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This episode contains mentions of sexual assault.

Critics howled and self-appointed guardians of good taste were horrified at the release

of showgirls. directed by Paul Verhoeven with a screenplay by Joe Estherhaus. The film is

an NC-17 story of a Vegas dancer who wants to move up from a seedy club to a glamorous hotel show.

The movie was a notorious flop at the time, but is now considered a camp classic and a window into a moment of Moro Panic.

Showgirls turns 30 this year, so we thought it was the perfect time to revisit our conversation about the movie.

I'm Aisha Harris.

And I'm Linda Holmes.

And today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, we're talking about showgirls.

Support for NPR and the following message comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

RWJF is a national philanthropy, working toward a future where health is no longer a privilege

but a right. Learn more at RWJF.org.

Joining us today is writer Chris Klinick. Hey, Chris.

I burn when I dance, Linda.

And also joining us is senior editor for NPR's investigations team, Barry Hardiman. Hey, Barry.

Hi, I don't burn at all. We are all very excited to talk about this movie. So as we said,

showgirls came out 30 years ago. It has Elizabeth Berkeley, who you might know from Saved by the Bell in particular.

She plays Nomi.

She's this kind of tough girl who hitchhikes into Vegas and decides she's going to become a glamorous dancer.

...