CAROLINECOON
The film ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains!’ was originally ‘All Washed Up!’
The film was made in Hollywood where general contempt for women is notorious but was especially so when the male backlash against feminism began in the 1970’s. For women to speak out against sexism and male privilege was (and still can be) career death. Script writer Nancy Dowd did speak out and the feminist Women’s Liberation message embedded in her ‘All Washed Up’ story survives despite the depredations inflicted on it (particularly the ending) by the director’s Hollywood misogyny.
The story: Corinne (Diane Lane), Tracy (Marin Kantor) and Jessica (Laura Dern) are teenagers in the distressed steel town of Charlston, USA. They are not ‘a waste of time’. They yearn for a way out, for a way to better themselves. It is 1980, The Looters, a touring British punk band, turn up in town and the girls go to the gig. They see lead singer Billy (Ray Winston), guitarist Steve (Steve Jones), bassist Dave (Paul Simonon) and drummer Danny (Paul Cook) play and a future opens up. The girls form a band, The Stains, and eventually persuade the Looters to book them as support for the rest of the tour. What happens next, the ignominious break-up of the Looters and the huge success of The Stains, was the feminist fantasy that, in real life, made the film a cult inspiration for the Riot Grrrl movement.
Director: Lou Adler
Producer: Joe Roth
Original screenplay: Nancy Dowd
Designer and Production Consultant: Caroline Coon
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Corinne (Diane Lane), Tracy (Marin Kantor) and Jessica (Laura Dern) hang out at Corinne’s before they become The Stains. Photo credit: |
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The Burns eye make-up and some of the ‘No is No - Look Don’t Touch’ costumes designed by Caroline Coon 1979/80
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