The Turning Point (1977)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Arthur Laurents (written by)

Release Date:

14 November 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The generations change. But the choices remain the same.

Plot:

When her daughter joins a ballet company, a former dancer is forced to confront her long-ago decision to give up the stage to have a family.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Daughter | Dance | Dancer | Mother

Awards:

Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Deedee Rodgers
Anne Bancroft	...	Emma Jacklin
Mikhail Baryshnikov	...	Yuri Kopeikine
Leslie Browne	...	Emilia Rodgers
Tom Skerritt	...	Wayne
Martha Scott	...	Adelaide
Anthony Zerbe	...	Rosie
Marshall Thompson	...	Carter
Alexandra Danilova	...	Madame Dahkarova
Antoinette Sibley	...	Sevilla Haslam
Starr Danias	...	Carolyn
James Mitchell	...	Michael
Daniel Levans	...	Arnold
Scott Douglas	...	Freddie Romoff
Lisa Lucas	...	Janina

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (1987) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hera Productions

Trivia:

Audrey Hepburn was offered one of the lead roles in this film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the Romeo and Juliet "pas de deux" at the ballet studio you can see the cameraman knelling on the mirror.

Quotes:

Emma Jacklin: It didn't work out.
Emilia: Oh, so what? He liked boys better than girls?
Emma Jacklin: Oh, not exactly. He knew my priority was dancing.
Emilia: Are you... sorry?
Emma Jacklin: No. I don't believe in being sorry. We are what we are.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: Maggie the Model (#1.12)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

GISELLE

Timeless coming of age

This movie is particularly relevant for people in Oklahoma City, with all of the references to the city. This is possibly because two of the stars of the Ballet Russe settled here, Mikhail Terekov and Yvonne Chouteau. Ms. Chouteau was returning to her home state where she and her husband established the state ballet company and the dance program at the University of Oklahoma. There were quite a few chuckles in the audience when I first saw this movie. I was a ballet student and viewed the movie through the eyes of Amelia, about to begin a new life. Now as I watch it, I see it through the eyes of the older characters. The turning point is not just the young dancers starting their careers, but also the older dancers moving off the stage and into the background. The performances are sterling, as is the dancing. If nothing else, it is dancing at it's best, preserved forever on film. The various pas de duex performed are some of the most beloved in ballet. I would recommend this movie to any dance enthusiast as a great behind-the-scene film.