A Chorus Line (1985)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

Michael Bennett (musical) and
Nicholas Dante (musical) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Drama | Comedy

Plot:

Hopefuls try out before a demanding director for a part in a new musical.

Plot Keywords:

Pulitzer Prize Source | Box Office Flop | Broadway Musical | Dance | Audition

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Michael Blevins	...	Mark Tobori
Yamil Borges	...	Diana Morales
Jan Gan Boyd	...	Connie Wong
Sharon Brown	...	Kim
Gregg Burge	...	Richie Walters
Michael Douglas	...	Zach
Cameron English	...	Paul San Marco
Tony Fields	...	Al DeLuca
Nicole Fosse	...	Kristine Evelyn Erlich-DeLuca
Vicki Frederick	...	Sheila Bryant
Michelle Johnston	...	Beatrice Ann 'Bebe' Benson
Janet Jones	...	Judy Monroe
Pam Klinger	...	Maggie Winslow
Audrey Landers	...	Val Clarke
Terrence Mann	...	Larry

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Canada:14A | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Helen Hayes Theater - 240 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Embassy Film Associates

Trivia:

Roxann Dawson's film debut.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the major dance scene, just at the end of the audition sequence, you can clearly see dancers who have been shown to be rejected. This scene isn't intended to be in continuity, but is more like a curtain call (as it was in the Broadway musical).

Quotes:

Sheila: Can I sit on your lap?
Zach: Do you always come on like this?
Sheila: No. Sometimes I'm aggressive.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror V (#6.6)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

A Chorus Line

The critics were wrong!

Uncool as it may be, I think A Chorus Line may well be one of the best stage-to-film musical adaptations ever made. It looks dazzling, the casting is inspired (Douglas is the only weak link, but then he doesn't have a lot to do apart from sulking and losing his temper occasionally) and the score is powerful and energetic - even the reverb-heavy Miami Vice-type drums don't grate on the ears as much as they might. However, if you don't find watching a bunch of terrific singers and dancers strutting their stuff for almost two hours an appealing prospect, don't even go there.

Unfairly slammed by the critics and released at a time when film musicals were very much out of favour, A Chorus Line has nonetheless attracted a loyal fanbase who are willing to overlook its occasional dud moments (the camera drifts off into darkness during 'Everything Was Beautiful At The Ballet', which makes you wonder exactly what Attenborough's intention here was) and just enjoy the company of a dynamic bunch working their socks off for our enjoyment. Alyson Reed was superbly cast as the faded star Cassie, because she's every bit as charismatic and sympathetic as her reputation suggests - try taking your eyes off her during her audition scenes, it's not easy! The standout songs, for my money, are 'Surprise' (sorry if this rubs against the grain, but that man has an AMAZING voice), 'Nothing' and the final glitzy reprise of 'One'. I'd have liked to have seen the film make a bigger deal of the beautiful 'What I Did For Love', but that's a minor quibble in the midst of such great entertainment. A Chorus Line is a great film to watch on a dull evening, as it will lift your spirits and make you feel better about everything. And if you have a cynical disposition, you can just enjoy the one-liners...