Hairspray (2007)
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A spirited teenager in 1962 Baltimore fights against racial segregation while pursuing stardom on a local dance show.
The story
Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film follows "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local television dance show. While trying to make it as a performer, she finds herself in a position to rally against racial segregation. The story begins as Tracy and her best friend Penny watch 'The Corny Collins Show' and navigate the challenges of a segregated television landscape. When an opening for a dancer becomes available, Tracy's determination to perform and her burgeoning activism create a conflict with the show's management, who maintain a segregated status quo.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1962 Baltimore, 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are fans of 'The Corny Collins Show.' When a dancer leaves, Tracy auditions and is selected by Corny despite the opposition of the station manager, Velma, who enforces a policy of only allowing African-American dancers to appear on 'Negro Day.' Tracy's success threatens the status of Velma's daughter, Amber, and her relationship with Amber's boyfriend, Link. Amidst the tension, Tracy befriends Seaweed, the son of local DJ 'Motormouth' Maybelle Stubbs. As the 'Miss Teenage Hairspray' pageant approaches, Tracy's presence and her advocacy for integration cause a stir. After a series of events including a confrontation between the mothers of Tracy and Amber, and a planned march for integration, the plot culminates at the pageant. Despite Velma's attempts to rig the results and keep the show segregated, the truth is revealed, the pageant is integrated, and Tracy and Link finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Adam Shankman
- Writers
- Leslie Dixon · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- John Travolta · Edna Turnblad; Michelle Pfeiffer · Velma Von Tussle; Christopher Walken · Wilbur Turnblad; Amanda Bynes · Penny Lou Pingleton; James Marsden · Corny Collins; Queen Latifah · Motormouth Maybelle Stubbs; Brittany Snow · Amber Von Tussle; Zac Efron · Link Larkin; Elijah Kelley · Seaweed J. Stubbs; Allison Janney · Prudence "Prudy" Pingleton; Nikki Blonsky · Tracy Turnblad
- Genres
- musical; romantic comedy
- Themes
- racial integration; body positivity; overcoming prejudice
- Tone and mood
- energetic; wholly entertaining; musical romp
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; romance; comedy; period piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2002 stage musical by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on John Waters's 1988 film
- Franchise connections
- Hairspray
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews upon release, being described as an energetic and entertaining musical romp with a lot of heart. It was a commercial success, breaking records for musical film openings and becoming one of the highest-grossing musical adaptations.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Awards · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot primarily in Toronto because the city was better equipped with the sound stages necessary to film a musical.; The film's script was based on the stage musical rather than the 1988 film, leading to several changes in character and plot.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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