The Diane Linkletter Story

Following the tragic death of Art Linkletters daughter Diane.this sick demented movie was made! I have always loved John Waters films but this one was out of wack! Making fun of a tragedy is not right! No wonder it has disappeared into obscurity!

I hear more people talking about this short film now, than when it was made, or at any time since it's production.

I first saw it when I purchased a VHS tape of Divine's live stage show, "THE NEON WOMAN."

That show was taped on 1960's B+W videotape (NOT the same kind of tape on VHS cassettes) in 1967.

When home video first became available to the public, "THE NEON WOMAN" was published on VHS by the New York Film Annex. To fill out the tape, the NYFA included Waters' short film, "The Diane Linkletter Story." That was more than 20 years ago.

Whether or not you like Art Linkletter, the unvarnished truth of the matter is that he conspired with the Nixon administration (in the latter's "anti-drug" campaign) to allow the public to think that Diane jumped out of that upper-story window to her death, while on LSD. The truth is, she had not taken LSD for over a year before she died, and the drug had absolutely nothing to do with her death. Furthermore, an autopsy showed that she had no drugs, whatsoever, in her body at the time of her death. Stretching the truth (to put it mildly) was a common practice by Nixon and his followers (of which, Art Linkletter was one).

When I first purchased it, I knew that this NYFA-published VHS tape was a special treasure. I don't foresee any possible DVD release of this film coming any time soon, although I would love to see the film made available on disc, so others can see it, and own it.

Perhaps, some day, Waters will be able to get it published on DVD, with an explanation of Art Linkletter's shameful "use" of his daughter's suicide to further right-wing anti-drug propaganda.

Scream's a teased haired David Lochary upstairs to Divine in the role of Diane Linkletter.

The parents are at home, and waiting for the return of their errant daughter, she turns up "tripping" and high on everything, and she announces her love for all things carnal.

Like most teenagers she gets sent to her room while Art and his wife try to sort the problem, we hear a crash, a scream and then see the mushed up Diane on the pavement "call collect" goes the soundtrack.

A superb short by John Waters, Divine's first screen role and David Lochary and Mary Vivian Pearce are on top form as well.

Some say its "bad" taste, nothing compares with the LP Art Linkletter released of his daughters suicide.

Find a copy now!

MOST Waters fans will think this is hilarious, though you'll meet the rogue who thinks it's in bad taste. But then, criticizing Waters for making a film in "bad taste" is like criticizing a hippie for smoking the herb: it's just what they do.

The short starts out with a creepy recording of Diane speaking at the beginning, and is repeated at the end; the picture is grainy and makes Divine look wild-eyed and insane(yes!). Divine is really, really funny, and even though David Lochary gets a little befuddled on a couple of his lines, he and Bonnie still do a fine job.

I went nuts trying to figure out how I'd see this short for a very long time. Some angel posted it on medicinefilms.com; they say they're John Waters, which makes me both skeptical and desperate.

So... go watch it and decide for yourself.

"The Diane Linkletter Story' is an essential for any true John Waters fan. Where else do you get to see David Lochary as a concerned parent? The plot follows Mister and Misses Linkletter( David Lochary and Mary Vivian 'Bonnie' Pearce) who are waiting for their daughter Diane( Divine) to return home. When she does, she is drunk and stoned out of her mouth. David Lochary gives the best and funniest performance of his career and Divine and Mary Vivian are sensational as well! A must-see!!!! Ten out of ten stars!