Ice Castles (1978)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Donald Wrye

Writers:

Gary L. Baim (screenplay)
Gary L. Baim (story)

Release Date:

31 December 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The story of a girl who refused to forget she was once a champion.

Plot:

A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Figure Skater | Cigarette Smoking | Blindness | Legs

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Robby Benson	...	Nick Peterson
Lynn-Holly Johnson	...	Alexis Winston
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Beulah Smith
Tom Skerritt	...	Marcus Winston
Jennifer Warren	...	Deborah Machland
David Huffman	...	Brian Dockett
Diane Reilly	...	Sandy
Craig T. McCullen	...	Doctor
Kelsey Ufford	...	Ceceil Monchet
Leonard Lilyholm	...	Hockey Coach
Brian Foley	...	Choreographer
Jean-Claude Bleuze	...	French Coach
Teresa Willmus	...	Annette Brashlout
Diana Holden	...	X-Ray Technician
Michelle McLean	...	Skater

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Lynn-Holly Johnson says she was repeatedly pressured to do a nude scene in this film, which she refused to do. She says this incident makes her laugh and say "if you only knew!" whenever someone tells her what a great family film this movie was.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Robby Benson's character arrives to help Lexie skate blind for the first time, her winter clothing and hair keep changing. We are led to believe it is all one "session/lesson" yet first her hair is hanging free with a red scarf around her neck, then her hair is all tucked up under a red hat, then the hat is a cream color.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Nick pulls his truck up to Beulah's Star Ice Castle Lanes, or, depending on how you read the marquee sign, Beulah's Ice Castle Star Lanes]
Nick Peterson: Hey, Charlie.
Charlie: Hi, Nick.
Nick Peterson: How ya doin'?
Charlie: Beats the hell out of me. Hey, what are *you* doin' home?
Nick Peterson: Beats the hell out of me.
Charlie: Hey, Beulah, rack 'em up! Come on!
Nick Peterson: Howdy, Les.
Les: Hey! Nick, what the hell are *you* doin' here?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Boy Was My Face Red (#3.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

MIDNIGHT BLUE

Memories...

I loved this movie when it came out and I still love it all these years later-flaws and all.

First of all, the book was so great in it's depiction of competetive skating and the machinations that sometimes go on behind the scenes. That said, the movie was actually a pretty good adaptation.

But, probably the main reason I loved this movie was because I was there when they filmed many of the Broadmoor World Arena scenes. It was my home rink, and it's a blast to see old coaches, old skating friends. And to see the World Arena, which sadly was torn down a few years back. A sad day...

I remember that practice times were a mess because of the shooting schedule-some of us had our practice time in between scenes-lights and all! I remember watching the scene where the "French" skater falls in the middle of a show-and watching the skater playing that part throwing herself onto the ice, over and over again. Ouch! I remember Lynn-Holly seeming a bit nervous; Robby Benson as a bit shy, but very nice (and patient-when introduced, I couldn't remember my name!); David Huffman was very cute and Jennifer Warren was friendly, charming, modest and gorgeous! She didn't know how to skate very well and came out with some of us to learn! She became something of a rink rat while there!

Having been there for some of that, it changes one's perspective a bit, but still, I feel myself drawn into the story-and I cry at the end just like everyone else.