Original subtitles

WATERS: Welcome to Baltimore, Maryland...

...onetime home of Spiro Agnew.

A city where people have to have a good sense of humor.

My name is John Waters. I make movies.

MAN 1: Rolling. MAN 2: Action.

ANNOUNCER: The always unpredictable and outspoken writer-director John Waters...

...on location with his latest film from New Line Cinema, Hairspray...

...an offbeat look at kids, hairstyles, music...

...and the moods of 1962 Baltimore.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

WATERS: The storyline is about a generic TV show in my mind...

...that was like many of the dance shows they still have on television and had then...

...in which local kids in each city being on the show every day and becoming celebrities.

I find that interesting, what it must have been like to be on television...

...six days a week and be that famous locally in your high school and stuff.

I know that it brought a lot of problems. You were either revered or beat up.

I think that's a wonderful way to go through life.

Now come on. A one, two, a one, two, three, pony.

Mash potatoes.

Faster.

HARRY: My family is Franklin, my husband, played by Sonny Bono.

And my daughter Amber, played by Colleen Fitzpatrick...

...is a star on the Corny Collins teenage dance show.

And this is the era of the big hairdo.

You know, the big cheesed-up beehives...

...and waves and whatever else they're called.

And Velma is very taken with herself.

She represents the evil side of their society.

It's “Madison Time."

I can do that dance.

[RAY BRYANT COMBO'S “THE MADISON TIME“ PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Now, when I say, "Hit it" I want you to go two up and two back

When people think of the '60s, they think of the Beatles, miniskirts, hippies.

This is before that. None of that had happened yet.

LAKE: I feel right in period. You know, you are in 1962 in this film.

My character is-- She is a lot like me, she really is.

But she has much more spunk and she's very daring.

And I real-- I love her. I mean, she's adorable.

She gets to play sexy and voluptuous, while still being cute and virginal...

...and you know, like a little child. It's really a lot of fun to play her.

[SINGING ON TV] Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

There, there. Look.

It's Tracy.

Oh, my God. She's all peroxided up.

STILLER: Well, Wilbur is married to Divine.

After that, it's a little redundant to even say what kind of a guy Wilbur is.

I own a joke shop.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnblad, your daughter's a star.

See, most people think that...

...owning a joke shop is all drudgery.

Opening-- Unwrapping dribble glasses...

...checking doggy doo inventory, things of that nature.

But I love my work...

...so what can I tell you?

That's where the story goes. From there on in, it's up, up, up.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

DIVINE: Well, Edna Turnblad, the character that I play, which is a dippy housewife--

She's a good person. She's a good wife, a good mother.

Those are her main concerns in life. And to keep a clean house.

Oh, God. He's violated the oath of the friendship ring.

[GRUNTING]

[SOBBING]

Don't cry, honey.

BONO: I thought it was a very refreshing idea...

...in that it took the early part of the '60s...

...before the hippie era. I loved all the music in it. I loved the theme.

And in an odd sort of way, I think ifs a very sweet movie.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

BROWN: I am very well aware of what went on in this period, you know.

In that particular year, I had a hit record called “Lucky Lips."

Everything is a little exaggerated, the hairdos, the costumes...

...the language. My character, as I said...

...is totally the opposite kind of a personality...

.-.that I am as Ruth Brown.

[SINGING] No, no

No, no

I, I keep telling you

I, I keep telling you

I, I keep telling you

WATERS: The music is basically my record collection. My favorite records, you know?

[SINGING] I moved your picture

From my wall

A lot of people may not have even ever heard of some of these songs.

And I replaced them

Both large and small

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

WATERS: I think it's great music. I don't think it's oldies but goodies...

...that you're sick of the second time around.

[ROCK MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING]

[SINGING OVER SPEAKERS] Get yourself a limbo girl

Wilbur, it's the times.

They're a-changing.

Somethings blowing in the wind.

Fetch me my diet pills, would you, hon?

Drugs?

Locoweed.

When I'm high, I am Odetta.

Let's get naked and smoke.

Cool.

Don't breathe it in. You'll be addicted.

Later, sister, later. Much later.

- Amber, we're going home now. -Amber, we're going home now.

N0, Mommy, no!

I don't wanna count on my words and the actors to make you laugh...

...l want the clothes to make you laugh, I want the hair, I want the sets...

...l want everything to make-- I want the frame jam-packed with gags.

I don't know about you, but I feel like dancing.

[JERRY DALLMAN AND THE KNIGHTCAPS' "THE BUG" PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Yeah!