Lust in the Dust is a 1985 Western comedy film starring Tab Hunter, Divine, Cesar Romero, and Lainie Kazan, and directed by Paul Bartel. Plot Dance-hall girl Rosie Velez, lost in the desert, is helped to safety by gunman Abel Wood. In the town of Chili Verde, at the saloon of Marguerita Ventura, word of a treasure in gold brings Abel into conflict with outlaw Hard Case Williams and his gang. Cast Tab Hunter as Abel Wood Divine as Rosie Velez Lainie Kazan as Marguerita Ventura Cesar Romero as Father Garcia Geoffrey Lewis as Hard Case Williams Henry Silva as Bernardo Courtney Gains as Richard "Red Dick" Barker Gina Gallego as Ninfa Nedra Volz as Ed "Big Ed" Woody Strode as Blackman, Hard Case Gang Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez as Mexican, Hard Case Gang Production The title was taken from the nickname given to King Vidor's 1946 film Duel in the Sun. John Waters was asked to direct, but refused because he did not write the script. Edith Massey was cast as Big Ed, but died shortly after her screen test. Bartel was uneasy about casting her because he thought it would look too much like a John Waters film without John Waters. The role of Marguerita was originally set for Chita Rivera. Principal photography took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In the original script, Rosie was supposed to die but the filmmakers changed their mind during filming. Critical reception Variety said "Lust In The Dust is a saucy, irreverent, quite funny send-up of the Western. Film takes some of the old-time conventions – the silent stranger, the saloon singer with a past, the motley crew of crazed gunslingers, the missing stash of gold – and stands them on their head with outrageous comedy and imaginative casting." Music All songs composed by Karen Hart "Tarnished Tumbleweed" – Mike Stull "These Lips Were Made for Kissin'" – Divine "South of My Border" – Lainie Kazan References External links 1985 films 1985 comedy films 1980s English-language films 1980s Western (genre) comedy films 1980s parody films American Western (genre) comedy films American independent films American parody films Films directed by Paul Bartel New World Pictures films 1980s American films