HOLLYWOOD, March 24 -- The sleazy sex exploitation bomb of the year, 'Showgirls,' won a record seven awards Sunday at the 16th annual Golden Raspberry Awards. On the eve of the 64th annual Academy Awards Oscar presentations for excellence in motion pictures, the Razzies were awarded for the worst efforts in movies during 1995. 'Showgirls,' a story of a Las Vegas lap-dancer, was dishonored for worst picture, worst director, worst writer and worst original song. Its star, newcomer Elizabeth Berkley, was awarded two dubious distinctions: worst actress of the year and worst new star. Paul Verhoeven ran off with the Razzie for worst director and the film's writer, Joe Eszterhas, was the worst screenplay winner. The 460 members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation also voted the award for worst screen couple to 'Any combination of two people (or two body parts)' to 'Showgirls.' In its annual light-hearted spoof of the Oscars, the Razzies voted the worst actor award to Pauly Shore for his performance in the comedy bomb 'Jury Duty.' Worst supporting actor was Dennis Hopper for his crazed villain in 'Waterworld,' and Madonna collected the booby prize for worst supporting actress in 'Four Rooms.' 'Showgirls,' however, overwhelmed such other nominated films as 'Waterworld,' 'The Scarlet Letter,' 'It's Pat!' and 'Congo.' Actress Berkley topped worst actress competitors Cindy Crawford in 'Fair Game,' Demi Moore in 'The Scarlet Letter,' Julia Sweeney in 'It's Pat!' and Sean Young in 'Dr. Jekyll & Ms. Hyde.' Losing out to Shore for worst actor were Kevin Costner in 'Waterworld,' Kyle MacLachlan in 'Showgirls,' Keanu Reeves in 'Johnny Mnenomic' and Sylvester Stallone in 'Assassins' and 'Judge Dredd.'
'The Scarlet Letter' won the Razzie for worst remake or sequel of the year. Shore is a previous winner of a Razzie while Madonna has collected three previous Razzies. The Golden Raspberry trophy is a gold spray-painted, golf ball-sized plastic raspberry atop a reel of super-8 film with a street value of $2. 17. In its 16-year history, no winner has ever picked up the award. The Razzie awards take place 24 hours before the Oscars at a satirical ceremony in the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel's Academy Room.
