Claire Thompson
John Waters' 1972 cult classic *Pink Flamingos* is known for its grotesque and explicit content. The film centres on the character of Babs Johnson, a criminal who takes pride in being the filthiest person alive. One of the film's most infamous scenes involves the use of a live chicken as a sex toy, resulting in the chicken's death. While some viewers are disturbed by this scene, others argue that the chicken was going to be killed anyway and that the cast and crew ate it after filming.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1972 |
| Chicken killed | Yes |
| Chicken eaten | Yes |
| Chicken killed in sex scene | Yes |
| Chicken killed accidentally | Yes |
| Chicken killed on purpose | No |
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What You'll Learn
The chicken was used as a sex toy
John Waters' cult classic Pink Flamingos is known for its grotesque, bizarre, and explicit content. The 1972 film centres on several characters competing to be the "Filthiest Person Alive". One scene in the film involves two people using live chickens as sex toys.
In this scene, Cookie is raped on screen with the head of a live chicken, which ends up killing the chicken. The chicken is strangled, thrown around, beaten against a wall, and its beak is used to rape one of the characters. The actor playing Cookie looks and sounds distressed throughout the scene.
Director John Waters was unrepentant about the chicken's death, stating that they bought the chicken from a farmer who advertised freshly killed chicken. He also stated that the cast ate the chicken after filming the scene. Some viewers have defended the scene, arguing that the chicken was going to be killed anyway and at least it didn't die in vain. However, others have criticised the scene as animal abuse, arguing that the cast and crew showed no regard for the chicken's life.
The chicken scene in Pink Flamingos has sparked debates about animal welfare in film. While some argue that the chicken's death was unnecessary and unethical, others claim that it is not as cruel as other movies that have killed animals on screen. The intention of the actors in Pink Flamingos doesn't seem to be to kill the chicken, but rather to have no regard for its life. This has led to criticism of the film's glamorisation of torturing animals to death for entertainment.
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It was strangled, beaten and thrown around
In the 1972 film Pink Flamingos, a chicken was killed on screen during a sex scene. The chicken was strangled, thrown around, beaten against a wall, and its beak was used to rape one of the characters.
The scene in question involves Cookie having sex with Cracker in a shed. The chicken is used as a sex toy, which ends up killing it. Cookie looks and sounds distressed throughout the scene.
Director John Waters has been criticised for animal abuse and torture. In response to the chicken's death, Waters said:
> We bought the chicken from a farmer who advertised freshly-killed chicken. I think we made the chicken's life better: Got to be in a movie, got fucked… And then right after filming the next take, the cast ate the chicken.
Waters also stated that the chicken's death was accidental and that the cast and crew made fried chicken afterward so that the chicken's death wouldn't be in vain. Some viewers have defended the film, arguing that the intention of the actor didn't seem to be to kill the chicken but rather to show affection toward it in earlier scenes.
Pink Flamingos is an independently produced, cult film that chronicles several characters' competition to earn the title "Filthiest Person Alive". The film has gained a reputation as a midnight movie classic with audience participation similar to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is known for its grotesque, bizarre, and explicit content, with one reviewer describing it as "brilliant work".
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The cast ate the chicken after it died
In the 1972 cult classic "Pink Flamingos", directed by John Waters, a chicken was killed on set during a sex scene. The chicken was used as a sex toy by two characters, which resulted in its death. The cast then proceeded to cook and eat the chicken.
Waters, who also wrote, produced, composed, edited, and cinematographed the film, commented on the incident: "We bought the chicken from a farmer who advertised freshly-killed chicken. I think we made the chicken's life better: Got to be in a movie, got fucked... And then right after filming the next take, the cast ate the chicken."
The film has been controversial for its depiction of animal abuse and has sparked debates about the ethics of using animals in films. Some viewers have criticized Waters and the cast for their apparent lack of regard for the chicken's life. The film also includes scenes of dog faeces being eaten, which was allegedly real.
"Pink Flamingos" is known for its transgressive and shocking content, with a focus on sex and depravity. It has gained a cult following and is considered a classic of American cinema by some. However, its graphic nature and controversial themes have also sparked backlash and criticism.
