Cry-Baby

Plot

In 1950s Baltimore, a bad-boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good-girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.

Release Year: 1990

Rating: 6.3/10 (23,734 voted)

Director:
John Waters

Stars: Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane

Storyline
"Drape" (or Greaser) Wade Walker, also known as Cry-Baby for his ability to shed a single tear, falls head over heels for square Allison Vernon-Williams who, incidentally, is tired of being good.

Cast:

Johnny Depp
–

Cry-Baby

Amy Locane
–

Allison Vernon-Williams

Susan Tyrrell
–

Ramona Rickettes

Polly Bergen
–

Mrs. Vernon-Williams

Iggy Pop
–

Belvedere Rickettes

Ricki Lake
–

Pepper Walker

Traci Lords
–

Wanda Woodward

Kim McGuire
–

Mona 'Hatchet-Face' Malnorowski

Darren E. Burrows
–

Milton Hackett

Stephen Mailer
–

Baldwin

Kim Webb
–

Lenora Frigid

Alan J. Wendl
–

Toe-Joe

Troy Donahue
–

Hatchet's Father

Mink Stole
–

Hatchet's Mother

Joe Dallesandro
–

Milton's Father

Taglines:
Good girls want him bad. Bad girls want him worse.

Release Date: 6 April 1990

Filming Locations: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $11,000,000

(estimated)

Gross: $8,266,343
(USA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min
 |
USA: 91 min
(director's cut)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

James Intveld and Rachel Sweet did the singing for Johnny Depp and Amy Locane.

Goofs:

Continuity:
After the immunizations, in the scene were Allison talks to the drapes for the first time, Lenora is standing on the steps trying to pose. The scene shoots away from her, but when it shoots back to her, her hair barrette has changed sides.

Quotes:

[first lines]

Wanda's mother:
Hi Kids. Remember, always look both ways before crossing.

Wanda:
[embarassed]
Mother!

User Review

Silly, sweet fun. Don't take it seriously, just enjoy it

Rating:

There seem to be two types of folks who detest "Cry-Baby;" those who
think
Waters sold out by making anything that cost more than $500 and didn't
include coprophagy, and those who insist that all movies be Art with a
capital A.

I was well into my 20's when the movie first came out, not a fan of 21
Jump
Street, and no stranger to movies, including masterpieces and early John
Waters, but I LOVED it, and have caught the uncut version on USA network
quite a few times.

Cry-Baby is no Citizen Kane, and it's no Pink Flamingos, but, at risk of
being pretentious, I will say that its full of something that makes art:
Truth. Even in incredibly silly scenes, the movie is based in real and
true
emotions. John Waters' love for the fun parts of the 50's, (and hatred of
the status quo that obviously made his teen years a living hell) is all
over
this film.

Yes, scenes such as the orphanage are silly, but the cynicism of the
orphanage workers and the angst of the mother are as real as can be. The
silliness works because the John Waters BELIEVES in what he is saying, and
makes damn sure that his actors are with him!

All of the actors, from Johnny Depp who (as with all of his roles)
*becomes*
the character to Joe Dallesandro who barely can get his lines out, believe
in their characters.

"Cry-Baby" parodies 50's "Teen Rebel" musicals such as "Rock Around the
Clock" and "Don't Knock the Rock", but with obvious affection.

Yes, it's a musical. If you're one of those cynics who says things like
"But people DON'T just start singing in real life" don't see
it.
Movies exist to give us a break from real life while mirroring it enough
to
be cathartic. Musicals and parodies take it one step further.
They're not diaries, they're not reality, they're MOVIES!

"Cry-Baby" is a lot of fun, and the soundtrack is terrific (and
"Hairspray"'s is even better!).

If you liked "Cry-Baby", I recommend "Hairspray" (not quite so silly, just
as sweet.) and "But I'm A Cheerleader," which is definitely
Waters-inspired,
from its use of pink to its incredibly true emotions within very silly
situations.

If you didn't like Cry-Baby, how sad. You obviously missed
something.