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Polygram Pictures
Not part of a collection.
One singular sensation!
A group of dancers congregate on the stage of a Broadway theatre to audition for a new musical production directed by Zach. After the initial eliminations, seventeen hopefuls remain, among them Cassie, who once had a tempestuous romantic relationship with Zach. She is desperate enough for work to humble herself and audition for him; whether he's willing to let professionalism overcome his personal feelings about their past remains to be seen.
CinemaSerf
Jul 21, 2023 · via TMDB
Were it not for Marvin Hamlisch's "Surprise, Surprise" then I think this film would be even more forgettable than it actually is. Michael Douglas is the hard-to-please Broadway director "Zach" who is casting the dance ensemble for his latest production. Aided by his sidekick "Larry" (Terrence Mann) he pits the would-be's through their paces with rigorous routines and some rather invasive questioning about their lives, families and peccadilloes. I did see this on stage and felt it a rather flat and introspective of an industry that should usually keep it's casting practices under wraps. Here, Richard Attenborough attempts to lay these bare for the big screen and ends up with a rather dull, processional series of footwork demonstrations and sob-stories that are pretty wearisome to endure after a repetitive first half an hour. Alyson Reed clutters the thing up further as the down-on-her-luck "Cassie" who is looking for favours from a man who seems pretty impervious to many of the decent aspects of human nature. The stage setting is too sterile to engage for long, and the characterisations fit just about every stereotype in the book as these youngsters vie for this latest opportunity to shine (and eat!). I didn't hate this, but it's really a rather disappointing foray into the potentially fascinating world of who wins and who doesn't in this highly competitive and fickle environment!
talisencrw
Apr 11, 2016 · via TMDB
For what it is--a slice-of-life of a group of people, trying to make the big-time and at least be able to say that they were on Broadway--it's a fine work. I admit I haven't seen the stage play--which many sources say is far superior to this filmic adaptation. I'm rather surprised that: a) Michael Douglas gets star status here, or is even involved. He doesn't dance here. The film would have worked so much better if it showed his character showing some dance moves and getting across to the dancers what he wanted. Both his character would have connected better with the dancers, and he would have connected better with filmgoers; and b) that Lord Richard Attenborough got involved with this: It's definitely not his forte or cup of tea. Perhaps he wanted to expand his directorial palette, or that some of his influences were masters of the genre, such as Lubitsch or Minnelli. Personally, I wish I knew, for he has done much better work in his career. Overall, not one of the better of contemporary (post-1970) musicals, but worth seeing once, if renting or seeing that it's coming on TV. Not a top purchase priority, unless you are a Douglas or Attenborough completest, and then prepare to be disappointed.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Michael Douglas
Zach
Alyson Reed
Cassie
Terrence Mann
Larry
Gregg Burge
Richie
Vicki Frederick
Sheila
Michelle Johnston
Bebe
Audrey Landers
Val
Janet Jones
Judy
Cameron English
Paul
Nicole Fosse
Kristine
Justin Ross
Greg
Jan Gan Boyd
Connie
Sharon Brown
Kim
Charles McGowan
Mike
Blane Savage
Don
Pat McNamara
Robbie
Sammy Smith
Doorman
Timothy Scott
Boy with Headband
Melissa Randel
Reject Dancer
Mansoor Najee-Ullah
Cab Driver
Peter Fitzgerald
Dancer with Gum
John Hammil
Advertising Executive
Gloria Lynch
Taxi Passenger
Khandi Alexander
Dancer
Roxann Dawson
Dancer
Leslie Cook
Dancer
John DeLuca
Dancer
Niki Haris
Dancer
Scott Plank
Dancer
Leslie Stevens
Dancer
Yvonne Farrow
Dancer (uncredited)
Ronnie Taylor
Director of Photography
Richard Attenborough
Director
Clayton Townsend
Location Manager
Michael Tronick
Music Editor
Marvin Hamlisch
Original Music Composer
Marvin Hamlisch
Songs
No.6: The Musical
Revue Starlight ―The LIVE ONLINE―
Drug Shore
American Beauty
Neil Diamond: Greatest Hits Live
Dancer in the Dark
Fleetwood Mac: The Dance
The Anthem of the Heart
Jesus Christ Superstar - Live Arena Tour
Out
Oliver!
Paradise Now
Walk on Water
To Live, To Die, To Live Again
Mary Poppins, Goodbye
Going My Way
In the Family
Peter Pan
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Fame
A Song Is Born
Young Aphrodites
Broadway Rhythm
Frasquita
Jeffrey
A Little Night Music
Head
Show Boat
In Return
South Pacific
Pennies from Heaven
Blue Hawaii
The Achievers
Three for the Show
Two Girls and a Sailor
Wonderkid
Spork
Duets
Song of Old Wyoming
Eve Knew Her Apples
The Littlest Angel
Rhapsody
Billy
Ka Bodyscapes
Shem
Benjamin Smoke
Rock 'n' Roll Frankenstein
Ballroom
Break Me
I Accept Me!
Rico
Crianças Diante do Trono 3 - Quem é Jesus?
Mary I Love You
Silver Fang -The Shooting Star Gin part 1- The Ties of Friendship
All the Love Heaven Allows
Romeo and Juliet '99
AI Junko
Abysse
Filme de Boxe #357
Twenty One Pilots: Livestream Experience
Bohemian Rhapsody
Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour
tick, tick... BOOM!
Synecdoche, New York
Almost Famous
Hamlet
TÁR
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Center Stage
Jersey Boys
People Like Us
Newsies
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Black Widow
King Creole
Resurrecting the Champ
Love Is Strange
Killer's Kiss
The Sound of Music Live!
Kid Galahad
The Jazz Singer
Grace Unplugged
Teen Spirit
A Kid Like Jake
Dec 10, 1985
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All Eyez on Me
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2022
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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