Monday, July 23, 2007

Don't Mess with the Classics

Those bloggers that know me well know I love cinema. I love films as varied as 'Cocoon' to 'From Dusk Til Dawn', 'Monsters Inc' to 'Killing Zoe'.....I am a Depp nut, not to mention Vin Diesel, Denzel (no surname required!), Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler and John Travolta.....hmm........speaking of Mr Travolta......what is he up to?
Dancing ........in a dress!?!

Hairspray is not only a popular beauty product, it is the name of one of my all-time favourite cult movies.
Hairspray is the story of Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake), daughter of Edna and Wilbur Turnblad. The sweet, if a little overweight, Tracy dreams of being a star on The Corny Collins show, a TV dance show.
But her rise to stardom is hampered by the jealous and spoilt Amber Von Tussle, who believes she is the star of the show.
Now a household name, Tracy uses her fame to promote integration in the segregated society of Baltimore.
Then both girls are entered into the competition to be the Queen of the auto show.
When it comes down to the auto show, there can only be one Queen......who will it be?

I love the movie Hairspray because of Ricki Lake's infectious delight, the humour, and the actors. But the real star of Hairspray was the music, along with the dance routines. I like the later John Waters' stuff. His early work was very strange (like the man himself), but he moved to mainstream film-making with Hairspray. In the 90s he went on to write and direct cult classics as Cry Baby, Pecker and Serial Mom - films that illustrated to us his perception on life in Baltimore (his home town).

Well, this year Hairspray has been restyled. I have avoided all the hype, except the odd trailer, but am going to see what they have done with one of my favourite movies. Unlike the original which, as with all Waters' films, was an ensemble piece with no 'Stars' - even though it included such names as Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller, Sonny Bono, Pia Zadora, Hairspray 2007 does seem to be more a vehicle for Mr Travolta.

I hear there has been all new music written for this version..........which makes me nervous....so I leave my readers with a classic piece of 1988 Hairspray - the Madison.


cq

4 comments:

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Ahhh yes! "HAIRSPRAY"...Well, they made it into a Broadway Musical which this Travolta Vehicle---you are so right---is based on. I saw it here in Los Angeles with Bruce Vilanch playing the part that JT plays. For me...it all sounds like one long song...But that's just me. I will be very very ibterested to read what you say about the film, after you see it. I'll have to wait for the DVD, but, in all honesty it doesn't interest mer...the original Jogn Watters film..Well, that is a GEM!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

I love the Ricki Lake Hairspray as well. Why did it need to be remade at all?

Bobkat said...

The original film cast will take some beating but you gotta admit that Mr Travolta can dance! :) (As can Christopher Walken who initially trained as a dancer!).

Andi said...

I will be rewatching the first & going to see the new movie at some point.