Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Randall Miller

Writers (WGA):

Randall Miller (short film "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School")
Randall Miller (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 January 2006 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

When destiny leads, love follows.

Plot:

A widowed man's life turns upside down when he embarks on a journey to find a dying man's long lost love.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Baker | Appointment | Black Eye | Therapy

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Goodman	...	Steve Mills
Elden Henson	...	Young Steve Mills / Samson
Robert Carlyle	...	Frank Keane
Sean Astin	...	Kip Kipling
Teresa Johnston	...	Kate Collmary
Kelley Parker	...	Young Lisa Gobar
Michael Bower	...	Tommy Tanksley (as Michael Ray Bower)
Chance Michael Corbitt	...	Peter Jelliffe
Joshua Horowitz	...	Kenny Dulin
Philip Perlman	...	Civil Defense Man (as Phil Perlman)
Maria Parkinson	...	Miss Parkinson
Karlyn Michelson	...	Lucy (as Karlyn Hayley Michelson)
Camryn Manheim	...	Lisa Gobar
Octavia Spencer	...	Ayisha Lebaron
Marisa Tomei	...	Meredith Morrison

Also Known As:

Ballroom Dancing (Hong Kong: English title) (short title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature situations and language.

Runtime:

USA:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:12A | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Eagle Rock, California, USA

Company:

Shoreline Entertainment

Trivia:

The flashback scenes are taken from the short film Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (1990).

Quotes:

Marienne Hotchkiss: Dance is a very powerful drug Mr. Keane. If embraced judiciously, it can exorcise demons, access deep seated emotions and color your life in joyous shades of brilliant magenta that you never knew existed. But, one must shoulder its challenges with intrepid countenance if one is ever to reap its rewards.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

Merengue Pie

Beautiful and charming film

I caught this film at the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck Michigan. Directed by Randall Miller and a star filled cast, this film was the best of the festival, and may be one of my favorites of the year. The film begins with baker Robert Carlyle driving down a deserted highway. He comes upon a stranger in a car wreck, played by John Goodman, and the two talk with each other, waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Goodman tells Carlyle of his planned reunion with his childhood love at the place mentioned in the title.

This beautiful film is wonderfully acted, with such stars as Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, Donnie Wahlberg, David Paymer, and Ernie Hudson. I loved the story, I didn't realize you could do so much with such a simple outline. I loved the structure of the film, the way it was edited and shot. There were some very funny moments, very touching moments, and overall it's just a great experience. Some of the filmmakers showed up for the festival and had some great stories to tell. The movie was originally made 15 years ago as a short film of the same title, and a lot of the scenes from the short film are used in the feature as flashback scenes (I knew I saw Donkeylips from Salute Your Shorts).

I think with such an all-star cast and such a good story, this film will at least get release in major cities. So if you get the chance, check this movie out.