Tap (1989)

Director:

Nick Castle

Writer (WGA):

Nick Castle (written by)

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The heartbeat of a dream has a rhythm all its own.

Plot:

Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to burglar or tap dancer.

Plot Keywords:

Dancer | Tap Dancing | Mother Son Relationship | African American | Father Daughter Relationship

Cast

Gregory Hines	...	Max Washington
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Little Mo
Suzzanne Douglas	...	Amy Simms
Savion Glover	...	Louis Simms
Terrence E. McNally	...	Bob Wythe
Joe Morton	...	Nicky
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Francis
Bunny Briggs	...	Bunny
Steve Condos	...	Steve
Arthur Duncan	...	Arthur
Pat Rico	...	Pat
Howard 'Sandman' Sims	...	Sandman
Jimmy Slyde	...	Slim
Harold Nicholas	...	Harold
Jane Goldberg	...	Dancer

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:12 (uncut) | UK:PG (cut) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Beco Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jimmy Slyde finishes his set during the challenge dance, he winds up on the opposite side of the room from Little Mo and stays there. But when Little Mo reacts to the set-up of Harold Nicholas' jump, Slyde is standing next to him again.

Movie Connections:

References "Dragnet" (1951)

Soundtrack:

Bad Boy

It's just great to see all the good old hoofers get together like this

While the story isn't up to par, as many have said, it's really just a sort of excuse to allow these great, great dancers to get up and do their thing on screen. And, let's be honest. You've got a lot of just awesome talent up there. Jimmy Slyde, Sammy Davis Jr., Sandman Sims, Steve Condos (very little of him, however), Gregory Hines, Diana Ross, Gregory Hines, and in his very first film role, Savion Glover.

It's so strange to see him as a kid, now, though. I'm used to seeing the thirty-some odd year old with the long dreads and scraggly beard, not the kid with short hair and nary a whisker 'bout his face. But, even at this stage, he's just awesome.

I'll admit, I've stolen a couple of steps from the people up there in this movie, from time to time. I know I don't do them half as well as they do, but I don't have as much experience as they do.

I keep thinking that they're going to remake this movie one day with Glover in the Hines' role. That'd be just awesome. But then, almost all the other hoofers in the film like Sims and Slyde, are much to old to be doing film roles any more. That's not meant to be an insult, but they're in their eighties, at least.

All in all, a good film. Hines, you will be missed.