Cry-Baby is a 1990 film directed by John Waters. It tells the classic story of Star-Crossed Lovers — "Square" Allison Vernon-Williams falls for Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, leader of the local "drapes" in their small Maryland town — and the upheaval their romance causes between the hillbilly drapes and the uptight squares. Did we mention it's a musical?
Adaptation Expansion: The stage musical transforms Cry-Baby's would-be girlfriend Lenora into a bona-fide Stalker with a Crush. It also claims that Cry-Baby's parents were sent to the electric chair for being suspected Communist spies and that Allison's grandmother was responsible for it happening. It also includes scenes of Wanda, Pepper and Hatchet-Face in a girl's reform school, while Cry-Baby and Dupree are in jail.
Conveniently an Orphan: Both Allison and Cry-Baby; her parents were killed in two different plane crashes, while his father was the Alphabet Bomber, and was executed in the electric chair, as well as his wife, when she tried to intervene on his behalf.
"Us orphans got special needs!"
Crowd Song: The Whiffles' cross-town performance of the bunny hop, "Please Mr. Jailer" and "High School Hellcats".
Freudian Excuse: Cry-Baby has to do one rotten thing every day to avenge his parents, both of whom died in the electric chair.
Generation Xerox: Cry-Baby's and Pepper's parents and grandparents could qualify for this. Milton's Straw Fundamentalist parents and Wanda's Stepford Smiler parents largely avert this.
Hey, It's That Guy!: Iggy Pop as Cry-Baby's step-grandfather and Willem Dafoe as a prison guard. And of course, Johnny Depp in the title role, along with the usual John Waters alumni, like Mink Stole and Ricki Lake.
Don't forget David Nelson (the oldest son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson) and Patty Hearst as Wanda's parents.
Kick the Dog: Many "square" characters do this to Cry-Baby and the other drapes, but only Baldwin seems to get real joy out of it.
Large Ham: Most of the cast, but especially Johnny Depp, particularly during his Freudian Excuse monologue.
Mad Bomber: Wade "Cry Baby" Walker's father was the "Alphabet Bomber", who bombed buildings in alphabetical order. He got the electric chair.
Make-Out Point: There's one at Turkey Point, where Allison learns to French-kiss. In the stage play, the set-up is used at the backdrop for the tender ballad "Girl, Can I Kiss You (With Tongue)."
The New Rock & Roll: The film's set in 1953, so it's not satanic yet, just trashy "race music".
Non-Singing Voice: James Intveld performed all the vocals for Johnny Depp, and Rachel Sweet did the same for Amy Locane.
Nothing But Hits: Largely averted, except with the country club's talent show performances of "Teenage Prayer" and "Sh-Boom".
Politically Correct History: Sort of: most of the squares are openly prejudiced against black people, but the drapes appear to have no problem with them.
Sad Times Montage: "Teardrops are Falling" includes Allison drinking a jar full of her own tears.
Seemingly Wholesome '50s Girl: Allison eventually develops into one of these. She remains more or less her sweet self, but now she's a delinquent's girlfriend, and more inclined to less conservative outfits.
Separated By The Wall: Allison and Cry-Baby gyrate on opposite sides of the glass barrier in "Please, Mr. Jailer".
Shout Out: Breaking Cry-Baby out of jail and Pepper's kids out of the orphanage pays tribute to The Benny Hill Show. Johnny Depp's performance also evokes a young Elvis Presley.
Singing Simlish: The stage musical's song "Baby Baby Baby Baby (Baby Baby)" parodies the scat-like lyrics in rockabilly music.
This Trope is [BLEEP]: Invoked in the original theatrical release, as Waters was only allowed one F-word so as to not compromise the PG-13 rating. Said scene was restored in the director's cut.
Mrs. Woodward: Your Honor, can we take Wanda the fuck home?
Troubled Production: During the shooting of the movie, the FBI visited the set to search for co-star Traci Lords, who was being investigated due to her porn past.
Window Love: "Please, Mr. Jailer", a song and dance number which the director says was inspired by peep shows and gloryholes.
Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Lenora pretends to be pregnant with Cry-Baby's child to split him and Allison up, and Baldwin does the same when harassing the drapes at Turkey Point: "They beat me and kicked me; all because I love you."
Cry-Baby is a 1990 film directed by John Waters. It tells the classic story of Star-Crossed Lovers — "Square" Allison Vernon-Williams falls for Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, leader of the local "drapes" in their small Maryland town — and the upheaval their romance causes between the hillbilly drapes and the uptight squares. Did we mention it's a musical?
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