Flashdance
It was a huge hit, and made Jennifer Beals America's Sweetheart for about fifteen minutes. It had a fun soundtrack, and a compelling underdog-conquers-all story. And it set fashions for a few years with its heroine's tradeark ripped oversized sweatshirts.
It was also one of the most ridiculously written films of the era, and it featured a heroine who worked as a welder in a Pittsburgh steel mill by day and then did arty live erotic dancing by night; who would remove her top revealing nothing but a dickie underneath in a fancy restaurant to make a statement ("Actually, I fucked his brains out!"); and who tried out for a major ballet company doing MTV-style steps.
Where were you when you first saw the heroine trepidatiously walk into her grnadmother's apartment lobby for the last time hoping to see her, as everyone in the audience shouted at the screen, "She's dead!"?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 112 | April 4, 2024 5:52 AM
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It's worth it for this sequence:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 1 | April 3, 2024 12:03 AM
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Yeah, Beals time in the limelight really dissipated when it was revealed that the dancing was done by about five different dancers - one of them a male-and not her.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | April 3, 2024 12:04 AM
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I thought Hanna was her older mentor/friend. The Kim Carnes song after she dies is one of my favorites on the Soundtrack. R1 What about the water drenching scene ? I'll have to now break out my old DVD and watch it again.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | April 3, 2024 12:28 AM
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R4, you are right. They were just friends.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 3, 2024 12:38 AM
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Did Jennifer ever claim she did her own dancing? Or was it a secret she had to keep hushed?
by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 3, 2024 12:40 AM
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Saw it again on cable last year. Still a fun watch and Michael Nouri was sooooooo sexy. Beals best out Demi Moore and I think she does a really good job. And even Helen Keller could spot that dance doubles are used especially the break dancing guy at the end.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 3, 2024 12:46 AM
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"Is she black?" was the controversy I remember preceding the dance controversy. But it was hilarious once the story broke that not only didn't she dance, but that there were multiple dancers, including men in Jennifer Beals drag. It was THE talk of the ICU (when I was on suicide watch. AND there was even a serial killing nurse loose on the ward at the time!)
by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 3, 2024 12:53 AM
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Would Demi have required dance doubles?
by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 3, 2024 12:57 AM
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I didn't find out she was mixed-race until years later.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | April 3, 2024 12:57 AM
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The autumn of 1983 in Ohio was a bitter, windy one and it was very amusing to watch the female OSU student body's off the shoulder sweaters being blown about their frizzy heads as they dashed across the Oval in their leg warmers. What a feeling!
by Anonymous | reply 11 | April 3, 2024 1:01 AM
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I remember my parents going to see this movie while I stayed home with the babysitter. The ripped sweatshirt trend took off right away, that was THE look for awhile.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 3, 2024 2:30 AM
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Jennifer Beals was beautiful.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 3, 2024 2:42 AM
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There was only one male double, and it was NYC breaker Crazy Legs who did the backspin during Alex's audition. French dancer Marine Jahan did most of the other Alex dance doubling.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 15 | April 3, 2024 2:59 AM
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Kyle T. Heffner ("Richie') is also mixed black/white but passable as at least Italian.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 16 | April 3, 2024 3:01 AM
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Soundtrack is great. I love Laura Brannigan's "Imagination."
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 17 | April 3, 2024 3:04 AM
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Maniac. When Jennifer's head is not shown, the body is a Marine.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 18 | April 3, 2024 3:09 AM
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To answer OPs question, I lived in Austin and saw it at the old Aquarius theater in the Riverside district. I was part of the poors and lived in the area. Don’t remember much about the movie. And have no interest in seeing it again.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | April 3, 2024 3:11 AM
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It was a complete fantasy, of course.
