Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Director:

Baz Luhrmann

Writers:

Baz Luhrmann (original idea)
Baz Luhrmann (earlier screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

There's something in the air. It might be love -- but it isn't.

Plot:

Brave new steps put Scott's career in jeopardy. With a new partner and determination, can he still succeed?

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Mock Documentary | Australia | Ballroom Dancing | Spoof

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 17 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Paul Mercurio	...	Scott Hastings
Tara Morice	...	Fran
Bill Hunter	...	Barry Fife
Pat Thomson	...	Shirley Hastings
Gia Carides	...	Liz Holt
Peter Whitford	...	Les Kendall
Barry Otto	...	Doug Hastings
John Hannan	...	Ken Railings
Sonia Kruger	...	Tina Sparkle
Kris McQuade	...	Charm Leachman
Pip Mushin	...	Wayne Burns
Leonie Page	...	Vanessa Cronin
Antonio Vargas	...	Rico
Armonia Benedito	...	Ya Ya
Jack Webster	...	Terry
Lauren Hewett	...	Kylie Hastings
Steve Grace	...	Luke
Paul Bertram	...	J.J. Silvers, State Finals MC
Di Emery	...	Waitress
Lara Mulcahy	...	Natalie
Brian M. Logan	...	Clarey
Michael Burgess	...	Merv
Todd McKenney	...	Nathan Starkey
Kerry Shrimpton	...	Pam Short
Simone Gage	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Bradley Sabott	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Ray Mather	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Jo Shinta	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Peter Lynch	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Lee Becchiet	...	Dancer at Kendall's Studio
Warren Ring	...	Try-Out Coach
Jaja Jamieson	...	Try-Out Coach
John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell	...	Try-Out Coach
Anita Curtis	...	Try-Out Girl
Roxana Vella	...	Try-Out Girl
Deanne Curtis	...	Try-Out Girl
Ángel García	...	Toledo Guitarist
Dene Kermond	...	New Steps Family
Genevieve White	...	New Steps Family
Lisa Ellis	...	New Steps Family
Jacqueline Lendich	...	New Steps Family
Bob Adams	...	New Steps Family

Directed by
Baz Luhrmann

Writing credits
Baz Luhrmann		(original idea)
Baz Luhrmann		(earlier screenplay) and
Andrew Bovell		(earlier screenplay)
Baz Luhrmann		(screenplay) and
Craig Pearce		(screenplay)

Produced by
Antoinette Albert	....	executive producer
Tristram Miall	....	producer
Jane Scott	....	line producer

Original Music by
David Hirschfelder

Cinematography by
Steve Mason

Film Editing by
Jill Bilcock

Casting by
Faith Martin
Fiona McConaghy

Production Design by
Catherine Martin

Art Direction by
Martin Brown

Costume Design by
Angus Strathie

Makeup Department
Rebecca Simons	....	assistant hair stylist
Rebecca Simons	....	assistant makeup artist
Lesley Vanderwalt	....	makeup designer
Paul Williams	....	hair designer

Production Management
Justin Plummer	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sue Andrews	....	assistant director
Keith Heygate	....	first assistant director
John Martin	....	third assistant director
P.J. Voeten	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mary Baumont	....	constructor
Tony Campbell	....	art department runner
Guy Chapman	....	construction assistant
Rebecca Cohen	....	property buyer
Rebecca Cohen	....	set dresser
Alan Craft	....	scenic artist
Peter Grady	....	constructor
Bill Marron	....	assistant production designer
Bill Marron	....	property buyer
Bill Marron	....	set dresser
Terry Matthews	....	constructor
Julieanne Mills	....	art department coordinator
Elizabeth Mary Moore	....	art department attachment
Michael Philips	....	draughtsman
Michael Philips	....	model maker
Lynn Rowland	....	scenic artist
Steve Smith	....	scenic artist
Duncan Stemler	....	draughtsman
Duncan Stemler	....	model maker
Justine Thompson	....	property buyer
Justine Thompson	....	set dresser
George Zammit	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Bruce Brown	....	sound effects mixer
Steve Burgess	....	foley recordist
Julius Chan	....	sound effects editor
Michael Costa	....	sound editor
Stuart Cottom	....	sound department attachment
Andy Duncan	....	boom operator
Jack Friedman	....	playback operator
Antony Gray	....	dialogue editor
David Grusovin	....	assistant dialogue editor
Phil Judd	....	sound mixer
Gerry Long	....	foley artist
Ian McLoughlin	....	sound mixer
Ben Osmo	....	sound recordist
Wayne Pashley	....	sound effects editor
Paul Pirola	....	foley recordist
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Simon B. Sheridan	....	assistant sound engineer

