A suburban housewife's world falls apart when she finds that her pornographer husband is serially unfaithful to her, her daughter is pregnant, and her son is suspected of being the foot-fetishist who's been breaking local women's feet.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Divine | ... |
Francine Fishpaw
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| Tab Hunter | ... |
Todd Tomorrow
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| Edith Massey | ... |
Cuddles Kovinsky
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David Samson | ... |
Elmer Fishpaw
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| Mary Garlington | ... |
Lu-Lu Fishpaw
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| Ken King | ... |
Dexter Fishpaw
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| Mink Stole | ... |
Sandra Sullivan
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Joni Ruth White | ... |
La Rue
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Hans Kramm | ... |
Heintz
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| Stiv Bators | ... |
Bo-Bo Belsinger
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Rick Breitenfeld | ... |
Dr. Arnold Quackenshaw
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Michael Watson | ... |
Freddy Ashton
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Derek Neal | ... |
Pimp
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| Jean Hill | ... |
Gospel Bus Hijacker
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Jim Hill | ... |
Picket Reporter
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John Brothers | ... |
TV News Announcer
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| Mary Vivian Pearce | ... |
Nun A
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| Sharon Niesp | ... |
Nun B
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| Cookie Mueller | ... |
Betty Lalinski
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Marina Melin | ... |
Supermarket Victim
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| Susan Lowe | ... |
Mall Victim
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Tom Diventi | ... |
Bo-Bo's Friend
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George Hulse | ... |
School Principal
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Tony Parkham | ... |
Teenage Witness
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Paul Holland | ... |
Pizza Man Lover
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Alberto Panella | ... |
Pizza Man 2
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Frank Tamburo | ... |
Pizza Man 3
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Nancy Morgan | ... |
Alcoholic Leader
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Keats Smith | ... |
Boutique Saleslady
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Gordon Kamka | ... |
Detective A
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David Klein | ... |
Detective B
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| George Stover | ... |
Press A
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Steve Yeager | ... |
Press B
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Marv Egoff | ... |
Press C
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John De La Vega | ... |
Press D
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Chuck Yeaton | ... |
Hospital Reporter
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George Udell | ... |
Jewish Man
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Mrs. Horner | ... |
Oriential Woman
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Katie Casey | ... |
Nurse
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Gail Kondylas | ... |
Pregnant Girl
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Judith Klein | ... |
Woman Clipping Nails
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Alan Hauser | ... |
Deb Announcer
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Garey Lambert | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Lynda Lambert | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Dorothy Braudy | ... |
Abortion Picket
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| George Figgs | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Leo Braudy | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Pat Figgs | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Joan Insley | ... |
Abortion Picket
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Sam Insley | ... |
Abortion Picket
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| Brook Yeaton | ... |
Porno Picket
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Kitty Samson | ... |
Porno Picket
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Stuart Rome | ... |
Porno Picket
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Paula Rome | ... |
Porno Picket
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Steve Waters | ... |
Porno Picket
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Treva Barnes | ... |
Porno Picket
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Sharon Waters | ... |
Porno Picket
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Anne Mallory | ... |
Porno Picket
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John Allen | ... |
Porno Picket
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Jay Allen | ... |
Porno Picket
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Tommy Allen | ... |
Porno Picket
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Hilary Aidus | ... |
Porno Picket
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Joan Erbe | ... |
Porno Picket
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jay Bennett | ... |
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
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Rocky Collins | ... |
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
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| Denny Dormody | ... |
Man Leaving Charles Theatre (uncredited)
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| Bernard Jay | ... |
Doorman at the Edmondson (uncredited)
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Karl Otter | ... |
TV Reporter at Movie Theatre (uncredited)
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Charles Roggero | ... |
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
