IMDb > White Nights (1985)
White Nights
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White Nights (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
White Nights (1985) -- Open-ended Trailer from Columbia
White Nights (1985) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   2,594 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
James Goldman (screenplay) and
Eric Hughes (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for White Nights on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 November 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
An expatriate Russian dancer is on a plane forced to land on Soviet territory. He is taken to an apartment... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
The best ballet film ever more (32 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Mikhail Baryshnikov ... Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko

Gregory Hines ... Raymond Greenwood
Jerzy Skolimowski ... Colonel Chaiko

Helen Mirren ... Galina Ivanova

Geraldine Page ... Anne Wyatt

Isabella Rossellini ... Darya Greenwood
John Glover ... Wynn Scott
Stefan Gryff ... Captain Kirigin

William Hootkins ... Chuck Malarek
Shane Rimmer ... Ambassador Larry Smith
Florence Faure ... Ballerina (Death)
David Savile ... Pilot
Ian Liston ... Co-pilot
Benny Young ... Flight Engineer
Hilary Drake ... Stewardess #1
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Additional Details

Runtime:
136 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The opening theatre sequence was filmed at the Bristol Hippodrome and the gentleman paging the curtain for Baryshnikov is John Randall (sadly now deceased) who was the Theatre's technical director at the time. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When they are beginning their escape, Daria replaces the argument tape with the apology tape. When the tape reaches the end and flips back, playing the apology again, you see a shadow cross the player as a person hits stop and reverse on the player. more
Quotes:
Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko: It wouldn't be right ...
Galina Ivanova: Right? You knew what was right?
Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko: I was suffocating here! You knew it!
Galina Ivanova: When they told me you had defected to the West, they couldn't believe that you would leave without telling me. I couldn't believe it either.
Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko: I'm sorry.
Galina Ivanova: They took away my passport. For four years I wasn't allowed to travel.And for three years, they would take me to the big house to answer their questions. Every day, the same, stupid questions!
Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko: You answered well. You're an important person, with power. I hear you drive a Mercedes now.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
References Porgy and Bess (1959) more
Soundtrack:
Snake Charmer more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
The best ballet film ever, 15 June 1999
Author: M-19

The plot of White Nights is well-planned, the script neatly written and two relatively unknown actors as the lead men - Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines - carry this feature well. The end result is a touching, funny drama with a romantic edge. It is, therefore, a good film in its own right. But the real reason to see it is for the spectacular dancing of Baryshnikov. I last saw the film - wait for it - in 1990 but it has remained one of the most moving films I have ever seen: so much so that it inspired me to pay a sizeable sum for the pleasure of seeing Baryshnikov dance at the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London in June 1999, 9 years later, having never thought I would have the opportunity to see my school-days hero live and in person...

Gregory Hines is a good second-lead (and has been much underused in films since), providing a sparring partner for Baryshnikov both in dance - as jazz/tap dancer vs ballet dancer - and to the benefit of the script. Isabella Rosselini plays a damsel in distress, complementing the duo and providing the romantic angle, balancing the story-line.

Overall it is a well-made film, though not the best ever, and if your interest lies about as far afield from dance as the local football field it is unlikely to appeal. But for anyone wanting to see a romantic 'weepie' it can provide a good slice of entertainment for a Sunday afternoon. And as for the dancing ... well, Baryshnikov was 37 then and I have never seen such athleticism and agility in a dancer of that age. Such expressive emotions come through his steps that he needs no words.

Without the dancing the film would undoubtedly have lost its true winning power, but with it may well have provided the motivation to dance for both children and adults ... I hope you enjoy it as much as I have

9 years later it is remains one of my top 20 best films.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for White Nights (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why did Kolya shift the blame of Darya being taken away onto Raymond? noonebutnotthatnoone
Ending? catwoman1940
Video of Russian Folk Song - Live h_nichelle
Odd Comment Heard on DVD Extras piquebu
Wedding rings? yrnej
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