Desperate Living
Desperate Living is a 1977 American black comedy film directed, produced, and written by John Waters. The film stars Liz Renay, Mink Stole, Edith Massey, Susan Lowe, Mary Vivian Pearce, and Jean Hill.
| Desperate Living | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | John Waters |
| Written by | John Waters |
| Produced by | John Waters |
| Starring | Liz Renay Mink Stole Edith Massey Susan Lowe Mary Vivian Pearce Jean Hill |
| Cinematography | John Waters |
| Edited by | Charles Roggero |
| Music by | Chris Lobingier Allen Yanus |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date | May 27, 1977 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $65,000 |
It is the third installment of what Waters has labelled the "Trash Trilogy", which also includes Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974), and the only one to not feature Divine. The film generated a cult following around Renay, who appeared in at least two dozen other films.
Following the murder of her husband, a suburban housewife and her lesbian lover agree to be exiled to a shantytown. The town is under the control of a tyrannical queen regnant, but the housewife soon becomes the queen's main assistant in terrorizing the town's population. Eventually, a revolt kills both the queen and her assistant.