Stepping Out (1991 film)
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| Stepping Out | |
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 One-sheet promotional poster. |
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| Directed by | Lewis Gilbert |
| Produced by | John Dark Lewis Gilbert |
| Written by | Richard Harris |
| Starring | Liza Minnelli |
| Music by | Peter Matz |
| Cinematography | Alan Hume |
| Editing by | Humphrey Dixon |
| Release date(s) | 1991 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Stepping Out is a 1991 musical-comedy film directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Liza Minnelli, written by Richard Harris and based on a play also written by Richard Harris. Minnelli plays the role of a has-been Broadway performer who teaches tap lessons to a group of misfits who, through their dance classes, bond together and realise what they really can achieve. All the actors who play the awkward students are established theatre performers.
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[edit] Differences between play and film
In order to appeal to a broader audience, and to justify the hiring of headliner Liza Minnelli, the setting of the play was transferred from a gritty North London suburb to gritty Buffalo, New York. Mavis' back story was expanded to allow her a chance to sing some numbers in a bar and more generally focus on Mavis; in the play she has a role equal to those of the students.
The students personalities are generally the same, although minor plot strands have been omitted, and Rose was initially a Trinidadian, a significant immigrant population in London. Any character outside the class is an addition for the film, as well as any scene outside the classroom or the final presentation.
[edit] Cast
- Liza Minnelli as Mavis Turner, a former Broadway dancer who currently teaches a tap dance class in Buffalo, New York
- Bill Irwin as Geoffrey, an intoverted, widower insurance salesman, interested in Andy
- Ellen Greene as Maxine, cute, funny, and slightly wild mom
- Robyn Stevan as Sylvia, loud mouthed buddy of Maxine's
- Jane Krakowski as Lynne, delicate, sensitive Registered Nurse, one of the best dancers
- Sheila McCarthy as Andy, mousey battered wife, who sees hope in a possible relationship with Geoffrey
- Andrea Martin as Dorothy, naive but sincere housewife
- Julie Walters as Vera, insecure wealthy woman
- Carol Woods as Rose, vibrant African-American woman, has a teenage son who gets into trouble
- Shelley Winters as Mrs. Fraser, dour rehearsal pianist who longs for a connection with others
- Luke Reilly as Patrick, Mavis' husband
- Nora Dunn as Pam, director of the upscale dance center, a rival to Mavis
- Eugene Robert Glazer as Frank
- Géza Kovács as Jerry
- Raymond Rickman as Alan
[edit] Casting notes
Most of the actors are Broadway level actors and performers, several of whom have won Tony Awards, specifically Liza Minnelli, Jane Krakowski, Andrea Martin, Bill Irwin, and Ellen Greene (nominee). Shelley Winters is an Oscar Award Winner.
[edit] External links
- Stepping Out at the Internet Movie Database
- http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=108731 - Review
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