Visual Effects by
Roger Cowland	....	opticals

Camera and Electrical Department
Leah Ashenhurst	....	clapper loader
Ross Berryman	....	second camera operator
Alan Dunstan	....	electrician
Reg Garside	....	gaffer
Stephen W. Gray	....	electrician
Alan Hansen	....	assistant grip
Alan Hansen	....	assistant key grip
Alan Hansen	....	grip
Gary Hill	....	best boy
Ian Jones	....	Steadicam operator
Philip Le Masurier	....	still photographer
Andrew McLean	....	second camera operator
John Platt	....	focus puller
Paul Thompson	....	key grip
David Woodward	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Faith Martin	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lyn Askew	....	stand-by wardrobe
Kym Barrett	....	wardrobe assistant
Kym Barrett	....	wardrobe buyer
Peter Bevan	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kym Bywater	....	costume detailing
Christopher Essex	....	costumer
Melissa Harrison	....	costume detailing
Nola Lowe	....	costumer
Anthony Phillips	....	costumer
Suzette Waters	....	costume detailing

Editorial Department
Arthur Cambridge	....	color grader
Nick Cole	....	second assistant editor
Jane Moran	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Ric Formosa	....	additional orchestrator
Phillip Hartl	....	concert master
Gerardo Matos Rodríguez	....	composer: tango "La Cumparsita"

Transportation Department
Jonathan Clouston	....	vehicle rig
Jeremy Hutchinson	....	unit driver

Other crew
Trish Cameron	....	secretary to producer
Roger Cowland	....	title designer
Michele D'Arcey	....	production accountant
John Faithful	....	caterer
Dina Gillespie	....	unit publisher
Christine Gordon	....	production secretary
Lisa Hennessey	....	location manager
Amanda Higgs	....	production assistant
Amanda Higgs	....	runner
Sonia Kruger	....	ballroom advisor
Claude Lambert	....	safety officer
Bill Marron	....	title designer
Catherine Martin	....	title designer
Ray Mather	....	assistant choreographer
Tania McGuinness	....	double: Liz Holt
Paul Mercurio	....	additional choreographer
John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell	....	choreographer
Ian Russell	....	laboratory liaison
Nicole Sheridan	....	copyright clearance
Rowena Talacko	....	production coordinator
Antonio Vargas	....	flamenco dance trainer
Jo Weeks	....	continuity

Production Companies

• M & A
• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
• Beyond Films
• Rank Organisation, The

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1993) (USA)
• Filmayer (Spain)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Europa Filmes (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Ronin Films

Other Companies

• Albert Studios  post-production
• Albert Studios  sound recording
• East Coast Signs  scenic artists
• Hammel Jewell  insurance broker
• Melbourne Sports & Entertainment Centre  dance
• Michael Frankel & Company Solicitors  legal
• Radar Pty. Ltd.  construction
• Rob Ricketson Design  construction
• Rosenfeld, Kent & Co.  auditor
• Samuelson Film Service Pty. Ltd.  camera equipment
• Sony Music  soundtrack
• Sydney Philharmonic Choir  choral voices
• The Funny Farm  title shoot

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and sensuality.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | South Africa:PG | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

M & A

Trivia:

The film received a 15-minute standing ovation when it played at the Cannes Film Festival, where an agent of Rank Films promptly snapped up the UK release rights for a million pounds in cash.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Doug Hastings begins improvising new steps in the flashback, there is a great deal of glitter on the floor in the close-up, but the floor is clean in the full-body shots.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Doug Hastings: Son, can I bend your ear for a tick?
Scott: Not now, Dad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Even Stevens: Strictly Ballroom (#1.19)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Time After Time

Funny, inspiring, offbeat, creative

An outstanding movie in nearly every regard. Filmed in Australia on a tight budget, this movie succeeds in the one area that counts most: it _entertains_ the viewer.

A parody of "underdog makes good" movies, Strictly Ballroom is set in the competitive world of ballroom dancing. The movie educates (about ballroom dancing), amuses (especially with the bumbling bad guys), and uplifts (with the take-home message about following your dreams).

The show is stolen by Paul Mercurio, starring as the protagonist male dancer. His acting and dancing are superb.

A bit corny, a bit burlesque, but lots of fun! What more could you want?