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 | sweating | 

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Taglines:

The music is on his side.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first movie that John Lithgow has played a preacher. The second time was in the movie Kinsey (2004). Coincidentally, in both movies he is seen at the beginning of each movie preaching to a congregation about the corrupt values of that period's society.

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Goofs

In one scene with Rev. Moore, the nursery/preschool in the foreground shows two children's toys still sitting atop "apple boxes," likely from a previous scene where the toys were raised to film height.

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Quotes

Wes: It seems that a lot of people are pointing the finger in your direction lately.
Ren: And what have they said?
Wes: What I have been telling you about the trouble and the drugs and... It just seems like you've had a lot of problems since you moved here. And I figured...
Ren: You figured where there's smoke there's fire, right?
Wes: Usually works like that. Now look Ren, you know that I would never try to take the place of your father.
Ren: Yeah well, there's no chance of that!
[Gets up and leaves the house]
Lulu: Ren!
Sarah: [...]

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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 Undateable: A Bachelorette Party Walks Into a Bar (2015)

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Soundtracks

I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)
Performed by Kenny Loggins
Written by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford
Produced by David Foster and Kenny Loggins

User Reviews

Unfair reputation.

Prior to seeing this movie, all I had heard suggested that I was better off not watching it unless it was to ridicule. I looked at my uncle dancing round his living room to some of its music and asked myself if anybody expected me to take that seriously. It's got a place in movie history even for the title song alone, though, so I decided I couldn't live with myself unless I gave it a chance. It was definitely worth it.

The style is reminiscent of a whole host of other '80's teen flicks, but only a handful are better. Most of the cast do great things with their roles. Kevin Bacon actually manages to make the clichéd concept seem kinda cool, here showcasing an easy charm that was to become the hallmark of much of his later work. Crucially, the music is actually pretty good too! (Even if I am torn between wanting to cringe and dance when I hear the theme!)

On reflection it's no cheesier than something like "All the Right Moves" (which has a great cast doing their best but suffers from a plodding story) In fact, it's miles better! At least the music in "Footloose" gave the makers a viable way to pep things up whenever the story begins to flag. This film is much, MUCH better than I had been led to believe, so give it a chance if you ain't seen it yet but thought you knew the score. Chances are, you don't...

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1984 (USA)

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:

$80,039,044

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