Hairspray

Hairspray (1988)

Timing: 1:32 (92 min)

6.807/10
438

6.721/10
1396

7/10
25000

All about film

Video 5

Photo 37

Actors and characters

Release date

1988-02-26

Country

United States

Production

New Line Cinema

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance, Music

Budget

$2 000 000

Revenue

$6 671 108

Website

Director

John Waters

Actors

Ricki Lake, Divine, Debbie Harry, Vitamin C, Sonny Bono, Leslie Ann Powers, Ruth Brown, Jerry Stiller, Michael St. Gerard, Clayton Prince
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Rachel Talalay, Robert Shaye, Sara Risher

Operator

David Insley

Composer

Kenny Vance

Artist

Audition

Editing

Janice Hampton
All team (34)

• Ricki Lake began to lose weight rapidly due to intensive dance lessons she was taking for the film. She had to eat a lot to maintain her weight.
• A scene was filmed where Tracy finds cockroaches in her hair. It was based on an urban legend about a girl whose brain was eaten by cockroaches. Although it didn't make it into the final cut, it explains all the cockroach references in the film's final part.
• The role of Edna was originally written for transgender woman Christine Jorgensen (1926-1989). However, when the role of Tracy needed to be reworked, director and screenwriter John Waters also changed the role of Edna in favor of his close friend Divine (1945-1988).
• Divine died of a heart attack two weeks into Waters and Divine's promotional tour for the film following its release. In memory of Divine, most stage productions of the musical feature men in the role of Edna.
• The role of Edna was originally written for transgender woman Christine Jorgensen. However, when the role of Tracy had to be reworked, director and screenwriter John Waters also changed the role of Edna in favor of his close friend Divine.
• Divine passed away two weeks after the film's promotional tour began. In memory of Divine, most stagings of the musical feature men in the role of Edna.