A small "Dance-ercize" studio fights for its existence against the unscrupulous owner of a rival club. The conflict boils down to a "Dance Marathon" to settle the score.
Take a look back at some of your favorite TV high school students from "My So-Called Life" and more, then flash forward to see what they look like now.
Related News
Guillermo Del Toro: At Home With Monsters Art Book Preview Pages & Release Details
30 June 2016 7:30 PM, +01:00 | DailyDead
30 June 2016 7:30 PM, +01:00 | DailyDead
'Blood Simple' to Albert Brooks: Why Spring of 1985 was something special
20 February 2015 9:40 PM, +01:00 | Hitfix
20 February 2015 9:40 PM, +01:00 | Hitfix
Beauty Beyond the Grave: The Story Behind Europe's Bejeweled Skeletons
16 November 2014 12:50 AM, +01:00 | PEOPLE.com
16 November 2014 12:50 AM, +01:00 | PEOPLE.com
Want to help choose the next great Amazon Original comedy series? Stream and review now during Amazon Pilot Season.
Join us on "Style Code Live" daily to connect, shop and chat live with fashion designers, beauty experts and celebrities! Discover today's best beauty hacks and the top style secrets!
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Connect with IMDb
Share this Rating
Title: Himmelskörper (1984)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Photos
Add Image
Add an image
Do you have any images for this title?
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Where the Boys Are
(1984)
Comedy
Director:
Hy Averback
Stars:
Lisa Hartman,
Lorna Luft,
Wendy Schaal
Body Rock
(1984)
Drama
|
Music
|
Musical
Director:
Marcelo Epstein
Stars:
Lorenzo Lamas,
Vicki Frederick,
Cameron Dye
Fast Forward
(1985)
Drama
|
Musical
Director:
Sidney Poitier
Stars:
John Scott Clough,
Don Franklin,
Tamara Mark
Pulsebeat
(1985)
Director:
Maurice Tobias
Stars:
Daniel Greene,
Lee Taylor-Allan,
Robert Small
Heavenly Bodies
(2014)
Documentary
Director:
Stephanie Farago
Stars:
Steven Arnold,
Ellen Burstyn,
Simon Doonan
The Pumaman
(1980)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Fantasy
Director:
Alberto De Martino
Stars:
Walter George Alton,
Donald Pleasence,
Miguel Ángel Fuentes
Salsa
(1988)
Romance
|
Music
Director:
Boaz Davidson
Stars:
Draco Rosa,
Rodney Harvey,
Magali Alvarado
That's Dancing!
(1985)
Documentary
|
Musical
Director:
Jack Haley Jr.
Stars:
Mikhail Baryshnikov,
Ray Bolger,
Sammy Davis Jr.
Die Waffen des Gesetzes
(1987–1994)
Drama
Stars:
C. David Johnson,
Eric Peterson,
Cynthia Dale
Out of Bounds
(1986)
Action
|
Crime
|
Thriller
Director:
Richard Tuggle
Stars:
Anthony Michael Hall,
Jenny Wright,
Jeff Kober
The Heavenly Kid
(1985)
Comedy
|
Fantasy
|
Romance
Director:
Cary Medoway
Stars:
Lewis Smith,
Jason Gedrick,
Jane Kaczmarek
Flashpoint
(1984)
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
William Tannen
Stars:
Kris Kristofferson,
Treat Williams,
Rip Torn
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Cynthia Dale | ... |
Samantha Blair
|
|
 |
Richard Rebiere | ... |
Steve
|
|
|
Walter George Alton | ... |
Jack Pearson
|
|
|
Laura Henry | ... |
Debbie Martin
|
| Stuart Stone | ... |
Joel Blair
|
|
|
|
Patricia Idlette | ... |
KC
|
|
|
Pam Henry | ... |
Patty
|
|
|
Linda Sorensen | ... |
T.V. Producer
|
|
|
Reiner Schwarz | ... |
T.V. Director
|
|
|
Cec Linder | ... |
Walter Matheson
|
|
|
Micki Moore | ... |
T.V. Reporter
|
|
|
Sean Sullivan | ... |
Real Estate Salesman
|
|
|
Mac Bradden | ... |
Nick
|
|
|
Michael Tait | ... |
Mr. Howard
|
|
|
Murray Westgate | ... |
Coach Hudson
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
A small "Dance-ercize" studio fights for its existence against the unscrupulous owner of a rival club. The conflict boils down to a "Dance Marathon" to settle the score. Written by Kevin Thom <kthom@chat.carleton.ca>
Taglines:
She's reaching for the top, with everything she's got. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 February 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Fúria da Dança See more »Filming Locations:
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCompany Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Written by Russell Mael and Ron Mael
Performed by Sparks
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
[top] When the women inspect their soon-to-become new studio. See more »Crazy Credits
Alternate takes of workout sequences at the Heavenly Bodies club are shown over the end credits. See more »Soundtracks
Breaking Out of PrisonWritten by Russell Mael and Ron Mael
Performed by Sparks
See more »
"Heavenly bodies" (1984) was Canada's answer to 1983's "Flashdance." Not that it's a rip-off, because the stories are totally different. In "Heavenly Bodies" three women decide to start a fitness club that specializes in aerobic with intentions of eventually purchasing the building they lease. When the building is bought out from under them by a competing fitness center, the main protagonist, Samantha Blair (Cynthia Dale), issues a challenge -- a dance-aerobics competition -- with the building as the prize.
Some have lambasted "Heavenly Bodies" as the "worst film ever made," "bad cinema" and "heavily campy," but actually none of these criticisms are true. Films should be evaluated according to what they aspire to be and, consequently, no genre is beyond redemption or beneath contempt. "Heavenly Bodies" never aspired to be "Ghandi" or "Out of Africa." It's a sports film focusing on aerobics for cryin' out loud. The question is: Does it deliver on that level? Yes, in spades.
What is required in a aerobics sports flick from 1984? Quality characters, heavenly bodies (sorry), energetic music, kinetic direction, a story that keeps your attention and a film that generally keeps your blood pumping, right? "Heavenly Bodies" scores well in all these areas. For instance, Cynthia Dale is a great protagonist for this type of flick; she's cute, winsome, sprightly and insanely curvaceous. Although Jennifer Beals was fine in "Flashdance," Cynthia easily surpasses her. And Cynthia is only one of the numerous shapely women featured throughout. There are guys too, of course, for those who care.
The criticisms that "Heavenly Bodies" is "bad cinema" and "heavily campy" are based solely on the fact that the film is from 1984 and involves aerobics. Aerobics was a fad that goes by different names today and the attire & hairstyles are naturally dated, which make the film an easy target for contempt. But this does not make it bad filmmaking or campy in the least. As far as "heavily campy" goes, there's nothing artlessly mannered or self-consciously artificial in the story or performances; and there's nothing remotely campy in the sense of, say, the 60's "Batman" TV series. The story and actors play it straight throughout. Do these critics even know what 'camp' is?
The film runs a short-and-sweet 90 minutes and was shot in Toronto.
FINAL WORD: Don't listen to those who rip on "Heavenly Bodies" as a bad, campy film. It's at least as good as "Flashdance" and IMHO far better. Cynthia Dale is a great protagonist with a charming presence, a well-rounded perfect figure and excellent dance/gymnastic skills, not to mention the myriad of other 'heavenly bodies' throughout. It also has energetic (albeit dated) music, solid characters, limited dialogue, flashy directing and an entertaining story. What more could you ask for in a film of this ilk?
Unfortunately the film is only available on VHS as of this writing.
GRADE: B+ or A-