Mondo Trasho
Dreamland, 1969, 95 minutes
Starring Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole
John's first full-length feature film, Mondo Trasho, was produced for only $2,000 — borrowed, like many of his early films, from his dad. Although there is no dialogue, there is a soundtrack of scratchy rock-n-roll records and a few choice voiceovers.
Mary Vivian Pearce is the lead, although she is dead through most of the film. While on a walk, she is run down by a car driven by Divine (who isn't such a bad driver — she just got distracted by the naked man hitch-hiking). Divine then takes it upon herself to care for the dead girl. For her good deeds, Divine is visited by the Virgin Mary. The girl is brought to a mad doctor, played by David Lochary, who replaces her feet with very ugly feet.
Trivial note: at the premiere in a local church, Cookie Mueller, who had just been released from a mental hospital, won the door prize of a free hamburg dinner at the Little Tavern. And she was a part of Waters' world forever after.