I'm going to depart from my normal format for this one, as this really isn't a review. It's more of an exhortation for all fans of fringe cinema to check out a fantastic documentary called Divine Trash (1998, 96 minutes). The film chronicles the career of a modern legend, the great John Waters, and the making of his most infamous movie, Pink Flamingos.

Chances are, even if you haven't seen Flamingos, you've heard about its star, the incomparable Divine, eating a healthy portion of freshly squeezed doggie doo. The movie is almost 30 years old and still makes anything modern gross-out movies attempt look foolish. Basically, it's a flick about two families feuding over who are truly the FILTHIEST people in the world -- along the way almost every taboo is mocked, flaunted and shoved into the camera in an often horrifying fashion, but somehow, also with great comedic results. It's the genius of John Waters. The Pope of Bad Taste.

The documentary traces the early inklings of John's showman future. From visiting the set of the "Howdy Doody" show as a child, to producing his own puppet shows for Baltimore children (including a version of William Castle's classic, The Tingler). There are clips from his various early films, also featuring Divine (Glenn Milstead), whose life and significant contributions are brilliantly described. The bulk of the documentary features director Steve Yeager's behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Flamingos. It's stunning the amount of coverage there is, right down to Waters directing the aforementioned poo munching scene. Additionally, John's parents and brother are interviewed and friends, fans and players like Steve Buscemi, Jim Jarmusch, Hal Hartley, George and Mike Kuchar, Patty Hearst, Ken Jacobs, Mary Vivian Pearce, Paul Morrissey, Robert Shaye, Mink Stole and Brook Yeaton. Yet without a doubt, my favorite interviewee is the legendary Herschell Gordon Lewis whose immortal gore films I've heralded. But John dwarfs my fandom -- as a teenager he watched Blood Feast through binoculars and without sound, from a hill next to the local drive-in.

In the documentary, at about 25, Waters told an interviewer, "I'm not trying to say anything. I'm just trying to give people a good time. You know, make them laugh. And give them a little shock value for their money's worth." And he's done exactly that for 30 years. Thanks, John.

Audio/Video: Fair to poor widescreen (1.66:1) transfer. It's understandable that archival footage would be sketchy at times, but the modern day interview shots has enough digital shimmering to make some scenes seem as though they're teeming with microscopic life. Utilitarian Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track.

Extras: Nifty animated menu featuring Waters and Divine. Brief bios.

Final thought: Outstanding documentary. Lousy transfer. Still, it's a can't-miss flick. See Pink Flamingos first. Highly recommended.

G. Noel Gross is a Dallas graphic designer and avowed Drive-In Mutant who specializes in scribbling B-movie reviews. Noel is inspired by Joe Bob Briggs and his gospel of blood, breasts and beasts.