History Film / DesperatelySeekingSusan

* TheEighties: Susan in particular rocks an extremely Eighties-tastic wardrobe. Because she wears Susan's clothes for a big part of the movie, Roberta by extension does this as well.

* {{Housewife}}: Roberta is a bored steryotipical housewife of TheEighties who's trapped in a unhappy marriage and longs for more adventure and drama in her life.

* ScreenToStageAdaptation: The film was developed into a stage musical that premiered at London's Novello Theatre on November 15, 2007. It features music and lyrics by Music/{{Blondie}} and Deborah Harry, including a new song written especially for the show. The production was directed by Angus Jackson, with book and concept by Peter Michael Marino and sets and costumes by Tim Hatley. Produced by Susan Gallin, Ron Kastner, Mark Rubinstein and Old Vic productions, the musical starred Emma Williams as Susan, Kelly Price as Roberta, and Steven Houghton as Alex. Marino presented his solo comedy ''Desperately Seeking the Exit'', which is based on his experiences, at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

* EstablishingCharacterMusic: Roberta is introduced to "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" by Music/BettyEverett (or "One Fine Day" by Music/TheChiffons outside the US) and Susan is introduced to "Urgent" by Music/{{Foreigner}}.

''Desperately Seeking Susan'' is a 1985 comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman, starring Creator/RosannaArquette and Music/{{Madonna}}.

It concerns Roberta (Arquette), a bored housewife from New Jersey who follows the saga of Susan (Madonna) and Jim (Creator/RobertJoy), two lovers who contact each other through the personal ads. Through a series of complicated events, Roberta is mistaken for Susan, who is being hunted by a criminal who wants some earrings she stole. When Roberta hits her head she gets amnesia, and when a friend of Jim named Dez (Creator/AidanQuinn) mistakes her for Susan, Roberta goes along with it. And that's just the beginning of the story.....

--> '''[[Creator/MarkBlum Gary]]:''' What are you wearing?
--> '''Roberta:''' A jacket. It used to belong to Music/JimiHendrix.
--> '''Gary:''' You bought a used jacket? What are we, poor?

* KitschyLocalCommercial: Gary's Oasis.

* TheEighties: Susan in particular rocks an extremely Eighties-tastic wardrobe. Because she wears Susan's clothes for a big part of the movie, Roberta by extension does this as well.

* CelebrityParadox: At least one scene features Susan dancing to a Madonna song.

* MacGuffin: The Egyptian earrings Madonna steals

* EstablishingCharacterMusic: Roberta is introduced to "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" by Music/BettyEverett (or"One Fine Day" by Music/TheChiffons outside the US) and Susan is introduced to "Urgent" by Music/{{Foreigner}}.

* AmnesiaDanger
* CelebrityParadox: At least one scene features Susan dancing to a Madonna song. See also ActorAllusion in Trivia.

* JerkAss: Although Susan is fairly affable and doesn't seem to be deliberately malicious, her callous behavior and constant mooching off or taking advantage of everyone she meets puts her more in this trope than JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
* KitschyLocalCommercial: Gary's Oasis.

* NiceGuy: Dez

* CatchPhrase: Susan's "Good going, stranger!"

It concerns Roberta (Arquette), a bored housewife from New Jersey who follows the saga of Susan (Madonna) and Jim (Robert Joy), two lovers who contact each other through the personal ads. Through a series of complicated events, Roberta is mistaken for Susan, who is being hunted by a criminal who wants some earrings she stole. When Roberta hits her head she gets amnesia, and when a friend of Jim named Dez (Aidan Quinn) mistakes her for Susan, Roberta goes along with it. And that's just the beginning of the story.....

* ThomasNewman: One of his earliest film scores, and a long way from the Oscar bait he's known for nowadays.

''Desperately Seeking Susan'' is a 1985 comedy-drama film starring Creator/RosannaArquette and Music/{{Madonna}}. It concerns Roberta (Arquette), a bored housewife from New Jersey who follows the saga of Susan (Madonna) and Jim (Robert Joy), two lovers who contact each other through the personal ads. Through a series of complicated events, Roberta is mistaken for Susan, who is being hunted by a criminal who wants some earrings she stole. When Roberta hits her head she gets amnesia, and when a friend of Jim named Dez (Aidan Quinn) mistakes her for Susan, Roberta goes along with it. And that's just the beginning of the story.....

* BillingDisplacement: Subverted. In the movie proper Rosanna Arquette gets top billing and while Madonna has second billing and a "AndStarring" credit at the beginning. However, most people refer to it as a Madonna film to the point that Arquette won a Supporting Actress BAFTA for the lead role of Roberta.

* TheEighties: Susan in particular rocks an extremely Eighties-tastic wardrobe. Because she wears Susan's clothes for a big part of the movie, Roberta by extension does this as well.

* ActorAllusion[=/=]CelebrityParadox: At least one scene features Susan dancing to a Madonna song.
* BillingDisplacement: Averted with the film itself, but Creator/RosannaArquette won a Best ''Supporting'' Actress [=BAFTA=] for playing Roberta.

This film provides examples of:

* KitschyLocalCommerical: Gary's Oasis.

''Desperately Seeking Susan'' is a 1985 comedy-drama film starring RosannaArquette and Music/{{Madonna}}. It concerns Roberta (Arquette), a bored housewife from New Jersey who follows the saga of Susan (Madonna) and Jim (Robert Joy), two lovers who contact each other through the personal ads. Through a series of complicated events, Roberta is mistaken for Susan, who is being hunted by a criminal who wants some earrings she stole. When Roberta hits her head she gets amnesia, and when a friend of Jim named Dez (Aidan Quinn) mistakes her for Susan, Roberta goes along with it. And that's just the beginning of the story.....

* BillingDisplacement: Averted with the film itself, but RosannaArquette won a Best ''Supporting'' Actress [=BAFTA=] for playing Roberta.