An insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.An insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.An insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
- Lewis
- (as Larry Gilliard Jr.)
Michael Shannon
- Petie
- (as Mike Shannon)
Eric Barry
- Fidget
- (as Eric M. Barry)
Erika Auchterlonie
- Pam
- (as Erika Lynn Rupli)
Harry Dodge
- Dinah
- (as Harriet Dodge)
Roseanne Barr
- Rosanne
- (as Rosanne)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe tattoos on the cast and crew are as follows:
- Cecil - Otto Preminger - left forearm
- Cherish - Andy Warhol - thigh
- Lyle - Herschell Gordon Lewis - left breast
- Pam - Sam Peckinpah - left arm
- Chardonnay - Spike Lee - stomach
- Lewis - David Lynch - knuckles
- Fidget - William Castle - chest
- Raven - Kenneth Anger - chest
- Rodney - Almodovar (presumably Pedro Almodóvar) - right arm
- Petie - Fassbinder (presumably Rainer Werner Fassbinder) - left forearm
- Dyna - Sam Fuller (aka Samuel Fuller) - right forearm
- GoofsIn the chase scene with the Baltimore PD, the left front tire of the police cruiser is shot causing it to go flat and the cruiser to crash into a movie theater box office. As the cruiser slams into the box office, the tire has miraculously been re-inflated.
- Crazy creditsThe credits thank "Fred and Ginger" both insinuating Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the dance duo, and "Fred e Ginger" a movie by Federico Fellini, paying homage to the duo.
- Alternate versionsThere was a quick shot in earlier prints of the movie theater showing the director's cut of "Patch Adams", where we see the sign advertising the director's cut. This shot can still be seen on the intro to the DVD menu, and in one of the trailers.
- ConnectionsFeatured in SexTV: Pink or Blue?: The Science of Sex Selection/John Waters (2004)
- SoundtracksOpening Credit Theme
Written, Produced and Performed by Moby
Featuring samples from "Music for the Movies 1"
Written by Larry Hochman
Courtesy of V2 Records/ Mute Records/ Destiny Music Ltd.
Featured review
Many of you have probably never heard of this film, which stars Stephen Dorff as a rebel filmmaker who goes to some interesting extremes to get his movie made. The film is directed by noted underground director John Waters, and Waters tosses in scores of Hollywood in-jokes (check out the marquee during the opening credits!). The reason more people didn't see this in the theater is simply that it's so... so... different. It's highly unique, and therefore less likely to appeal to a mass audience.
But you do need to see it, really! Cecil B. Demented (Dorff) is the leader of a motley band of would-be film aficionados who kidnap a Hollywood actress (Melanie Griffith) at the premiere of her latest film. Demented's idea is to make a movie using guerrilla tactics, making the statement that studio films are Bad and independent films are Good. Waters' point is that the studio system is such that any movie coming out of it fits into a formula to make it more palatable to the masses - that is, that the movies you see in the multiplexes are dumbed down for your viewing pleasure.
Demented tries to achieve his vision by staging protests of a sort at movie houses, film screenings, speeches, and even a drive-in. His entourage includes a Satanist, a former porn star, and many other social and sexual deviants. There's hardly a taboo subject Waters doesn't cover here! And to be sure, the character of Demented himself never changes, which is in itself a welcome respite. Had this been a Hollywood film, you might have seen the nefarious filmmaker suddenly see the error of his ways in the final three minutes. I won't give anything away to you, folks, but rest assured that the characters remain true to themselves, except for Griffith's character. She changes, but it's a subtle, honest change.
There are surprises everywhere you turn, but let me warn you: this is absolutely not a film for everyone. There is plenty here to offend even the most open of minds. It is at once a unique, refreshing, and exciting film. It never even rests to catch its breath - it doesn't want the audience to fall back into its Hollywoodized lull.
Major kudos for screenwriting go to Waters and to his amazing cast. If you're into offbeat films, please watch this.
But you do need to see it, really! Cecil B. Demented (Dorff) is the leader of a motley band of would-be film aficionados who kidnap a Hollywood actress (Melanie Griffith) at the premiere of her latest film. Demented's idea is to make a movie using guerrilla tactics, making the statement that studio films are Bad and independent films are Good. Waters' point is that the studio system is such that any movie coming out of it fits into a formula to make it more palatable to the masses - that is, that the movies you see in the multiplexes are dumbed down for your viewing pleasure.
Demented tries to achieve his vision by staging protests of a sort at movie houses, film screenings, speeches, and even a drive-in. His entourage includes a Satanist, a former porn star, and many other social and sexual deviants. There's hardly a taboo subject Waters doesn't cover here! And to be sure, the character of Demented himself never changes, which is in itself a welcome respite. Had this been a Hollywood film, you might have seen the nefarious filmmaker suddenly see the error of his ways in the final three minutes. I won't give anything away to you, folks, but rest assured that the characters remain true to themselves, except for Griffith's character. She changes, but it's a subtle, honest change.
There are surprises everywhere you turn, but let me warn you: this is absolutely not a film for everyone. There is plenty here to offend even the most open of minds. It is at once a unique, refreshing, and exciting film. It never even rests to catch its breath - it doesn't want the audience to fall back into its Hollywoodized lull.
Major kudos for screenwriting go to Waters and to his amazing cast. If you're into offbeat films, please watch this.
- dfranzen70
- Feb 6, 2001
- Permalink
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,284,646
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $127,141
- Aug 13, 2000
- Gross worldwide
- $1,961,544
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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