Flashdance (1983)

A Pittsburgh woman with two jobs as a welder and an exotic dancer wants to get into ballet school.

Director:

Adrian Lyne

Writers:

Thomas Hedley Jr. (screenplay) (as Tom Hedley), Joe Eszterhas (screenplay)

Stars:

Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala

Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Beals	...	Alex Owens
Michael Nouri	...	Nick Hurley
Lilia Skala	...	Hanna Long
Sunny Johnson	...	Jeanie Szabo
Kyle T. Heffner	...	Richie
Lee Ving	...	Johnny C.
Ron Karabatsos	...	Jake Mawby
Belinda Bauer	...	Katie Hurley
Malcolm Danare	...	Cecil
Philip Bruns	...	Frank Szabo (as Phil Bruns)
Micole Mercurio	...	Rosemary Szabo
Lucy Lee Flippin	...	Secretary
Don Brockett	...	Pete
Cynthia Rhodes	...	Tina Tech
Durga McBroom	...	Heels

Storyline

Alex Owens is a female dynamo: steel worker by day, exotic dancer by night. Her dream is to get into a real dance company, though, and with encouragement from her boss/boyfriend, she may get her chance. The city of Pittsburgh co-stars. What a feeling!

---

Plot Keywords:

cabaret | ballet | dancer | dance | cook | 

---

Taglines:

Something happens when she hears the music...it's her freedom. It's her fire. It's her life.

---

Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flashdance

Filming Locations:

440 S June St, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$94,900,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$205,900,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to his autobiography "Is That It?" Bob Geldof was offered a role in this film, after director Adrian Lyne was impressed by his performance in Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982). Geldof turned it down.

---

Goofs

When Richie comes back to the bar and he is talking to Jeanie, she puts her coat on twice.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Nick: l'll tell you what. l'll give you the Cowboys and three.
Pete: Three and a half.
Nick: Take three, be happy.
Pete: Three and a half. l'm ecstatic.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Goldbergs: Who Are You Going to Telephone? (2013)

---

Soundtracks

It's Just Begun
by Jimmy Castor, John Pruitt & Gerry Thomas
Performed by Jimmy Castor & The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Amazing Soundtrack of 80's

What makes a good film for me is that it is enjoyable, entertaining, gripping, likable and emotional. Flashdance without a doubt ticks all these five boxes. Flahdance is a very retro, cheesy entertaining film that is at no point boring and never drags, and is also a very clear symbol of the great 1980's and the night club exotic dancing scene of the time. Jennifer Beals puts down an amazing performance, as a dancer and as an actress. I guess the story comes down to the fact that reality bites, that life is tough, but if you push hard you just might make it.

All in all, Flashdance despite its few undeniable faults is a very decent and enjoyable film in my opinion. As it mostly meets all of my requirements I am happy to give it a positive review. This film is one of the quintessential 80's films, that works well as a symbolic artifact of its time. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves 80's.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.