Sunday, August 11, 2024

Showgirls (1995)

 





She pumps ketchup with the ferocity of a lion.  She grabs a nighty off a hanger with the intensity of a killer shark.  She has pool sex with the flexibility of a contortionist.  Nomi Malone is a force to be reckoned with.  She has dreams of becoming a showgirl and takes The Las Vegas Strip by sandstorm.  With her cunning, her determination and her heat, Nomi ascends from the bowels of The Cheetahs Strip Club to The Stardust's Goddess hotel show.  She bumps heads, among other body parts, with lead Cristal Conners, whom she later pushes down a flight of stairs.  Everything seems to be in place.  Nomi's now the star of the show, she's screwing a guy with neon palm trees and she can afford clothes at Versayce.  But her troubled past soon catches up with her and Nomi chooses to bail on Sin City for The City of Angels, leaving Paula Abdul rather hopeful.

Erotic thriller powerhouse Joe Eszterhas pumped out Basic Instinct (1992) and Sliver (1993) before delivering his masterpiece Showgirls, earning a two million dollar advance.  A slew of actresses were considered for the role of Nomi, with director Paul Verehoeven placing a bet on Saved By The Bell (1989-1993) alum Elizabeth Berkley.  Showgirls bombed at the box office, earning less than half of its budget; however, it won seven of its record-breaking 13 Razzie nominations.  Showgirls fared much better on home video, raking in over 100 million dollars and has become a cult classic.  It also has more lines than the back of Cristal's limo that can be recited.



Location: Nomi's French Fry Freakout
Address: 2985 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV

The Peppermill

The world needs more Mollys.  If everyone took in a complete stranger who pounced on their car before puking near it and threw french fries in their face, the world would be a better place...





The sign is in a different spot now but in the film you can see it next to Molly's head...






Much of the background has changed, but what is still visible is Circus Circus, which may have got hit with a fry...











Location: The Police Station
Address: 200 Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas, NV

This area is unrecognizable today.  The police station looks completely different and The Rainbow Vegas Casino, which is seen behind Nomi and James, shuttered in 1998...














Location: Cheetahs Strip Club
Address: 2112 Western Avenue, Las Vegas, NV

Cheetahs was sold to The Library Gentlemen's Club in 2019.  The Stardust is another casualty of The Strip, closing in 2006 and demolished the following year...












Location: Nomi Pondering on Bench
Address: 3900 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV

The Luxor







Location: Versayce
Address: 3570 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV

Ceasar's Palace - The Forum Shops - Gucci

Either they cheated Gucci for Versayce, er, Versace or the boutique moved its location since filming, as you can see it is currently across the way under the balconies...










Location: Spago
Address: 3570 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV

Ceasar's Palace - The Forum Shops - Tiffany's

Spago opened at The Forum Shops in 1992 and closed in 2017, moving to The Bellagio.  Doggie chow was not on the menu.  Its original location appears to be where Tiffany & Company now resides...














Location: Nomi Deep In Thought
Address: 3555 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV

The Flamingo

At the time of filming, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Casino was next to the The Flamingo and the parking garage was used for the scene where Nomi ditches the brown rice and vegetables for a burger and fries.  You can almost get a matching shot from the walkway to Ceasar's Palace...










Location: Nomi Hitchhikes to LA
Address: Russell Road & Interstate 15, Las Vegas, NV

The Luxor is almost completely blocked by Delano now...









Locations Visited: July 2024



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