Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

Name: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Genre: Documentary, History
Released: 2006-02-24
Duration: 1 h 14 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Sonny Bono, John Waters, Norm Niver, Petre Melvin, Leonard Knight

IMDb ID: tt0438327 · Year: 2006 · Rating: 7.3 (719 votes)

Genres: Documentary · History

Renowned cult film director John Waters narrates this quirky exploration of the Salton Sea, the massive Southern California lake that was created by accident a century ago, became a popular desert resort and has since developed in...

IMDb Details

Content TypeMovieAlternate TitlesAustralia: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Canada: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (English)
United Kingdom: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Ireland: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (English)
India: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (English)
New Zealand: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (English)
United States: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
South Africa: Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (English)
Hungary: Nyaralás és pusztulás a Salton tónál
Argentina: Plagas y placeres en Salton Sea (Festival Title)
United States: Plagues & Pleasures: A Life at the Salton Sea (Working Title)
Plagues & Pleasures: A Life at the Salton SeaContent RatingNot RatedRelease Date2006-02-24Runtime74 minutesMetascore72IMDb Popularity0User Reviews78Critic Reviews22Countries / RegionsUnited StatesLanguagesEnglishKeywordsdesertification
sea
resort
lake
communityFilming LocationsSalvation Mountain, Niland, California, USAProduction CompaniesTilapia Film
Tilapia Corp.Official SitesOfficial site - http://www.plaguesandpleasures.com/IMDb URLhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/Local Poster/d/file/imdb/04/tt0438327.jpgUpdated At2026-02-23T05:20:32

Directors

Chris Metzler
Jeff Springer

Writers

Chris Metzler
Jeff Springer

Full Cast & Crew

[Cast Group]
Actor: Sonny Bono | Character: Self
Actor: John Waters | Character: Narrator
Actor: Norm Niver | Character: Self
Actor: Petre Melvin | Character: Self
Actor: Leonard Knight | Character: Self
Actor: Bobbie Todhunter | Character: Self
Actor: Steve Horvitz | Character: Self
Actor: Lechon Rainey | Character: Self
Actor: Paul Clement | Character: Self
Actor: Manny Diaz | Character: Self
Actor: Harold Gaston | Character: Self

[Directors Group]
Name: Chris Metzler | Role: Director
Name: Jeff Springer | Role: Director

[Writers Group]
Name: Chris Metzler | Role: Writer
Name: Jeff Springer | Role: Writer

[Producers Group]
Name: Chris Metzler | Role: Producer

[Music Group]
Name: Bill Elm | Role: Composer
Name: Friends of Dean Martinez | Role: Composer

[Cinematography Group]
Name: Chris Metzler | Role: Cinematographer
Name: Jeff Springer | Role: Cinematographer

[Editing Group]
Name: Jeff Springer | Role: Editor

[Assistant Directors]
Name: Curtis Petersen | Role: Second Unit or Assistant Director

[Sound Department]
Name: Tom Disher | Role: Sound Department
Name: Scott Hirsch | Role: Sound Department
Name: Paul James Zahnley | Role: Sound Department

[Visual Effects]
Name: Josh Kurz | Role: Visual Effects
Name: Dave Puketza | Role: Visual Effects

[Camera and Electrical Department]
Name: Patrick Michael Dolan | Role: Camera and Electrical Department
Name: Curtis Petersen | Role: Camera and Electrical Department

Trailers

IMDb Video Gallery: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/videogallery/

Release Schedule

United States: 2004 (Oxford Film Festival)
United States: January 12, 2004 (Slamdance Film Festival)
United States: April 2004 (WorldFest Houston)
United States: April 27, 2004 (USA Film Festival)
United States: October 29, 2004 (Milwaukee International Film Festival)
United States: February 20, 2005 (Boulder International Film Festival)
United States: April 3, 2005 (Sacramento International Film Festival)
United States: April 3, 2005 (Wisconsin Film Festival)
United States: April 22, 2005 (Indianapolis International Film Festival)
Switzerland: October 15, 2005 (French speaking region, Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival)
United States: February 20, 2006 (Portland International Film Festival)
United States: February 24, 2006
United States: February 24, 2006 (San Francisco, California)
United States: April 27, 2006 (Newport Beach International Film Festival)
United States: October 21, 2006 (Tallgrass Film Festival)
United States: March 9, 2007 (Lake County Film Festival)
United States: April 20, 2007 (Los Angeles, California)
Hungary: May 1, 2007 (Mediawave Film Festival)
United States: May 11, 2007 (Portland, Oregon)
United States: May 18, 2007 (Seattle, Washington)
United States: June 2007 (TV premiere)
United States: June 23, 2007 (San Antonio Underground Film Festival)
Argentina: November 2, 2008 (San Luis Cine International Festival)

Awards

Box Office