Not least that by 1983, most of the steel mills in Pittsburgh were gone. And any woman working in one or a similar type job would have looked more like Rosie O'Donnell, not Jennifer Beals.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 3, 2024 3:13 AM
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The studio heads though Jennifer was more fuckable than Demi, thus Jen won the role.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 3, 2024 3:14 AM
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Laura Branigan's Imagination. That's enough.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | April 3, 2024 3:25 AM
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I think the movie for inspiring years of parodies, intentional or accidental.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 25 | April 3, 2024 3:32 AM
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Almanzo Wilder’s sister, Eliza Jane, is one of the judges in the final dance.
by Anonymous | reply 26 | April 3, 2024 3:33 AM
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It was a cute movie and very of its time. Beals had an innocence. Remember when "Solid Gold" was a show on TV hosted by a string of "stars" including La Warwick? SG dancers would just come out and do a dance routine to top pop songs. And there would be an actual musician or group as guests who would lip sync with the same dancers in the background. As a young gayling, i thought it was glamorous and cool. When no one was home, I remember dancing around my house after lusting after Travolta in "Staying Alive". I was not cool
by Anonymous | reply 28 | April 3, 2024 3:36 AM
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[quote] Almanzo Wilder’s sister, Eliza Jane, is one of the judges in the final dance.
That's international treasure Lucy Lee Flippin!
by Anonymous | reply 29 | April 3, 2024 3:38 AM
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Script writer Tom Hedley based the story off of two Toronto exotic dancers who were each paid $2,500 for their life stories. The movie went on to make over $200 million. Needless to say, the dancers were ripped off.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | April 3, 2024 3:45 AM
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Lots of "Simpsons" parodies--this is probably my favorite, when Lisa participates in the talent competition of the Little Miss Springfield competition:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 31 | April 3, 2024 3:48 AM
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Pauline Kael's review had some funny lines.
It's a motorized anatomy lesson, designed to turn the kids on and drive older men crazy.
You may think it's a little late for the girl to start taking her first ballet classes, but she's been dancing every night in her dreams, so needs practice?
by Anonymous | reply 32 | April 3, 2024 3:50 AM
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...so who needs practice?
by Anonymous | reply 33 | April 3, 2024 3:51 AM
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Agree that Manhunt was probably the best dance scene from the movie.
Does anyone remember "Propaniacs" from King of the Hill?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 34 | April 3, 2024 4:02 AM
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Best song in the soundtrack!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 35 | April 3, 2024 1:47 PM
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Op, your post reminded me of a story about a terrible production of The Diary of Anne Frank, when, during the start of the pivotal scene, an audience member shouted, "THEY'RE IN THE ATTIC" to speed things up and end the audience's misery sooner.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | April 3, 2024 1:54 PM
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R37 a song repurposed for the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | April 3, 2024 1:59 PM
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Irene Cara at the Academy Awards.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 39 | April 3, 2024 2:06 PM
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[quote]Did Jennifer ever claim she did her own dancing? Or was it a secret she had to keep hushed?
As noted upthread, Marine Jahan did some of the stunt dancing in Flashdance. She was married at the time to a bi man named Peter Tramm who did the stunt dancing for Footloose, Staying Alive and Can't Stop the Music. He also starred in the ZZ Top video as the "Sharp Dressed Man." I met them years ago in L.A. Sadly, Peter died of AIDS back in 1991.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 40 | April 3, 2024 2:46 PM
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Peter in a loincloth for Coty Wild Musk.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 41 | April 3, 2024 2:58 PM
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One of the things that's fascinating about this film is that it's a lesbian classic, mostly because the women's muscular bodies are being shown off but they have almost no interaction with men in the movie physically. Jennifer Beals became a big lesbian icon because of this movie.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | April 3, 2024 3:19 PM
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R22, they cast Beals because they screened the auditions for the "secretaries" at the studio. They chose her unanimously from the final three. They were trying to appeal to the female demo and they succeeded.
