Cry-Baby

1990
PG-13
1h 25m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

66K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,940

221

Johnny Depp and Amy Locane in Cry-Baby (1990)

Comedy Musical

In 1950s Baltimore, a bad boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.In 1950s Baltimore, a bad boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.In 1950s Baltimore, a bad boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

66K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,940

221

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
To find a young actor for the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, director John Waters bought thirty dollars worth of teen magazines, all of which showed Johnny Depp of 21 Jump Street (1987) on the cover. Depp thought the script was funny and strange, and took the offbeat role to avoid being typecast as a television teen idol.

Goofs
The tattooed teardrop on Cry-Baby's face at the end of the movie appears and disappears.

Quotes
Cry-Baby: That's right, Allison. My father was the "Alphabet Bomber." He may have been crazy, but he was my pop. Only one I ever had.
Allison: God. I heard about the Alphabet Bomber. Bombs exploding in the... in the airport and barber shop...
Cry-Baby: That's right. All in alphabetical order. Car wash... drug store... I used to lay in my crib and hear him scream in his sleep..."A,B,C,D,E,F,G... BOOM! BOOM!"
Allison: But your mom...
Cry-Baby: My mother tried to stop him. She couldn't even spell, for Christ's sake, but they fried her too.

Crazy credits
The film begins with an old-fashioned 50's style Universal logo. It's also accompanied by 50's doo-wop music. A stage curtain opens up the movie.

Alternate versions
The USA cable network version has a few extra scenes, including two extra songs, "Chicken" and "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane":
Hatchetface's parents selling cigarettes by the school
Toe-Joe's does a "work-with-me" spiel instead of thanking his "Nudie Cutie"
an added act of a flexible little girl in the RSVP charm school talent show
extra footage of Hatchtface chasing Snaredrum and Susie Q around Ramona's front lawn
Lenora's "gunboats" are now "goldmines"
The third verse of Allison's song, "Teenage Prayer," is included
Extra footage of Cry-Baby driving his motorcycle to the charm school, a cop chasing him and an air raid drill that interupts Allison's act
Cry-Baby combs his hair instead of adjusting his crotch when he gets off of his motorcycle;
"Lay That Pistol Down" dance number is included
Cry-Baby arrives during "So Young" instead of before the song beginning, as in video version
In the movie, Hatchetface says, "Ain't ya got tits? Stick 'em out for God's sake!" In the USA Network version, she says, "Ain't ya got a figure? Show it!"
There is a longer scene with Wanda, her parents, and Inga, the Swedish exchange student
The showdown is at Turkey Point instead of at the press conference in front of the prison

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: I Love You to Death/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Cry-Baby/The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover/Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)

Soundtracks
King Cry Baby
Written by Doc Pomus and Dave Alvin
Performed by James Intveld
Additional vocals by Rachel Sweet
Produced by Dave Alvin

User reviews191

Review

Featured review

Something Wonderful

There's really nothing wrong with this film. It's funny, it's fun, and it's got a cameo of Willem Dafoe. With Johnny Depp as the star, what else could you want? Apart from being a satire, it's an entertaining and hysterical, relatable satire. It takes a lot of skill to take a concept that could so easily teeter from funny to ridiculous, and while certain parts of the film seem to be heading towards that thin barrier, they always save face at the last minute. The movie doesn't just ride on Johnny Depp's talent, either. Every member of the cast displays a genuine understanding of the somewhat SNL-esque humour required to make everything work. I've yet to meet someone face to face that has not seen this movie and truly enjoyed it for what it is: something wonderful.