Vintage original 27x41 in. "Style A" US one-sheet poster from the popular 1980's musical comedy documentary, DIVINE MADNESS, released in 1980 by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Ritchie. In 1980, the head usher at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
gives his crew a pep talk: he wants tonight's "Betty Midler" show to
go smoothly. He's a little worried about risque language, since Liberace recently
gave him a scare. Then, boom, there she is, with her backup trio, "The
Harlettes," going from rock to ballad to medley, from "Big Noise From
Winnetka" to "I Shall Be Released." It's a concentration of
camp: she imitates Sophie Tucker, she's mermaid Dolores Delago, and between every
song, it's non-stop movement and lots of raunchy patter.
As indicated in the right corner of the bottom border, this is the "Style A" one-sheet poster, which depicts a large image of Bette Midler's face replacing that of Thomas Jefferson on the famed Mt. Rushmore! Unrestored and folded as originally issued, this vintage original one-sheet poster is in fine+ condition with some small creases in and near the borders. There are no pinholes, tears, stains, or other flaws.
Divine Madness was
the first feature film made by production house, The Ladd Company. It was shot
using only ten cameras and a small crew of thirty and was edited together from
four separate concerts filmed over three consecutive nights at Pasadena's Civic
Auditorium in Pasadena, California in 1979. The Delores
DeLago mermaid character played by Midler was affectionately dubbed
"The Toast of Chicago." The number of songs
performed in this concert movie totaled sixteen. The film's soundtrack only
included about just over half of the songs featured in this concert movie and
none of the comic routines. The songs were edited and re-recorded in the studio
for the soundtrack. The "Divine Madness" soundtrack album peaked at
No. #34 on the Billboard's Album Chart. When the album was digitally remastered
and reissued on CD by Warner Music & Atlantic Records in 1995 it still did
not include any bonus tracks or the songs that were left out of the vinyl
release. The songs "Shiver Me Timbers" and "Rainbow Sleeve"
were removed from the Home Video Version (and are not in the DVD either) which
at 87 minutes runs about 7 minutes shorter than the theatrical cut (94 minutes).