Forget what you think you know.
POV: You just discovered the original Hairspray (1988) and realized the musical left out the funniest parts 🕺💣 “The nicest kids in town… with the biggest hair.” John Waters’ secret weapon? He made a feel-good movie that’s still subversive as hell. #hairspray1988 #johnwaters #rickilake #divine #criterion Hairspray -1988-
🎬 Before the singing, before the Broadway glitz, there was Hairspray — John Waters’ mainstream masterpiece that somehow kept all his weird, wonderful teeth. Ricki Lake. Divine. Debbie Harry. A teenage crusade against segregation… with hairspray, bad dancing, and the best beatnik bit ever. You haven’t really danced the Madison until you’ve done it in Baltimore. #Hairspray1988 #JohnWaters #Divine #RickiLake Option 2: Longer / Appreciative (Facebook / Reddit / Letterboxd caption) Forget what you think you know
🎥 Streaming on: Max / Criterion / rent on Prime Debbie Harry
The musical is fun. The original is revolutionary .
And yet… it’s still pure Waters. Divine plays both a vicious stage mom AND a racist TV producer. Debbie Harry is a crazed gym teacher. Sonny Bono explodes. And the message? Integration through dance — with a Motown beat.