Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)

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

Director:

Randall Miller

Writers:

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

Stars:

John Goodman, Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Dance is a very powerful drug, if embraced judiciously; to reap its rewards, one must shoulder its challenges with intrepid countenance. Frank Keene, a grieving baker in a near catatonic state, happens on a car accident. The loquacious and insightful victim, Steve Mills, is on his way to an appointment in Pasadena with a years-ago acquaintance; he asks Frank to go in his place. It's a dance class. Frank goes, to find Steve's friend. The story moves back and forth among Steve's childhood, the scene of the accident, and the aftermath of Frank's first Lindy hop. Black eyes, group therapy, loneliness, boys being boys, roads not taken, and saying good-bye color the story.

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Plot Keywords:

dance | therapy | black eye | appointment | baker | 

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Taglines:

When destiny leads, love follows.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature situations and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2006 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Ballroom Dancing

Filming Locations:

Eagle Rock, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$92,668 (USA) (31 March 2006)

Gross:

$247,141 (USA) (9 June 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shoreline Entertainment, Unclaimed Freight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

When practicing the waltz, one boy counts off 1-2-3-4. The waltz is a three count.

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Quotes

Steve Mills: In 1962, Pez were cool, Zagnuts, Bombpops and Good-n-Plenty were very cool. The gum in baseball cards still tasted good. Kennedy was president then. Bay of Pigs, nuclear testing in Nevada, the Red Scare. McDonalds only had a million served. I was twelve-years-old and I hated girls more than liver. I mean they weren't good at the really important things. They always lost in the cafeteria hotdog eating contest. Tommy Tanksley, he could unhinge his mouth like a snake or something. And in rope ...

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Connections

References The Guns of Navarone (1961)

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Soundtracks

"Begin the Beguine"
(1935)
Written by Cole Porter
Produced by Mark Adler
Courtesy of WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Outstanding Cast, Great Story

I loved the movie. I hope you get a chance to see it and it comes to your area. Its a great life story. John Goodman plays a man who is trying to return to his childhood girlfriend. Robert Carlyle finds him in his hour of need, and agrees to meet the childhood girlfriend for him

Robert Carlyle and Marisa Tomei are so wonderful together. The story of their meeting and falling and love is very romantic.

Mary Steenburgen is outstanding in her role as the dance instructor.

And Donnie Wahlberg steals the movie with his character.

Its a movie filled with outstanding actors. And a very touching and moving story. With great childhood stories.