Footloose (1984)

A city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Dean Pitchford

Stars:

Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Bacon	...	Ren
Lori Singer	...	Ariel
John Lithgow	...	Rev. Shaw Moore
Dianne Wiest	...	Vi Moore
Chris Penn	...	Willard (as Christopher Penn)
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Rusty
John Laughlin	...	Woody
Elizabeth Gorcey	...	Wendy Jo
Frances Lee McCain	...	Ethel McCormack
Jim Youngs	...	Chuck Cranston
Douglas Dirkson	...	Burlington Cranston
Lynne Marta	...	Lulu Warnicker
Arthur Rosenberg	...	Wes Warnicker
Timothy Scott	...	Andy Beamis
Alan Haufrect	...	Coach Roger Dunbar

Storyline

Classic tale of teenage rebellion and repression features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic and touching performances. When teenager Ren McCormack and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small Midwestern town, he's in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can't quite believe he's living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. However, there is one small pleasure: Ariel Moore, a troubled but lovely blonde with a jealous boyfriend. And a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner, but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople. Fast-paced drama is filled with such now-famous hit songs as the title track and "Let's Hear It for the Boy".

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Plot Keywords:

teenage rebellion | small town | high school dance | church | man in shower | 

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Taglines:

One kid. One town. One chance.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Tous Public

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dianne Wiest was in Edward Scissorhands (1990) which was directed by Tim Burton who also directed Planet of the apes (2001), John Lithgow was in the reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).

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Goofs

The second breakdancer's jacket is on/off between shots.

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Quotes

Reverend Shaw Moore: Were you drinking?
Ariel: No.
Reverend Shaw Moore: Smoking something?
Ariel: No! I wasn't stealing, I wasn't gambling, I wasn't dancing, I wasn't reading books I'm not supposed to! I am late!
Reverend Shaw Moore: Who were you with?
Ariel: Ren McCormick.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I don't want you to see him anymore.
Ariel: Why not?
Reverend Shaw Moore: Because I've heard he's a troublemaker.
Ariel: Just because he hasn't lived in this town for 20 years doesn't make him a troublemaker!
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by 2 minutes 48 secs by the BBFC to receive a PG certificate with heavy edits to the fight scenes and Ariel's beating by her boyfriend, some cuts to raunchy dialogue (including Ariel's line "I'm not a virgin") and the entire removal of the scene showing Ren being offered a marijuana joint. The cuts were fully restored in all 15-rated video and DVD releases.

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Connections

Referenced in Alice: Footloose Mel (1984)

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Soundtracks

Holding Out for a Hero
Performed by Bonnie Tyler
Written by Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford
Produced by Jim Steinman

User Reviews

Gotta Cut Loose for Kevin Bacon

Aw, come on IMDb'ers, why the low rating? Where's your sense of loyalty? I can't hear that Kenny Loggins title song and see those pairs of dancing feet during the opening credits without sitting down to watch this whole movie. And even if it's largely to make fun of it, I still love it for old times' sake.

Kevin Bacon is the tough city kid stuck in some podunk Midwest town where dancing has been outlawed. John Lithgow is the preacher who serves as Bacon's arch nemesis; Lori Singer is the preacher's daughter who has a hankering for the new dangerous kid. Dianne Wiest is the reasonable mom who acts as referee between dad and daughter. The whole thing is sillier than an episode of "Laugh-In," but many of the actors (particularly Lithgow, Wiest and Bacon) are good enough to actually sell the material. And come on, admit it, you know you like the music.

Grade: B+

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1984 (France)

Also Known As:

Footloose

Filming Locations:

American Fork Community Presbyterian Church - 75 North 100 East, American Fork, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,556,935, 20 February 1984

Gross USA:

$80,035,402

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$80,035,402

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, IndieProd Company Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1