The chicken scene in "Pink Flamingos" is not an isolated incident of animal abuse in films. Other notable examples include The Hobbit, where 27 animals died off-set due to unsafe conditions, and Ben-Hur, where at least 100 horses were killed during the filming of a chariot race.
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The chicken's beak was used to rape a character
John Waters' cult classic *Pink Flamingos* is a 1972 American surrealist black comedy film. The film is known for its grotesque, bizarre, and explicit content, with a 1997 re-release being rated NC-17 "for a wide range of perversions in explicit detail".
In one particularly disturbing scene, a chicken is killed on-screen during a sex scene. The character Cookie is raped with the head of a live chicken, which ends up killing the bird. The chicken is seen being strangled, thrown around, and beaten against a wall. This scene also involves real blood when Cookie and the chicken are cut.
The director, John Waters, has been criticized for this scene, with some accusing him of animal abuse and torture. However, Waters has shown no remorse for the incident, stating that the chicken was bought from a farmer who advertised freshly-killed chicken, and that after filming, the cast ate the chicken.
The chicken's beak was used to rape Cookie, who looked and sounded distressed throughout the scene. This scene is not only disturbing for its depiction of animal abuse but also for its explicit sexual content and the apparent distress of the actor.
The film has a reputation as a midnight movie classic cult, with some audience members even receiving "Pink Phlegmingo" vomit bags. It has also been described as "an absolute classic piece of American cinema, right up there with The Birth of a Nation, Dr. Strangelove, and Boom!". However, due to its explicit content, it is not suitable for sensitive viewers.
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The cast and crew were unapologetic
The 1972 cult classic *Pink Flamingos* is an American surrealist black comedy film by John Waters. The film stars the countercultural drag queen Divine as Babs Johnson, a criminal who is proud to be "the filthiest person alive". The film features several grotesque, bizarre, and explicit scenes, including one in which a chicken is killed.
In the scene in question, Cookie is raped on screen with the head of a live chicken, which ends up killing the chicken. The chicken is strangled, thrown around, beaten against a wall, and its beak is used to rape one of the characters. The cast and crew of *Pink Flamingos* were unapologetic about the on-screen death of the chicken. Director John Waters stated, "We bought the chicken from a farmer who advertised freshly-killed chicken. I think we made the chicken's life better: Got to be in a movie, got fucked… And then right after filming the next take, the cast ate the chicken."
Waters' statement reflects a nonchalant attitude towards the chicken's death, suggesting that its inclusion in the film and subsequent consumption by the cast somehow improved its life. This sentiment is echoed in comments made by some viewers of the film, who argue that the chicken's death was not in vain since it was eaten and would have eventually died to become food anyway.
However, others have criticized Waters and the cast of *Pink Flamingos* for their apparent lack of regard for animal welfare. Some viewers have described the scene as "animal abuse" and "torture", suggesting that the cast and crew were more concerned with creating shocking and controversial imagery than with the ethical treatment of animals.
The unapologetic nature of the cast and crew regarding the chicken's death reflects the overall tone and style of *Pink Flamingos*. The film is known for its over-the-top, depraved, and perverted content, with a focus on sex and extreme behaviour. Waters himself has described the film as "meant to be done badly", with intentional overacting and a grainy aesthetic.
In conclusion, while some may argue that the cast and crew's unapologetic attitude towards the chicken's death is simply in line with the film's transgressive nature, others view it as a callous and unnecessary act of animal cruelty. The debate surrounding this issue highlights the complex ethical questions that arise when art and entertainment involve the use of animals.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. The chicken was used as a sex toy in a scene, and it died as a result.
The chicken was squeezed between two people having sex. It was also beaten against a wall, strangled, and thrown around.
No. The film is meant to be disturbing and includes scenes of rape, cannibalism, and artificial insemination.
John Waters, the director, was unrepentant. He said, "We bought the chicken from a farmer who advertised freshly-killed chicken. I think we made the chicken's life better: Got to be in a movie, got fucked... And then right after filming the next take, the cast ate the chicken."
