Two Words, One Answer.
polyester
 John Waters Collection #2: Polyester/ Desperate Living $29.98 This two DVD set of John Waters films gives us Polyester coupled with Desperate Living. The packaging is good and the artwork reflects a good deal of thought as to how to attract viewers with a silly spoof of family and love stories in Polyester and a rather "different" (ahem) movie that is salvaged by great acting in Desperate Living. In Polyester, we first watch a brief introduction by a "scientist." He tells us that we're about to watch a movie in odorama; and he shows moviegoers how to scratch and sniff the odorama card when the corresponding numbers light up in the corner of the screen. (Yes, you DO get an odorama card.) We then see the Fishpaw household. Francine (played by Divine) tries hard to keep her family together. That ain't easy: Francine's husband Elmer (David Samson) is fooling around with his secretary (Mink Stole); her pregnant and unwed teenage daughter is running around with junkies (look for Stiv Bators as Bo-Bo Belsinger); and her son loves women's feet so much that he routinely stomps on them and winds up in jail! The pressure on Francine is worsened by her cruel mother. Francine's only friend is her former, mildly mentally handicapped maid Cuddles (Edith Massey) who is suddenly rich now that she's inherited a huge sum of money. Francine's world crumbles almost all together when her husband Elmer leaves her; and that's when the action speeds up even more! Francine meets Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), a handsome man who's clearly interested in her. Can this be the start of a new life for Francine? Of course, the plot can go in many different directions. Francine eventually becomes alcoholic because of her pain--will she combat her drinking problem? How far can Cuddles go to help Francine? Will Elmer really leave Francine for good? Will Francine's daughter go off with Bo-Bo? What about Francine's son? Will Todd turn out to be the right man after all for Francine? Watch the movie and find out! The cinematography is good when the camera is filming an aerial view of the Baltimore suburb where The Fishpaws live; and the choreography works well in crowd scenes like Cuddle's debutante party. In addition, the DVD contains a director's commentary. As for Desperate Living, the action starts in the Gravel household. Peggy Gravel has just returned from a psychiatric hospital and her husband seems to think it's going to be all right even though she's still crazy like a fox! Bosley Gravel (George Stover), Peggy's husband, wants to give her a medication injection. However, when Peggy fantasizes that Bosley is trying to kill her, their very obese maid Grizelda Brown (Jean Hill) accidentally kills Bosley by sitting on him. They know they're in hot water for having murdered Bosley--ands Peggy and Grizelda flee in Peggy's car. After an unusual (ahem) scene in which a cop lets them get away, they know that they can only go to Mortville where murderesses are tolerated without being punished under the law. And what a dump Mortville is! Full of trash, poor people and ugly shanties, Peggy and Grizelda don't like it. They stay, however, to avoid the law. They soon rent a room from Mole McHenry (Susan Lowe) and her female lover Muffy St. Jacques (Liz Renay). They also discover that Mortville suffers under the reign of wicked Queen Carlotta (Edith Massey), who delights in torturing people and making them walk backwards one day or be murdered on the spot. Does Mortville work out for Peggy and Grizelda? Will Muffy or Mole make a pass at either Peggy or Grizelda? Will Queen Carlotta remain unchallenged? Watch the movie and find out! The DVD has a commentary by John Waters; but that's really it for the DVD extras. Desperate Living isn't my kind of flick--the "sets" look like they were taken from a city dump-and they probably were! The acting redeems the movie to some degree. John Waters fans will rejoice at this two DVD set. Desperate Living lets you see what John Waters did before he attempted to go mainstream; and Polyester is the first film John Waters directed when he did begin to go mainstream. I highly recommend this for fans of movies directed by John Waters; and people who like movies that are off the beaten path will love these two films as well. Five stars for Polyester + three stars for Desperate Living = four stars for this DVD set.  Chadwicks SHAPE BENEFITSTMShaping Pants (BLACK,12T) $39.99 Their smoothing abilities will amaze you! Imported.With tummy-control, short-like shaper made to smooth from the waist to the thighs Added stretch for all-day comfortPolyester/rayon/spandex; Machine wash Tall 35" inseam  Chadwicks Velour Hoodie Set (VELVET PLUM,M) $44.99 Our best-selling hoodie set in soft velour is your ultimate weekend companion. Imported.Zip-front hoodie with front pockets and jersey rib trimRelaxed drawstring-waist pantsCotton/polyester velour; Machine washMisses: Hoodie 23 1/2' long, Pants 32' inseam |
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