waters during my first year at NMSU and was immediately addicted to everything Divine and John Waters! to think this stuff was allowed to make it on film during the 1970's is quite something. John Waters loves to push the envelope and not take himeslf seriously at all. This is what makes his films so insane, delicious, campy and without a doubt NUTS! Pink Flamigos is that wild tale of The Filthiest People Alive and the lives of thos who hate them with a burning jealousy. Divine stars as well, Divine the undisputed queen of all this filth since this is her title and motto. She lives in a trailer home with her retarded mother, Crackers her insane son,and Cotton the traveling blonde companion. They live blissfully together until 2 jalous perverts, Raymond and Connie Marble attempt to steal that title away. Well, this only gets worse and the end result is a totally gross out battle, a disgusting party, a burning trailer, lesbian couples seeking children to adopt and so many insane events to mention. The next film featured here is Female Trouble with Divine as Dawn Davenport, Cookie Muller, Edith Massey,Mink Stole, and the late David Lochary. The premise is not as stomach churning as the PF however, it does have its revolting moments. The story centers on a teenage Dawn Davenport who is upset when her parents failed to give her those much desire cha cha heels for XMAS!!!! As a runaway teen she has no recourse to end up pregnant (with Mink Stole as Taffy)and winding up marrying a heterosexual hairdresser from the Le Lipstick Beauty Salon where she meets the notorios owners, Mr. and Mrs. Dasher!!! these two are hell bent on getting Dawn involved in a life of crime. What is so amazing here is the imagination that it took to dream up such weird and insane stories. There never is a dull moment here folks. But I do promise that you will feel paralyzed by Joh Waters and his legendary cast of Dreamland players. This is the stuff that would wind up on tabloids and really freak you out. This is another must have in your trash cinema collection

It is what it is, and you certainly don't have to like it(Roger Ebert sure hates Pink Flamingos, but what does he know? He liked Star Kid). John Waters is truly a love him or hate him guy, especially where his old films are concerned. If you've never seen this, take my advice: Don't watch it with anyone prudish(unless it's for revenge), watch it with a sick freaky person like yourself. This is the kind of film that you like to watch with people to see their reactions, but you probably won't watch it alot on your own-very much like Caligula. Remember, Waters isn't afraid to show you anything and nothing is sacred to him. There are at least two scenes in Pink Flamingos that will be tattooed in your brain till the day you die(for better or worse), so be prepared. This film is labeled a comedy, but that's all a matter of taste. I know people who DO NOT think this film is funny, but very sick and disturbing. You gotta understand that it's all meant for laughs, but many aren't gonna agree with that, Bubba. Female Trouble is a little more toned down than Pink Flamingos, but not much! The Farrelly Brothers seem to be in the spotlight for grossout humor, but they have a long way to go before they can even begin to outgross the king of grossout. These two films are the proof of that.

PINK FLAMINGOS is the film that made John Waters a household name as a director in the world of low-budget cinema! The story is about people who compete for the title of "Filthiest Person Alive." We have people making love to chickens, we have people licking furniture to perform voodoo rituals, we have pregnant women being kept in pits, we have people eating dog waste, and we have much, much more! The story of this film is really just an excuse to show people doing disgusting and perverted things that nobody in there right mind would ever think of doing...and I mean that as a compliment. If this film doesn't shock you the first time you see it, then nothing else will.

FEMALE TROUBLE is a classic John Waters film that tells the story of a woman named Dawn Davenport. We follow Dawn from her days as a teenage delinquent, to her rise to fame as a criminal, and then to her death in the electric chair as a convicted serial killer. This is one for any John Waters fan to put in his/her collection.

A guy, a girl , a chicken & a toolshed. Sounds like a deranged version of "Three's company". After watching this movie, Jerry Springer will seem like wholesome entertainment. How much you enjoy this may depend on your mood & what you had for supper.
Of course, the guy with the flexible sphincter in the party scene still makes me cringe. I would like to play this movie at a nun convention & see what happens :) Excellent soundtrack !!!

These are the dirtiest... and perhaps the funniest films ever made. I first saw Pink Flamingos when I was 14 (!) and I loved it. Female Trouble is the better movie when it comes to storylines, but the outrageousness of Pink Flamingos is unforgettable. Divine's performances are terrible, yet terrific. John Waters really knew what he was doing when it came to these two cinema classics!