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!"

---

Plot Keywords:

farce | caricature | mockery | fake documentary segment | ugly duckling | 

---

Taglines:

A life lived in fear... ...is a life half lived

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the BBC decided to re-boot their original defunct professional ballroom competition series "Come Dancing", as a Professional-Amateur Celebrity format version, by probably not entirely a coincidence after the release of "Strictly Ballroom", the new UK version was named "Strictly Come Dancing" - an obvious reference to the movie. Locally known in the UK and Ireland often just as "Strictly", all other versions of the format outside of the UK are known as "Dancing with the Stars" in English, with various titles in other languages.

---

Goofs

At the Pan Pacific Grand Prix Les is seen standing next to Shirley Hastings on the dance floor cheering Scott on, yet momentarily, 6 shots later he is seen sitting second from the left on the high table on the stage with Barry Fife. He is in two places at one time.

---

Quotes

Fran: What happened to a life lived in fear and all that stuff?
Scott: Fran...
Fran: You really are a gutless wonder!
Scott: There's a reason for this.
Fran: I don't want to hear!
Scott: Listen to me!
Fran: No!
Scott: It's hard for me too, Fran.
Fran: *Hard*? Hard? How hard do you think it's been for *me*? To get you to dance with me in the first place? Frangipannidellasqueegymop. Wash the coffee cups, Fran, how's your skin, Fran? Hard?
Scott: You don't understand.
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

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

---

Connections

Referenced in Getaway: Episode #16.31 (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
("Quizas, Quizas, Quizas")
Vocal by Doris Day
Written by Osvaldo Farrés
(c) Southern Music Publishing Co. Inc.

User Reviews

What A Way To DANCE!!

It's a love story. It's a story about being yourself. It's story of following your dreams and not giving up. It's a story with DANCING!!

A boy who loves to dance HIS WAY loses at the major dancing competition. Why or why can't he dance like the others. This is killing his mother. No one wants to be his partner now. He is TOO MUCH!

He works as an instructor at his parents dance studio. His mom wants him to dance again, but the right way. His dad doesn't say much. He is too busy reliving his old dancing days when he was happier. There is a girl who dances at the studio who wants to be his partner. She is too plain and clumsy to be taken seriously. Will she ever get the chance?? Will the boy ever make the world see his way?? Will his mom ever chill out?? Will his Dad end up in the Nuthouse??? For the answers to these questions, please get this film.

Seriously, you will love this film. Though it follows closely to the "DIRTY DANCING" story, it is much more than that. The characters are just so off the wall you will laugh your arse off. The love story is kind of sweet, but the DANCING is great!

8 out of 10

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strictly Ballroom

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

AUD3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$145,977, 15 February 1993

Gross USA:

$11,738,022

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,738,022

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beyond Films, M & A, New South Wales Film & Television Office

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1