Cry-Baby is a 1990 American teen musical film written and directed by John Waters. It stars Johnny Depp as 1950s teen rebel "Cry-Baby" Wade Walker, and also features a large ensemble cast that includes Amy Locane, Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, Ricki Lake, Kim McGuire, David Nelson, Susan Tyrrell, and Patty Hearst. The film did not achieve high audience numbers in its initial release, but has subsequently become a cult classic and spawned a Broadway musical of the same name which was nominated for four Tony Awards.

The film is a parody of teen musicals (particularly Grease) and centers on a group of delinquents that refer to themselves as "drapes" and their interaction with the rest of the town and its other subculture, the "squares", in 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. "Cry-Baby" Walker, a drape, and Allison, a square, create upheaval and turmoil in their little town of Baltimore by breaking the subculture taboos and falling in love. The film shows what the young couple have to overcome to be together and how their actions affect the rest of the town.

Part of the film takes place at the now-closed Enchanted Forest amusement park in Ellicott City, Maryland. Others take place in the historic town of Sykesville, Maryland.

Plot [link]

In 1954 Baltimore, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is the leader of a gang of "Drapes", which includes his teenage mom sister Pepper, facially disfigured Mona "Hatchet Face" Malnorowski, wild and free-spirited Wanda Woodward, and Milton Hackett, the nervous son of overzealous religious activists. His ability to shed a single tear drives all the girls wild. One day after school, he is approached by Allison Vernon-Williams, a pretty girl tired of being a "square", and the two fall in love. That same day, Cry-Baby approaches the "square" part of town to a talent show ("Sh-Boom", "A Teenage Prayer") at the recreation center where Allison's grandmother hosts events, and introduces himself to her, who is skeptical of his motives. Cry-Baby invites Allison to a party at Turkey Point, a local hangout spot for the drapes.

Despite her grandmother's skepticism, Allison accompanies Cry-Baby to Turkey Point and sings with the drapes ("King Cry-Baby"). As Cry-Baby and Allison tell each other about their orphan lives (Cry-Baby's father was sent to the electric chair after being the "Alphabet Bomber" - a killer who bombed places in alphabetical order airport, barber shop; and Allison's parents, who take separate planes so Allison won't be alone, die when both their planes crash), Allison's jealous square boyfriend, Baldwin, starts a riot. Cry-Baby is blamed for the fight and sent to a penitentiary, outraging all his friends and even Allison's grandmother, who is impressed by Cry-Baby's posture, manners, and musical talent.

As Lenora Frigid, a girl with a crush on Cry-Baby but constantly rejected by him, claims to be pregnant with his child, Allison feels betrayed and returns to Baldwin and the squares, though her grandmother advises her against rushing into a decision. Meanwhile, in the penitentiary, Cry-Baby gets a teardrop tattoo. He tells the tattoo artist, fellow drape Dupree (Robert Tyree): "I've been hurt all my life, but real tears wash away. This one's for Allison, and I want it to last forever!".

Eventually, Allison is persuaded by the newly-established alliance between the Drapes and her grandmother to stand by Cry-Baby and join the campaign for his release ("Please, Mr. Jailer"). Cry-Baby is released but immediately insulted by Baldwin who, after revealing that his grandfather is the one who electrocuted Cry-Baby's father, challenges him to a chicken race. Cry-Baby wins, as Baldwin chickens out, and is reunited with Allison.

The film ends with all watching the chicken race crying a single tear, all except for Allison and Cry-Baby, who has finally let go of the past, enabling him to cry from both eyes.

Cast [link]

• Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
  • James Intveld as Cry-Baby's singing voice
• Amy Locane as Allison Vernon-Williams
  • Rachel Sweet as Allison's singing voice
• Polly Bergen as Mrs. Vernon-Williams
• Susan Tyrrell as Ramona Rickettes
• Iggy Pop as Belvedere Rickettes
• Ricki Lake as Pepper Walker
• Traci Lords as Wanda Woodward
• Kim McGuire as Mona Malnorowski/Hatchet-Face
• Darren E. Burrows as Milton Hackett
• Kim Webb as Lenora Frigid
• Stephen Mailer as Baldwin
• Jonathan Benya and Jessica Raskin as Snare-Drum and Susie Q, Pepper's son and daughter
• Troy Donahue and Mink Stole as Mr. and Mrs. Malnorowski, Hatchet-Face's parents, who sell cigarettes to high school students
• Joe Dallesandro and Joey Heatherton as Mr. and Mrs. Hackett, Milton's overzealous, religious parents
• Robert Marbury as Pepper's angelic boyfriend
• David Nelson and Patricia Hearst as Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, Wanda's happy-go-lucky parents who remain completely oblivious to their daughter's activities
• Robert Tyree as Dupree, a faithful Drape who joins Cry-Baby in the slammer
• Robert Walsh as Judge, the judge who sentences Cry-Baby to the reformatory; he has a crush on Mrs. Vernon-Williams
• Willem Dafoe as Hateful guard

