Strictly Ballroom (1992)

A maverick dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner.

Director:

Baz Luhrmann

Writers:

Baz Luhrmann (original idea), Baz Luhrmann (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 19 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Mercurio	...	Scott Hastings
Tara Morice	...	Fran
Bill Hunter	...	Barry Fife
Pat Thomson	...	Shirley Hastings
Gia Carides	...	Liz Holt
Peter Whitford	...	Les Kendall
Barry Otto	...	Doug Hastings
John Hannan	...	Ken Railings
Sonia Kruger	...	Tina Sparkle
Kris McQuade	...	Charm Leachman
Pip Mushin	...	Wayne Burns
Leonie Page	...	Vanessa Cronin
Antonio Vargas	...	Rico
Armonia Benedito	...	Ya Ya
Jack Webster	...	Terry

Storyline

Scott Hastings is a champion caliber ballroom dancer, but much to the chagrin of the Australian ballroom dance community, Scott believes in dancing "his own steps". Fran is a beginning dancer and a bit of an ugly duckly who has the audacity to ask to be Scott's partner after his unorthodox style causes his regular partner to dance out of his life. Together, these two misfits try to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championships and show the Ballroom Confederation that they are wrong when they say, "there are no new steps!"

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Plot Keywords:

dance | father son relationship | mother son relationship | cinderella story | ballroom dancing | 

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Taglines:

There's something in the air. It might be love -- but it isn't.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ballroom - Gara di ballo

Filming Locations:

Marrickville Road and Victoria Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,738,022

Company Credits

Production Co:

M & A, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Beyond Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film received a 15-minute standing ovation when it played at the Cannes Film Festival, where an agent of Rank Films promptly snapped up the UK release rights for a million pounds in cash.

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Goofs

When Shirley Hastings finally rips the calendar pages off in anger shouting, "It was his year," some of the pages underneath also show days marked off and the Pan-Pacific date circled in red.

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Quotes

Doug Hastings: We had the chance but we were scared. We walked away. WE LIVED OUR LIVES IN FEAR!

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Crazy Credits

Preceding the end credits is the note: This film is dedicated to Ted Albert

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Connections

Referenced in Even Stevens: Strictly Ballroom (2001)

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Soundtracks

Yesterday's Hero
Vocal by John Paul Young
Written by Harry Vanda & George Young
(c) J. Albert & Son Pty Ltd
by Courtesy of Albert Productions

User Reviews

A wonderful, emotional, quirky, uplifting movie!

The first time I saw Strictly Ballroom I tuned in accidentally to the grand climax while flipping through my cable channels: I was transfixed, and when the ten minutes was over I felt emotionally spent and stimulated at the same time, as if some door had been opened in my psyche. I knew I had to find the movie and watch it in its entirety. Now, fifteen viewings, a VHS tape, audio tape, and music CD of SB later, I happened upon it again tonight (interspliced with Sister Act by Emile Ardolino...), and I again watched the grand climax, with a bit of lead-in, with my wife and young sons. It was just as emotional and powerful as the first time, and I cried yet again. This is a very very special film. Baz Luhrman takes risks that most directors would not dare to, and his movies work because he gets to the heart of the matter, gets to the truth. In this case, the truth is "To thine own self be true", a familiar message told in a fresh and wonderful way. Bravo.