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Courtesy David James/New Line Productions. (left to right) John Travolta stars as "Edna Turnblad" and Nicole Blonsky stars as "Tracy Turnblad" in New Line Cinema's HAIRSPRAY. Copyright 2006 David James/New Line Productions

COMEDIAN CHRIS Rock demystifies the world of black women's hair in his new documentary, "Good Hair," which hits the big screen this week. It's not the first time coiffures have played a leading role in cinema. Here, we explore the tresses and tangles. — Jessica Yadegaran

'Hair'

(1979)

Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty! In the film version of this late 1960s rock musical, John Savage plays Claude Hooper Bukowski, an Oklahoman who moves to New York City and falls in love with the hairy hippie scene circa the Vietnam War, not to mention one Sheila Franklin (Beverly D'Angelo). The theme song is the ultimate anthem for hair love.

'Don't Mess With the Zohan'

(2008)

Hair is a passion for Israeli Special Forces Soldier Zohan Dvir (Adam Sandler), who fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a stylist. He specializes in cutting elderly women's hair, and save for his own overly blown-out bouffant, we think the film works. It proves good hair can even promote peace in the Middle East.

'Barbershop'

(2002)

The all-star cast includes Eve, Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer in a day-in-the-life portrait of a Chicago barbers hop. "Barbershop," and certainly "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," remind us that

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haircuts are almost an after-thought when it comes to your neighborhood salon. It's all about community.

'Edward Scissorhands'

(1990)

No one cuts hair — or hedges — quite like Johnny Depp's character in this 1990 Tim Burton classic. Edward is a gentle yet incomplete young man with a modern-art mane and some cutting-edge hands. He lives alone until a kind Avon lady takes him home, and he falls in love with a strawberry-blond Winona Ryder. His hair is definitely better than hers.

'Hairspray'

(2007)

In this remake of the 1988 John Waters comedy, the world is a mess, but everyone's hair is perfectly in place. It's 1962, and Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size teenager who shares a headband affinity with her mom, Edna, fights to integrate blacks and whites on the Corny Collins dance show. Again, hair promotes peace.