Trash Trio: Pink Flamingos, Desperate Living and Flamingos Forever

by John Waters

Screenplays for Pink Flamingos and Desperate Living, and the unmade sequel Flamingos Forever.

Genres: Film, Fiction, Humor, Plays, Media Tie In

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, personality, visual artist and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films: Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. He is recognizable by his pencil-thin moustache.

Reviews

[Emily Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even funnier on paper, if you can believe it. John Waters movies are shocking, yes, but the text is straight-up brilliant. If you are a fan, read this. If you're not a fan, read this and get back to me.

[Bradley Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an incredibly funny and insightful introduction, Waters delivers three complete screenplays for his biggest fans to enjoy. Included in the collection are screenplays for the ultimate midnight movie “Pink Flamingos,” his underrated commercial bomb “Desperate Living,” and the unproduced sequel to “Pink Flamingos” entitled “Forever Flamingos.” Waters encourages audiences to act the films out for friends, recite along with the film, or simply read it and take in the written nuance. Included are also behind-the-scenes photos.

Released in 1972, “Pink Flamingos” stars the legendary Divine as her title of Filthiest Person in the World is challenged by a married couple who think they embody pure filth. “Desperate Living,” released in 1977, stars Mink Stole who is banished to live in a garbage city ruled by a vicious queen who wants to give rabies to all the lesbian citizens. And “Forever Flamingos,” the abandoned sequel to “Pink Flamingos,” sees Divine’s return to Baltimore after 15 years of living in bus station lavatories where her title of Filthiest Person in the World is challenged once more.

[J Rudden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was great to read the screenplays for Pink Flamingos and Desperate Living, I think those movies are absolutely fantastic pieces of satire. Found myself torn when it came to Flamingos Forever; I can't tell if I'm extremely happy or extremely annoyed that it was never made, the script isn't quite as sharp as the other two.
Sidenote: really interesting to see that Waters formats his scripts like plays rather than in conventional screenplay format.

[Karl Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Flamingos and Desperate Living require no introduction. Rereading Flamingos Forever today, I'm reminded that this could've been Waters's best film: it's right at the point where the gleeful and still undiluted outrageousness of his early works meets the technical mastery (and warmheartedness) of his later works. One of the greatest films never made!

[Jacob Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flamingos Forever!

[Anthony Holliday]

Not going to rate this one but will rate the movies on letterboxed

[Robert Thermopolis]

Downloaded this mostly so I could read the unfilmed PINK FLAMINGOS sequel but reading this reminded me of how great FEMALE TROUBLE is.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this! Pink Flamingos is one of my favorite movies and I already knew most of the lines but I couldn't resist anyway. I have never had the balls to sit through Desperate Living, but now that I've read the script, I just may have to do it! And...the unfilmed sequel to Pink Flamingos entitled Flamingos Forever...oh, how I wish that had been filmed! I laughed so hard...John Waters, you rule!!!!!!

[Sandy]

“Could you give us some of your political beliefs?”

“Kill everyone now. Condone first degree murder. Advocate cannibalism. Eat shit! Filth is my politics! FILTH IS MY LIFE!”

First two screenplays were the wildest and most perverted shit ever… I approve! It took me awhile to warm up to the last script, but it successfully won me over.

The filthiest writing alive; a mixture of horror and glee. For cinephiles with a dubious sense of humor. So repulsive. So unacceptable. So yuck. So good.

[Sophiaalmaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good to read as to gouge your eyes out to.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original screenplays for the legendary Pink Flamingos,Desperate Living and the never-made sequel to Pink Flamingos.For fans only.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the script for "Flamingos Forever", the sequel that never got made, is totally worth the price of this book!

[Carrie]

Look what Trish gave me for Christmas! Signed by Mr. Waters too! Sweet!

[Gunnar Hjalmarsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Waters er bestur!

[Hunter]

Hard to rank because it was such a dizzying read. Interesting, but a little bit too much for my personal taste. I like his later work a little better.