R42, I believe Beals became a lesbian icon when she played Bette in The L Word.
by Anonymous | reply 43 | April 3, 2024 3:35 PM
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She got the role in The L Word because she was already a lesbian icon.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | April 3, 2024 3:40 PM
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I was a clueless, completely unsophisticated young kid who'd never set foot in the USA when this was released, but even then I knew the idea of Jennifer Beals working a day job as a welder was implausible (not to say ridiculous).
by Anonymous | reply 45 | April 3, 2024 3:40 PM
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As was pointed out at the time, she's the only woman and the only person under 30 working at the steel mill, which makes no sense. At the time Pittsburgh was going through an economic crisis and jobs like that were incredibly hard to come by.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | April 3, 2024 3:45 PM
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R44, she didn't "get the role." She made the show happen when she signed on for the role.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | April 3, 2024 3:51 PM
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I love how you are all are trying to make sense of this movie. That's really not the point.
Anyway, I remember being a young gayling myself when the ripped sweatshirt craze was going on. I would have been about 8 years old. I had gotten one of those Rising Sun sweatshirts (the ones that were super popular in the 80s when it seemed like Japan was about to take over America), as requested for Christmas. After I had gotten enough enjoyment out of it, I remember ripping it by the collar so it would slink off my one shoulder just so, a la Beals, and riding my banana seat bike around the block, feeling the cool wind whip against my collarbone. Funny how at even 8 years old, I knew to keep such secret delights to myself.
by Anonymous | reply 48 | April 3, 2024 3:56 PM
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[quote]French dancer Marine Jahan did most of the other Alex dance doubling.
She had an annoying habit of tucking her chin down which really emphasized the shortness of her neck.
It was kind of a big deal iirc when it came out that there were stunt dancers. Even today movie directors and producers don’t like admitting to stunt casting when it comes to things like dancing. There was this big controversy about the movie Black Swan because the ballerina who did the actual dancing didn’t receive credit or something so she sued I think.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | April 3, 2024 3:58 PM
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Jahan did the dancing for “it’s flashbeagle Charlie Brown”.
Beals was originally cast in Grease 2 but dropped out to do Flashdance. I thought the Branigan and Carnes songs from the soundtrack could’ve been hits but perhaps contractual issues from their labels prevented them from being released as a single. Donna Summers “Romeo” was on her 1981 “I’m a rainbow” album that got rejected by Geffen records.
by Anonymous | reply 50 | April 3, 2024 4:09 PM
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If I can remember I think it was because Beals was a no-name undiscovered talent at the time - so it seemed like we had stumble across this new mega-talent only to find out she was just a pretty face. Remember this was back in the 80s where we were just at the tale end of people actually having to be talented, triple threats, to be Hollywood Stars. The Gene Kellys, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaires of the world were still very much alive.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | April 3, 2024 4:10 PM
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Jennifer Beals was a good actress. Did she ever come out? I thought she was excellent in Twilight of the Golds, a nice contrast to Faye Dunaway who chewed up the scenery.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 52 | April 3, 2024 4:15 PM
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[quote] It was THE talk of the ICU (when I was on suicide watch. AND there was even a serial killing nurse loose on the ward at the time!)
R8, please tell us more.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | April 3, 2024 4:20 PM
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Sorry R53, the homicidal nurse wasn't trans suffering from AIDS in1983 and part of a satanic blood cult. I don't think you'd be interested.
by Anonymous | reply 54 | April 3, 2024 4:27 PM
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I never understood why Imagination by Laura Branigan wasn't released as a single. That is one hell of a track. It could be released today and still be out of the over warm and fresh.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | April 3, 2024 4:32 PM
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[quote] [R44], she didn't "get the role." She made the show happen when she signed on for the role.
Mary!
by Anonymous | reply 56 | April 3, 2024 5:02 PM
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Was t the actress from the Manhunt scene the same one who played the dancer who got knocked up in Dirty Dancing?
by Anonymous | reply 57 | April 3, 2024 5:08 PM
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I always thought Donna Summer should've sung "What A Feeling," even though Irene Cara wrote it. Donna would've knocked that song out of the park.
by Anonymous | reply 58 | April 3, 2024 5:20 PM
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But Irene did knock it out of the park.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | April 3, 2024 5:26 PM
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[quote]Was t the actress from the Manhunt scene the same one who played the dancer who got knocked up in Dirty Dancing?
