Del Shores’ Comedy ‘Sordid Lives’ on iTunes, WolfeOnDemand

“Sordid Lives,” the play-turned-film tagged as a “black comedy about white trash” and featuring a marvelous cast of Delta Burke, Olivia Newton-John, Beau Bridges, Leslie Jordan, Ann Walker and Bonnie Bedelia, makes its debut across all digital platforms, including iTunes and WolfeOnDemand, on Sept. 12. A Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack is set for a Sept. 30 release from Wolfe Video.

Written by Del Shores nearly 20 years ago, “Sordid Lives” follows a gay West Hollywood actor who returns to his Southern Baptist home for a family funeral. The story has some biographical elements, as Shores grew up in the South with father who was a Baptist minister. He, however, was married and had two children before coming out not long before “Sordid Lives” premiered as a play. Ironically his in-laws, actors Newell and Rosemary Alexander, starred as homophobic characters in the Los Angeles stage premiere.

The play racked up more than a dozen Drama-logue awards, then the film became a fixture at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs, running for a record 96 weeks. A TV series based on the story featured Rue McClanahan and ran for a year on LOGO.

Bonus materials include a recent interview with Shores reminiscing about making the film, along with cast members Kirk Geiger, Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Sarah Hunley, Ann Walker, Newell and Rosemary Alexander, Beau Bridges and Beth Grant.  A vintage commentary track is also included.