Tap (1989)

Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to burglar or tap dancer.

Director:

Nick Castle

Writer:

Nick Castle

Stars:

Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr., Suzzanne Douglas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gregory Hines	...	Max Washington
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Little Mo
Suzzanne Douglas	...	Amy Simms
Savion Glover	...	Louis Simms
Terrence E. McNally	...	Bob Wythe
Joe Morton	...	Nicky
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Francis
Bunny Briggs	...	Bunny
Steve Condos	...	Steve
Arthur Duncan	...	Arthur
Pat Rico	...	Pat
Howard 'Sandman' Sims	...	Sandman
Jimmy Slyde	...	Slim
Harold Nicholas	...	Harold
Jane Goldberg	...	Dancer

Storyline

Max Washington has just been released from prison after serving time for burglary. He returns to his old hangout, a hoofer club. (Tap dancer club). His old girl friend, Amy, who still works at the club as a Tap instructor, is less than thrilled to see him. Her father, Little Mo, is happy to see him, because he has plans for a show involving Max. In addition, Max's old partners in crime have another job they want him to do.

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | tap dancing | mother son relationship | african american | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes, no matter what, you can't escape the rhythm.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Dança de Duas Vidas

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$9,114,702 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beco Films, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Jimmy Slyde finishes his set during the challenge dance, he winds up on the opposite side of the room from Little Mo and stays there. But when Little Mo reacts to the set-up of Harold Nicholas' jump, Slyde is standing next to him again.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, the photograph of Bill Bailey animates to show him backsliding (i.e., moonwalking).

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Connections

References Crocodile Dundee (1986)

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Soundtracks

"Can't Escape The Rhythm"
Sung and danced by Gregory Hines
Written by James Newton Howard and Glen Ballard

User Reviews

Very good, if you like tap dancing

Max is the son of Sonny, who was a great tap dancer. Max has inherited his father's talent but there are few opportunities to use it, so he has had to turn to crime. The big question: will he be able to go straight using his talent? The dancing is what makes this movie work, but Sammy Davis Jr. gives a wonderful performance as a washed-up dancer, and Sandman Sims makes an impact as a cynical former dancer who doesn't think much of today's music and dance. Gregory Hines does a capable job too. Savion Glover is also quite good as Amy's son. Suzzanne Douglass is good as dance teacher Amy.

At the time this movie was made, Gregory Hines must surely have been the best living tap dancer. If he wasn't, one of his co-stars probably was. In one of the movie's most memorable scenes, Max comments that the old men don't have the ability any more. They take this as a challenge and display incredible talent. Little Mo and Max actually have a duel of sorts, much like the Arthur Smith composition adapted as 'Dueling Banjos' for 'Deliverance'.

Another great scene is the one where Max shows where he got his ideas for routines by dancing in the streets of New York while construction is going on.

And there is the scene where 11-year-old Lewis is teaching Amy's dance class above Sonny's.

There was plenty of good music here, but surprisingly, a lot of the dancing was done without music--though what I like most about tap is the music made by the dancers, much like the percussion style of Buddy Rich. I especially liked the arrangement of 'Cheek to Cheek' which started out as elevator music when Max and Amy were dancing ballroom style, but changed over to jazz when they switched to tap. I wasn't crazy about attempts to make tap more hip by adding special equipment to shoes so the dancing could be heard with rock music, but it made the movie interesting.

This was worth seeing.