Cry Baby

PLOT

In 1954 Baltimore, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker leads a gang of "drapes", which includes his sister Pepper, a teenage mother; facially-disfigured Mona "Hatchet Face" Malnorowski; Wanda Woodward, whose post-World War II normal parents constantly embarrass her; and Milton Hackett, Hatchet Face's devoted boyfriend. Walker's ability to shed a single tear excites all the girls. One day after school, Allison Vernon-Williams, a beautiful girl tired of being a "square", approaches him, and the two fall in love. That same day, Cry-Baby interrupts a talent show at the charm school run by Allison's grandmother, and introduces himself to her, who doubts his motives. Cry-Baby invites Allison to a party at Turkey Point, a local hangout spot for the drapes.

Despite her grandmother's skepticism, Allison accompanies Cry-Baby to Turkey Point, where she is given a "drape" makeover by Hatchet Face, Pepper and Wanda, and sings a duet onstage with Cry-Baby. Later, Cry-Baby tells Allison that his father was sent to the electric chair for being the "Alphabet Bomber" – a killer who bombed places in alphabetical order ― along with his mother as an accomplice. Allison tells him that her parents took separate flights for safety, but both planes went down, orphaning her. While they are talking, Allison's jealous square boyfriend, Baldwin, ignites a riot. Cry-Baby is wrongfully blamed for the fight and sent to a penitentiary, outraging all his friends and even Allison's grandmother, who is impressed by Cry-Baby's clear love for Allison.

When Lenora Frigid, a girl with an unrequited crush on Cry-Baby, claims to be pregnant with his child, Allison feels betrayed and returns to Baldwin and the squares, though her grandmother warns her against rushing into a decision. Meanwhile, in the penitentiary, Cry-Baby gets a teardrop tattoo from fellow drape Dupree (Robert Tyree), telling him, "I've been hurt all my life, but real tears wash away. This one's for Allison, and I want it to last forever!"

Eventually, after performing with Baldwin and the Whiffles at a new theme park, Allison is persuaded by the newly established alliance between the Drapes and her grandmother to stand by Cry-Baby and join the campaign for his release. She goes to sing in front of the jail with the other drapes. Their performance persuades the judge to release Cry-Baby. Baldwin immediately insults him, revealing that his grandfather electrocuted Cry-Baby's father and that every Christmas, his family laughs at the retelling of the story. Cry-Baby challenges him to a chicken race. Cry-Baby wins, as Baldwin chickens out, and is reunited with Allison. During the race, Pepper gives birth to a baby in the backseat, and her boyfriend proposes by holding up a sign.

The film ends with all watching the chicken race crying a single tear, except for Allison and Cry-Baby, who has finally let go of the past, enabling him to cry from both eyes.

CAST

Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker

                  James Intveld as Cry-Baby's singing voice

Amy Locane as Allison Vernon-Williams

                  Rachel Sweet as Allison's singing voice

Polly Bergen as Mrs. Vernon-Williams

Ricki Lake as Pepper Walker

Traci Lords as Wanda Woodward

Kim McGuire as Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski

Darren E. Burrows as Milton Hackett

Susan Tyrrell as Ramona Rickettes

Iggy Pop as Belvedere Rickettes

Kim Webb as Lenora Frigid

Stephen Mailer as Baldwin

Alan J. Wendl as Joe "Toe-Joe" Jackson

Jonathan Benya as "Snare-Drum"

Jessica Raskin as Susie "Susie Q"

Troy Donahue as Mr. Malnorowski

Mink Stole as Mrs. Malnorowski

Joe Dallesandro as Mr. Hackett

Joey Heatherton as Mrs. Hackett

David Nelson as Hector Woodward

Patricia Hearst as Maggie Woodward

Robert Tyree as Dupree

Robert Walsh as Judge

Willem Dafoe as Hateful Corrections Officer

Kelly Goldberg as Pepper's Baby

Robert Marbury as Angelic Boyfriend