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 Douglas, Terrence Mann, Michael Blevins

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:

audition | based on stage musical | dancer | discipline | strictness | 

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Taglines:

The Movie Event Of 1986!

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 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 Pictures, 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

Michael Bennett, Mike Nichols, Sidney Lumet', Joseph Papp, John Travolta and Mikhail Baryshnikov were all considered to direct the project at one time.

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Goofs

In the major dance scene, just at the end of the audition sequence, you can clearly see dancers who have been shown to be rejected. This scene isn't intended to be in continuity, but is more like a curtain call (as it was in the Broadway musical).

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Quotes

Sheila: My mother was kind of middle-aged and frumpy.
Diana: Whose isn't?
Sheila: At fourteen she was middle-aged and frumpy.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cavanaughs: A Chorus Malign (1987)

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Soundtracks

Nothing
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Ed Kleban
Performed by Yamil Borges

User Reviews

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.