A Chorus Line (1985)

Hopefuls try out before a demanding director for a part in a new musical.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

Arnold Schulman (screenplay), Michael Bennett (concept: musical "A Chorus Line"),

Stars:

Michael Blevins, Yamil Borges, Michael Douglas

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A director is casting dancers for a large production. Large numbers of hopefulls audition, hoping to be selected. Throughout the day, more and more people are eliminated, and the competition gets harder. Eventually, approximately a dozen dancers must compete for a few spots, each hoping to impress the director with their dancing skill. But, is this really what the director is looking for?

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | audition | dance | pulitzer prize source | theatre | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chorus Line

Filming Locations:

Helen Hayes Theater - 240 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$4,832,625 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy Films, Polygram Pictures, Feuer and Martin Production, A

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adrian Lyne was offered the chance to direct but declined because he did not want to become pigeon-holed as only a director of musicals.

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Goofs

In the closing while the credits are running, watch the lower right hand corner of the screen. While doing high-kicks one dancer falls and then gets up again and continues dancing.

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Quotes

Connie: Connie Wong. Always Wong, never Wight.
[Zach looks up]
Connie: Bad joke. I was born in Chinatown, lower east side.
Zach: How old are you?
Connie: I was born December 5th, four thousand six hundred and forty two, the Year of the Chicken.

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Connections

References The Red Shoes (1948)

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Soundtracks

"Surprise, Surprise"
Performed by Gregg Burge and Cast

User Reviews

Best musical of all time on Broadway to a mangled mess of celluloid

I saw the original "Chorus Line" on Broadway God knows how many times and felt the passion, despair and joy come from this live experience in the theater. Michael Bennett knew he would have to re-imagine "Chorus" for the screen but could never figure out how to do it. If the man who came up with the show is stumped - that should answer your question. There are some shows that are simply made to be seen live - with an audience. However, Richard Attenborough fresh of the musical work of "Ghandi" and dancing with animals in "Doctor Doolittle" ended up directing this film which bore little to no resemblance to the stage show. Horrible songs were added (Surprise! Surprise!), great songs were dropped or given to other characters (which didn't make sense). Michael Douglas was mis-cast. People that couldn't dance tried to act and there was the sexy "Landers" woman who couldn't sing, act, or dance - I guess she had just finished being Ghandi's wife. The dances by Jeffrey Hornaday look like nothing more than schlock from "Flashdance" rejects and nothing works. I sat there stunned at how something so riveting and emotional could be drained to nothing. If you truly love this show and it is coming back to Broadway in 2006 - see it but don't think that the long running musical event that was "A Chorus Line" has any thing at all to do with this film.