The Turning Point (1977)

When her daughter joins a ballet company, a former dancer is forced to confront her long-ago decision to give up the stage to have a family.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Arthur Laurents

Stars:

Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, Mikhail Baryshnikov

Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anne Bancroft	...	Emma Jacklin
Shirley MacLaine	...	Deedee
Tom Skerritt	...	Wayne
Mikhail Baryshnikov	...	Yuri
Leslie Browne	...	Emilia
Martha Scott	...	Adelaide
Antoinette Sibley	...	Sevilla Haslam
Alexandra Danilova	...	Madame Dahkarova
Starr Danias	...	Carolyn
Marshall Thompson	...	Carter
James Mitchell	...	Michael
Daniel Levins	...	Arnold (as Daniel Levans)
Scott Douglas	...	Freddie
Lisa Lucas	...	Janina
Phillip Saunders	...	Ethan

Storyline

The story of two women whose lives are dedicated to ballet. Deedee left her promising dance career to become a wife and mother and now runs a ballet school in Oklahoma. Emma stayed with a company and became a star though her time has nearly passed. Both want what the other has and reflect on missed chances as they are brought together again through Deedee's daughter, who joins the company.

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Plot Keywords:

ballet | dancer | dance | motherhood | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

A moving story. A romantic story. A story of envy, hatred, friendship, triumph and love.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the non-principal parts in the movie were played by dancers who had never done any straight acting before.

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Goofs

During the Gala Performance sequence, when Baryshnikov is circling the stage with leaps in his "Le Corsaire" solo, the shadows of the camera on its tripod and two crew members are clearly visible on the floor.

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Quotes

[looking back at old pictures of themselves]
Deedee Rodgers: Oh God, I looked like shit.
Emma Jacklin: Next to Wayne, we all did...

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Connections

Referenced in The Beast Within: The Making of 'Alien' (2003)

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Soundtracks

Dom chrustalniy
(uncredited)
Performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov
Composed by Vladimir Vysotskiy

User Reviews

Essential for dance lovers.

After my 26th time watching The Turning Point I stopped counting my viewings. Some viewers might say it's not a tightly-written drama, and I don't care. For anyone who's ever enjoyed a dance performance, this is a must-see...or must-OWN. Mikhail Baryshnikov, recently-defected and at the absolute peak of his extrahuman abilities, is nothing short of breathtaking in this film. The first time he's shown dancing in the rehearsal studio invariably takes away my ability to breathe.

I also admit that I like the stories which provide the framework for the dance performances. When The Turning Point was originally released, I was about to turn 30. Now bumping my head on 60, I've seen the decisions, transitions, and forks in life's road which face all the film's characters, and have a much greater appreciation for the truth of the film. Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Tom Skerrit, and Anthony Zerbe are, as we'd expect, excellent. The 18-year-old Leslie Browne is lovely, and a fine dancer. I'm particularly fond of Alexandra Danilova, one of ballet's immortals, as the matriarchal Madame Dhakarova. In the scene where she's coaching a much-younger woman on the Don Quixote pas de deux, she performs the role not only more correctly, but also more playfully and flirtatiously than her student. It's a treat to see.

I love dance (see review of All That Jazz), and I admit my bias freely. In addition to spectacular dance performances, there are good, human stories behind the 70's clothing and hair styles, so watch this film at least once and decide for yourself whether you'll see it again.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 November 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Turning Point

Filming Locations:

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$25,933,445

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,933,445

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hera Productions, Major Studio Partners, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1