A Chorus Line (1985)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

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:

Dancer | Audition | Big Break | Sensuality | Backstage

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 | Australia:PG | 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:

Kelly Bishop is probably best known to today's audiences as Rory's grandmother on TV's "Gilmore Girls" (2000) and as the mother of Jennifer Grey's character in Dirty Dancing (1987). Kelly Bishop won a Tony award for her performance as Sheila in the original Broadway production of "A Chorus Line" (under the name Carole Bishop).

Goofs:

Continuity: Several of Larry's dance directions were repeated as background noise behind other scenes. One example is during the opening credits when the auditioning dancers are lined up outside the theater Larry's voice is heard counting down and making calls such as "walk walk walk" and he gives these exact same calls in the next scene. Another is when Cassie is reminiscing in the dressing rooms Larry can be heard saying, "Make it strong, guys" when he has just said this in an earlier shot of the auditions.

Quotes:

Sheila: You were a rotten dancer.
Zach: Why do you think I became your choreographer?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shrek the Third (2007)

Soundtrack:

At the Ballet

Ghandi

I wonder who, how and more importantly why the decision to call Richard Attenborough to direct the most singular sensation to hit Broadway in many many years? He's an Academy Award winning director. Yes, he won for Ghandi you moron! Jeremy Irons is an Academy winning actor do you want to see him play Rocky Balboa? He has experience with musicals. Really? "Oh what a lovely war" have you forgotten? To answer your question, yes! The film is a disappointment, clear and simple. Not an ounce of the live energy survived the heavy handedness of the proceedings. Every character danced beautifully they were charming but their projection was theatrical. I felt nothing. But when I saw it on stage I felt everything. The film should have been cast with stars, unknown, newcomers but stars with compelling unforgettable faces even the most invisible of the group. Great actors who could dance beautifully. Well Michael Douglas was in it. True I forgot I'm absolutely wrong and you are absolutely right. Nothing like a Richard Attenborough Michael Douglas musical.