Polyester
1981
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
Blessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a parasitic mother, and a pair of delinquent children, the long-suffering Francine Fishpaw turns to the bottle as her life falls apart -- until deliverance appears in the form of a hunk named Todd Tomorrow. Originally screened with "Odorama" scratch and sniff cards so the audience could (at their own risk) smell along with the film.
Polyester (1981) is a 1h 26min comedy feature film by John Waters. Blessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a parasitic mother, and a pai...
Key facts
Cast
Stiv Bators, Rick Breitenfeld, Divine, David Samson, Mary Garlington, Tab Hunter, Ken King, Edith Massey
Original language
Mandarin
First release
May 29, 1981 (United States)
Setting
Baltimore
Filming locations
Baltimore
Crew
Screenplay
John Waters
Producer
John Waters, Michael White
Cinematography
David Insley
Editing
Charles Roggero
Music
Michael Kamen, Chris Stein
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2026 - Features
- The Rio Grind Film Festival 2026
- Tromsø International Film Festival 2023 generic
- Locarno International Film Festival 2019 generic
- Edinburgh International Film Festival 2011 generic
- Deauville Film Festival 1981 generic
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | May 29, 1981 |
| Theatrical | France | October 7, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | October 16, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | November 5, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Germany | December 11, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Finland | December 18, 1981 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | December 23, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Australia | February 25, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | May 2, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Spain | May 3, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Iceland | September 11, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Japan | November 1, 1986 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | September 20, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | April 21, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) |
Full credits
| Director | John Waters |
| Cast | Stiv Bators, Rick Breitenfeld, Divine, David Samson (Elmer Fishpaw), Mary Garlington, Tab Hunter, Ken King, Edith Massey, David Samsom, Hans Kramm (Heintz), Mink Stole, Michael Watson, Joni Ruth White, Derek Neal (Pimp), Jean Hill (Gospel Bus Hijacker), Jim Hill (Picket Reporter), John Brothers (TV News Announcer), Mary Vivian Pearce (Nun A), Sharon Niesp (Nun B), Cookie Mueller (Betty Lalinski), Marina Melin (Supermarket Victim), Susan Lowe (Mall Victim), Tom Diventi (Bo-Bo's Friend), George Hulse (School Principal), Tony Parkham (Teenage Witness), Paul Holland (Pizza Man Lover), Alberto Panella (Pizza Man 2), Frank Tamburo (Pizza Man 3), Nancy Morgan (Alcoholic Leader), Keats Smith (Boutique Saleslady), Gordon Kamka (Detective A), David Klein (Detective B), George Stover (Press A), Steve Yeager (Press B), Marv Egoff (Press C), John De La Vega (Press D), Chuck Yeaton (Hospital Reporter), George Udell (Jewish Man), Mrs. Horner (Oriential Woman), Katie Casey (Nurse), Gail Kondylas (Pregnant Girl), Judith Klein (Woman Clipping Nails), Alan Hauser (Deb Announcer), Garey Lambert (Abortion Picketer), Lynda Lambert (Abortion Picketer), Dorothy Braundy (Abortion Picketer), George Figgs (Abortion Picketer), Leo Braudy (Abortion Picketer), Pat Figgs (Abortion Picketer), Joan Insley (Abortion Picketer), Sam Insley (Abortion Picketer), Brook Yeaton (Porno Picketer), Kitty Samson (Porno Picketer), Jonah Klein (Porno Picketer), Stuart Rome (Porno Picketer), Paula Rome (Porno Picketer), Steve Waters (Porno Picketer), Treva Barnes (Porno Picketer), Sharon Waters (Porno Picketer), Anne Mallory (Porno Picketer), John Allen (Porno Picketer), Jay Allen (Porno Picketer), Tommy Allen (Porno Picketer), Hilary Aidus (Porno Picketer), Joan Erbe (Porno Picketer), Jay Bennett (Bus Passenger (uncredited)), Rocky Collins (Bus Passenger (uncredited)), Denny Dormody (Man Leaving Charles Theatre (uncredited)), Bernard Jay (Doorman at the Edmondson (uncredited)), Karl Otter (TV Reporter at Movie Theatre (uncredited)), Charles Roggero (Bus Passenger (uncredited)), Marla Aaron Wapner (Pregnant Teen (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | John Waters |
| Producer | John Waters, Michael White |
| Executive producer | Robert Shaye |
| Cinematography | David Insley |
| Editing | Charles Roggero |
| Music | Michael Kamen, Chris Stein |
| Production design | Vincent Peranio |
| Costumes | Van Smith |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