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| Marla Aaron Wapner | ... |
Pregnant Teen (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Waters | ||
Written by
| John Waters | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Robert Maier | ... | line producer |
| Sara Risher | ... | associate producer |
| Robert Shaye | ... | executive producer |
| John Waters | ... | producer |
Music by
| Michael Kamen | ||
Cinematography by
| Dave Insley | ... | (as David Insley) |
Editing by
| Charles Roggero | ||
Editorial Department
| Rocky Collins | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Pat Moran | ||
Art Direction by
| Vincent Peranio | ||
Set Decoration by
| Beth Sheldon | ||
Costume Design by
| Van Smith | ||
Makeup Department
| Christine Mason | ... | hair stylist |
| Van Smith | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Robert Maier | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Pat Moran | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Dolores Deluce | ... | assistant art director (as Dolores DeLuxe) |
| Shawn Moran | ... | prop vehicles |
| Cathy Puig | ... | prop vehicles |
| Beth Sheldon | ... | set director (as Beth Holmes) |
| Steve Walker | ... | property master (as Steven Walker) |
Sound Department
| Rocky Collins | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Stuart Deutsch | ... | boom operator |
| Elizabeth Kling | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Darren Kloomok | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Skip Lievsay | ... | sound editor |
| Steven J. Rogers | ... | production sound mixer |
Special Effects by
| David W. Donoho | ... | gunshot effects (as David Donoho) |
| Rob E. Holland | ... | gunshot wound effects |
| John Luckacovic | ... | assistant to Robert E. Holland |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Steve Apicella | ... | video assist operator |
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator |
| Larry Dean | ... | still photographer |
| Robert W. Dorsey | ... | second electrician (as Robert Dorsey) |
| Arthur Eng | ... | assistant camera |
| Bill Porter | ... | gaffer |
| Mike Spera | ... | consultant: Arriflex camera |
| Stewart Stack | ... | key grip |
| David Warfield | ... | grip |
Animation Department
| Rory Kelleher | ... | animator |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jay Bennett | ... | dresser |
Music Department
| Art Baron | ... | musician: tamborine |
| Bill Dern | ... | musician: banjo |
| Jimmy Destri | ... | musician: keyboards |
| Lenny Ferrari | ... | musician: drums |
| Irving Fields | ... | musician: acoustic bass |
| Michael Kamen | ... | musician: keyboards and oboe |
| Jeffrey Lyons | ... | musician: oboe and duck |
| Charlie Miller | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Walter Steding | ... | musician: violins |
| Chris Stein | ... | musician: guitar and bass |
| Bruce Tergesen | ... | music mixer |
Additional Crew
| Jim Blevins | ... | production assistant |
| Jerry Buhai | ... | consultant: "Odorama" |
| John Heyn | ... | production assistant |
| Garey Lambert | ... | dailies projectionist |
| Alan Rose | ... | title designer |
| Robert Shaye | ... | presenter |
| Rachel Talalay | ... | production assistant |
| Alan Treadwell | ... | production assistant |
| Michael White | ... | presenter |
| Chuck Yeaton | ... | bookkeeper (as Charles Yeaton) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- New Line Cinema (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (1981) (Canada) (theatrical)
- G.T.O. Films Ltd. (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Europa Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Fram Film (1985) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Reel DVD (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Entertainment in Video
- Lorimar Telepictures (TV version)
- New Line Home Video (video)
- The Criterion Collection (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Andy Warhol Enterprises (courtesy: Walter Steding)
- Anne Arundel County, Maryland (the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance provided by: County Executive's Office)
- Axis Videos Inc. (video operations)
- Chrysalis Records (courtesy: Jimmy Destri, Chris Stein)
- City of Baltimore (the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance provided by: Mayor's Office)
- Friendship Animal Kennel (animal training: "Bonkers")
- The Ranch Studio (music recorded at)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Francine Fishpaw is an upper middle class suburban housewife in Baltimore. Unfortunately, the money to support her lifestyle comes from her husband's porno theater, the neighbors are protesting, her son is a "stomper", her daughter is knocked up by a local hoodlum, and her husband is having an affair.
Written by Stephen J. LeBlanc |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It'll Blow Your Nose! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $300,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | On the film's audio commentary with director John Waters recorded for the movie's DVD release in 2004 he voiced his pleasure at having had audiences to go out and actually "pay to smell sh**." See more » |
| Goofs | When Dexter's principal calls Francine, Francine starts acting as if he's hung up on her before he's even said goodbye. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in This Is Elvis, Bustin' Loose, Atlantic City, The Four Seasons (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Polyester See more » |
| Crazy Credits | During the credits, the title song "Polyester" describes the action seen on screen, leading the audience through a helicopter shot of the suburbs into Francine's house (commenting on its French Provincial decor) and upstairs to meet her. See more » |
| Quotes |
School Principal:
Is Dexter ill today? Francine Fishpaw: Why, no, Mr. Kirk. Dexter's in school. School Principal: I'm afraid he's not, Mrs. Fishpaw. Dexter's truancy problem is way out of hand, and the Baltimore County School Board have decided to expel Dexter from the entire public school system. Francine Fishpaw: Why Mr. Kirk - I'm as upset as you to learn of Dexter's truancy - but surely expulsion is not the answer? School Principal: I'm afraid expulsion is the only answer. It is the opinion of the entire staff that Dexter is criminally insane... See more » |