Musical numbers [link]

1. "Sh-Boom" - Baldwin, the Whiffles
2. "A Teenage Prayer" - Allison
3. "King Cry-Baby" - Cry-Baby, Allison, Hatchet-Face, Milton, Pepper, Wanda
4. "Teardrops Are Falling" - Cry-Baby, Prisoners
5. "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" (Director's cut) - Baldwin, the Whiffles
6. "Doin' Time for Bein' Young" - Cry-Baby, Prisoners
7. "Mr. Sandman" - Baldwin, the Whiffles
8. "Please, Mr. Jailer" - Allison, Cry-Baby, Company
9. "High School Hellcats" - Cry-Baby, Allison, Company
10. "Chicken" (deleted scene) - Baldwin, the Whiffles

Production [link]

To find a young actor for the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, director Waters bought $30 worth of teen magazines, all of which showed Johnny Depp of 21 Jump Street on the cover. Depp thought the script was funny and strange, and took the offbeat role to avoid being typecast as a TV teen idol.

The singing parts of Baldwin and the Whiffles were performed by Andrew Gold, Gerry Beckley of the group America, and Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles.

Release [link]

The film was screened out of competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.^[4]

Critical reception [link]

The film currently holds a 76% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "John Waters' musical ode to the teen rebel genre is infectious and gleefully camp, providing star Johnny Depp with the perfect vehicle in which to lampoon his pin-up image."^[5] Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars.^[6]

Box office [link]

Cry-Baby opened on April 6, 1990 in 1,229 North American cinemas — an unprecedented number for a John Waters film. In its opening weekend, it grossed a soft $3,004,905 ($2,445 per screen) and grossed $8,266,343 by the end of its theatrical run^[3], making it a box office flop from its $12 million budget.^[2]

Alternate versions [link]

Director's cut

The film, when released on DVD in 2005, has a director's cut, adding an additional 6 minutes (91 minutes) to its original 85-minute release. The director's cut adds the following:

• The song "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane"
• The third verse of "A Teenage Prayer"
• A scene where Hatchet Face's parents are selling cigarettes to the high school students
• Extra footage of Cry-Baby driving his motorcycle to the charm school, a cop pursuing him, and an air raid drill that interrupts Allison's act
• An extended take of Wanda's parents questioning the meaning of "the F-word"
• Extended footage of Hatchet Face chasing Susie Q and Snare-Drum around the yard
• A scene with a child contortionist at the talent show

Television airings

When shown on the USA Network, the airings include a few additional scenes not in the director's cut:

• Toe-Joe's does a "work-with-me" spiel instead of thanking his "Nudie Cutie"
• The "Pistol Packin' Mama" (recording by The Hurricanes) dance number
• The deleted musical number "Chicken" - can be seen in the deleted scenes section of the Director's Cut DVD
• Cry-Baby arrives during "So Young" instead of before the song beginning, as in video version

Musical adaptation [link]

Cry-Baby is the second of Waters' films to be adapted for the stage as a musical comedy (following Hairspray). It was produced at the La Jolla Playhouse (California) as part of their 2007 season, as well as shadow-cast at the Nuart Theatre by Sins O' the Flesh and at Danbarry Cinemas by The Denton Affair.

The show opened at the Marquis Theatre on March 15, 2008. The show was a critical failure (with many critics comparing it unfavorably to Hairspray) and low tickets sales led the show to close on June 22, 2008 after 45 previews and 68 regular performances.

References [link]

External links [link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Cry-Baby

• Official website
• Cry-Baby at the Internet Movie Database
• Cry-Baby at AllRovi
• Cry-Baby at Box Office Mojo
• Cry-Baby at Rotten Tomatoes