Flashdance
| Flashdance | |
|---|---|
| File:Flashdance.jpg | |
| Directed by | Adrian Lyne |
| Starring | Jennifer Beals |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date | 1983 |
Flashdance is a 1983 musical/romance film co-written by Tom Hedley (story/screenplay) and Joe Eszterhas, and directed by Adrian Lyne. It stars Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri.
The movie tells the story of blue-collar worker Alexandra Owens (Beals). It is based on the life of construction worker/welder-turned-dancer Maureen Marder. She works as a dancer in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bar at night, and in a construction site as a welder during the day, but dreams of joining an upscale dancing school.
Some consider the film a 1980s Hollywood classic, a view not shared by Roger Ebert, who included it on his list of most hated films. It is famous for its dancing, particularly by the protagonist Alex (portrayed while dancing by Marine Jahan and several others, including breakdancer Crazy Legs).
Its soundtrack includes Giorgio Moroder's Oscar winning hit Flashdance... What a Feeling (sung by Irene Cara), as well as other hits, such as Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky's Maniac. The film is not a musical in the traditional sense, in that the characters do not break into song as part of the story's diegesis, however the music is a vital component of the film. Many of the dance/musical sequences, several of which are part of Alex's bar job, are presented in the form of music videos.
Taglines:
- What a feeling.
- When the dancer becomes the dance.
- Take your passion... And make it happen!
- Something happens when she hears the music...it's her freedom. It's her fire. It's her life.
Plot summary
Template:Spoiler Alex meets her construction company boss Nick Hurley (Nouri) and they quickly fall in love. Meanwhile, she keeps practicing hard, waiting for her opportunity to join a school to come up. When it finally does, she gets scared that she will be rejected and decides not to apply. However, with the help of her boyfriend, she is given a second chance.
This time, Alex trains even harder. After a long dancing routine she gets accepted to the school.
There are a few subplots that rely on Alex's friends and enemies. Template:Endspoiler
Soundtrack highlights
- "Imagination" (Laura Branigan)
- "Flashdance...What a Feeling" (Irene Cara) won the Academy Award for Best Song
- "I'll Be There Where the Heart Is" (Kim Carnes)
- "Lady, Lady, Lady" (Joe Bean Esposito)
- "Manhunt" (Karen Kamon)
- "Love Theme from Flashdance" (Helen St. John)
- "Maniac" (Michael Sembello)
- "Romeo" (Donna Summer)
- "He's a Dream" (Shandi)
- "Seduce Me Tonight" (Cycle V)
- "It's Just Begun" (Jimmy Castor and the Jimmy Bunch)
- "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
Controversy
Maureen Marder, the woman whose life the movie is based on, has sued to gain copyright interest in the movie several times. On the rejection of her latest lawsuit the three judge panel ruled that the agreement between Paramount and Marder "appears to be unfair" but that "there is simply no evidence that her consent was obtained by fraud, deception, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence." The judges also backed a lower court's dismissal of her lawsuit against Sony Corp. and Jennifer Lopez for Lopez's "I'm Glad" video in which she mimicked some of the notable dance moves from the film.
Marder signed away the film rights to Paramount in 1982 for $2,300. The film has gained over $150 million worldwide.