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 | Mother | Dance | Dancer

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:

Of Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft, MacLaine was the accomplished dancer. All of the dance scenes featuring Bancroft consist of her striking dancer-like poses while those around her actually danced.

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: Am I like you?
Emilia: I don't know...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That '70s Show: Fez Dates Donna (#3.21)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

ANNA KARENINA

A Must for Dance Lovers and Lovers of Great Actresses

Ballet has never really been user friendly subject matter for movie box office potential but 1977's THE TURNING POINT was remarkable exception to that school of thought. Not only did this film preserve on screen some of the most beautiful ballet dancing ever scene forever, but it brought two Hollywood icons together for the first time who both turned in the Oscar-nominated performances of their careers. As a matter of fact, this is one of two films in Oscar history (THE COLOR PURPLE being the other) that was nominated for 11 Oscars but didn't win a single award. Nonetheless, it is still a compelling and riveting melodrama which uses ballet as its backdrop. The film focuses on two women, Emma Jacklin (Anne Bancroft) and Deedee Rodgers (Shirley MacLaine) who were both in the same ballet company many, many years ago and were competing for the lead in a new ballet when Deedee became pregnant and Emma got the role and this is way their relationship forked and their lives went separate ways. Deedee got married to a dancer in the company (Tom Skerritt) had three children and runs a dance studio now, but part of her still yearns to be a prima ballerina. Emma became the prima ballerina that Deedee wanted to be; however, Emma's life is all about work now...she takes class, she dances, and she goes home to her dogs. When Emma's dance company comes to Deedee's town, they are reunited and both begin to quietly choices that they made. Thrown into the mix is Amelia (real life prima ballerina Leslie Browne), Deedee's daughter who may be a better dancer than her mother ever was and Emma begins to groom and pulls strings to get her in the company which causes further resentment from Deedee. This movie is about choices, regrets, crushed dreams, and dreams fulfilled. Bancroft and MacLaine turn in grand performances and the dancing of ballet superstar Mikhail Barysnakov and Leslie Browne is outstanding (even though every time Browne opens her mouth you want to stuff a sock in it.) A beautiful melodrama anchored by supreme performances by two of the best actresses in the business.