Strictly Ballroom [DVD] [1992]

Product Information

The feel-good story of the rule-breaking dancer and the shy outsider who transforms into the perfect partner first hit the stage as a student play. The play was then transformed into a film by Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin before the duo working with Terry Johnson, who joined the team to adapt the original book, to return to the stage in its musical incarnation at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2014. During its successful run at the Wharf, the play was seen by an influential Australian music executive. Ted Albert was a leading record producer and music publisher, best known in Australia as the discoverer and original producer of 1960s pop sensations The Easybeats. By the time he saw Strictly Ballroom, Albert was the managing director of his family-owned music publishing company Albert Music (formerly J. Albert & Sons) and its subsidiary, the highly successful record label Albert Productions, which scored a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s with acts including John Paul Young and AC/DC.

There is a delightful reworking of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time sung by Tara Morice. It’s used to link the early “getting to know each other” scenes between Scott and Fran. It drifts in and out between shots of Scott and Fran and whatever else is going on around the dance studio. It starts at 21:38 and finishes at 31:15; the ten minutes fly by!As well as being a popular fixture on Saturday night TV, Revel Horwood’s vast musical theatre credentials include playing Miss Hannigan in multiple productions of Annie and directing and choreographing productions of a range of major shows including Sister Act and Chess. There then follows all manner of completely predictable situations. Fran teaches Scott something. Things start to go right but get dashed. Fran gets more and more beautiful. Scott learns the true spirit of Latin American dance. Barry Fife’s lies are uncovered. Ultimately, everything resolves to a happy ending. There is trope upon theme upon motif but, guess what…IT DOESN’T MATTER!!! Doug and Shirley Hastings

If you want a mostly fun, frivolous evening with plenty of dancing in it, this is one to watch. Read full reviewEmma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more. Strictly Ballroom competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival and won the Youth Award for Foreign Film. It received thirteen nominations at the 1992 Australian Film Institute Awards and resulted in eight wins, including Best Film. The film earned eight nominations at the 46th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film; it won Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Film Music. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 51st Golden Globe Awards. The film is frequently referenced on the American iteration of Dancing with the Stars, as well as influencing the name of the original UK version Strictly Come Dancing. Commenting on the production, Revel Horwood added: “I’m delighted that the super talented Maisie Smith is joining Kevin Clifton on the Strictly Ballroom UK tour. I can’t wait to see them dance together again. Expect some sexy moves, sizzling costumes and a simply sensational evening! I know that they’ll both be FAB-U-LOUS!” It’s a shame theatre stages – even one as large as the Playhouse’s – don’t allow for expansive dance floor action, but Revel Horwood’s canny direction makes the most of the space. And there’s a moment towards the end which translates one of the film’s most memorable moments into a piece of theatrical magic. By the time the final number arrives – the whole cast singing Love is in the Air – pretty much the whole audience was on its feet and ready to throw the proverbial shapes.