Mondo Trasho

Seeing any film by John Waters is an "at-your-own-risk" movie experience -- the story of CINDERELLA is one of several fantasy sequences within the film with "foot" or "shoe" themes. The WILD SOUND takes some adjustment for persons used to lip-synched dialogues. The movie could have been edited down to 77 enjoyable minutes, but I think Mr. Waters was preoccupied with including as much shock/schlock into his footage that he possiby could. IT'S WORTH SEEING AT LEAST ONCE. It is curious that Mr. Waters never made a twisted 'JEAN HARLOW' bio story, considering that Mary Vivian Pearce was a startling look-a-like during her teen years. The film is in black & white, and the opening scenes are astonishing!

All of John Water's films have their quirks and their staying power and each one is truly a beautiful piece of art but nothing comes close to "Mondo Trasho", John's earlier trash epic. Not only does it have a faster pace than some of his other films but the "story" keeps on coming with more and mnore drug induced imagery. Divine, John Water's regular performer, delivers an hilarious over the top performance as a gum chewing trashy splendor, driving about looking for men until she is distracted by a nude hitcher and runs over an un-named fashion fanatic played by Mary Vivian Pearce. In the course of the next 24 hours, they go through a variety of different adventues, each one unique. This film boasts some great performances by the likes of Mink Stole, David Lochary, Divine and Mary Vivian Pearce. The film also features a great soundtrack, comprised of hundreds of John Water's favorite tunes. No good tune is left untouched in this trash epic. The film is definitely a more mild one than, say, "Pink Flamingos", meaning that this film doesn't have a lot of gross acts although it does have chickens being killed for real and toe sucking. This John Waters film is definitely one of his most unkown and one of his best.

John Waters' first offering doesn't intend to have any purpose, unlike his third effort Pink Flamingos, which sublimated the effect of shock and disgust to laughter. Multiple Maniacs, his dismal second film only offended with its objectionable religious references, but at least it incited some response from the viewers. Mondo Trasho seems like an empty void that generates absolutely no definite response. How should we, as the audiences react? Should we laugh at the characters' situation or turn away our faces in disgust? How the hell should we feel?

The plot is obsessed with Mary Vivian Pierce's feet, and begins rather interestingly with her character Bombshell getting her feet licked by a foot fetishist. Not to forget the opening sequence that highlights John Waters' thrill for animal cruelty. As Bombshell begins moaning and panting, she visualizes herself as Cinderella being rescued by her Prince Charming (played by the foot fetishist). The explicit Cinderella sequence is a nice allusion and Waters' could've progresses with an erotic romance angle which revolved around Bombshell's search for the foot fetishist. Rather, John Waters brings in his trademark lady Divine, who surprisingly looks feminine unlike her androgynous appearance in the later films. The bad chick is ogling at a nude hitchhiker when her car hits a lost Bombshell who is gravely injured. Divine helps her by visiting a discount house, stealing a gown from there, and then by entering a laundry, where she changes Bombshell's bloody clothes. Bombshell miraculously is still unconscious like those Shakespearean characters in Midsummer Night's Dream who manage to fall asleep in a jiffy, and the blood on her face disappears. There are sporadic appearances by Mother Mary and her what-can-I-say 'apprentice' who purge Divine of her sins. Also, a rather bizarre visit to the asylum where we find that foot fetishist again, but this time he murders a fellow inmate, and to a sadistic hospital which operates on patients with knives and saws.

The only surprising aspect of the film is Divine's good-hearted nature, since we have never seen Divine help someone at the risk of her own life. But everything else is inexplicable, even the Wizard of Oz inspired resolution. The camera is less shaky than in Multiple Maniacs and the sex is less raunchy. The choice of music, an assortment of rock and roll and classical, managed to hold my attention to the otherwise pointless sequences. Had the film worked on having a plot, it would've gained a better reputation today.

My Rating: I won't be rating this work since it doesn't even know what kind of a response it aims at from its audiences.

John Waters feature length film debut is a schlocky montage of crazy events following Mary Vivian Pearce and Divine as they travel throughout the gutters and alleyways of "Charm City" Baltimore. I can't do this film just by trying to describe the events that transpire. This film has to be seen to be believed. There's no dialog in this film, most of the soundtrack is a collage of 50's and 60's pop music, They're used as dialog and as a Foley track. I wonder if Mr. Waters received permission from the performers for use in this film?

Filmed on a shoe string budget and shot on 16mm uses a cast of friends, Waters hit the Midnight Movie/cult circuit big time. Only a sign of things to come.

Recommended, if you can find it.

Mondo Trasho (1969)

** (out of 4)

If you're looking for a deep plot then you're certainly not going to find it here. The film starts off with a weird man in a mask cutting up a live chicken. From here we meet a woman who goes out for a walk and is eventually stalked by a man who likes feet. From here we meet another young lady (Divine) who ends up killing a person and from this point on we just see how this messed up day goes.

John Waters' first feature has a wide range of reviews and different opinions. Some call it a trash masterpiece while many call it one of the worst films ever made. I think both of those opinions are a bit extreme because this is easily one of the director's less interesting films but at the same time it's impossible not to find parts of it interesting and entertaining.

I think the film will work best for fans of the director who want to see him at the start of his career. Obviously there are some shock moments here including the bit with the chicken but I think this film works as a curiosity because you can view it and see how the director would change over the next couple pictures. Of course, there are several people here that would appear in future films from the director so again you've got that to hold your attention as well.

MONDO TRASHO, for the most part, isn't all that funny and I personally didn't find it too shocking. There are some really long stretches in it where not much happens so one wishes that Waters had gone further and delivered more shocks. Still, if you're a fan of the director then it's worth watching.