Yes, Cynthia Rhodes, the former Mrs. Richard Marx and second lead singer for the pop group Animotion. She also appeared in Runaway with Tom Selleck.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 60 | April 3, 2024 5:29 PM
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Frequent Donna Summer collaborator Joe "Bean" Esposito (singer of "Lady Lady Lady" from the soundtrack) was originally slated to sing "What a Feeling," but the producers thought the song would be better from the female perspective. Esposito is one hell of a singer (and sexy as hell). He's the male vocalist on Brenda Russell's "Piano in the Dark," and he's sung on many soundtracks, including "You're the Best" from Karate Kid and "Just Imagine" from Thief of Hearts. He was also part of the group Brooklyn Dreams, who collaborated with Donna Summer on many songs and even had an album of their own.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 61 | April 3, 2024 5:36 PM
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One of Katy Sagal's twin sisters (Liz) appeared briefly in the movie as Sunny. She's the one dancing right before Tina Tech (Cynthia Rhodes) dances to "Manhunt."
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 62 | April 3, 2024 5:51 PM
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I once read that Jennifer Beals said a Brinks truck could unload a wad of money worth the roles she's turned down. She was reportedly up for the female leads in Purple Rain and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video, but turned both down to finish her schooling at Yale.
by Anonymous | reply 63 | April 3, 2024 5:55 PM
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I saw this movie the night before I took and passed the California bar ( third time was the charm for me)
It was the perfect fantasy of accomplishment to fill my head.
The morning the results came out (1983! Mary!) I had my mail “ diverted “ so I could pick up in person at P.O. Olden days were exciting .
Ripped open thick envelope “We are pleased to…” Sat crying on Santa Monica Blvd . Raced home to tell them boyfriend now ex. He gave me a bottle of Vetiver cologne . “ I knew you would pass.”
Mary ! Forgive indulgence in memories brought up my Fkashdance
by Anonymous | reply 64 | April 3, 2024 5:59 PM
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I can see Prince wanting her for Purple Rain.
by Anonymous | reply 65 | April 3, 2024 6:01 PM
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it'sinthepocketwhenyoureallyreallylikeitwhenyourfantasybecomesreality.
by Anonymous | reply 66 | April 3, 2024 6:02 PM
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Irene Cara (RIP) won both an Oscar and an Emmy for the title song!
by Anonymous | reply 67 | April 3, 2024 6:10 PM
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Cynthia Rhodes was the dancer from “Flashdance” featured in the clip posted by R1. Director Sylvester Stallone cast her in “Staying Alive,” the supposed sequel to “Saturday Night Fever,” and had an affair with her during the shoot and for a while after. She was very much his type at the time, a tall, athletic, leggy blond with small breasts.
During publicity for the movie (which was excoriated by critics and audiences though it made money) Paramount announced they planned a multiple picture deal with Rhodes and were hoping to build her in musicals as a new Doris Day. It’s more likely this was to keep Stallone happy as long as he was still seeing her. When he dropped her, Paramount dropped any idea of putting her in anything.
Finola Hughes, who played her rival for Travolta’s attention in the film, had a successful soap opera career for a while. Rhodes not so much.
by Anonymous | reply 69 | April 3, 2024 6:19 PM
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Not a great movie but a fun time capsule and the soundtrack, full of punk-ish new wave girl power pop of the early 80s is one of my absolute favorites.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 70 | April 3, 2024 6:29 PM
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[quote] She got the role in The L Word because she was already a lesbian icon.
I lived in a majority lesbian share house when I was in uni. The favoured L Word lesbian BY FAR was Jennifer Beals, with Dana the tennis player a distant second. I thought they would love Shane, who was very beautiful, but the soft butch affectations hit too close to home.
by Anonymous | reply 71 | April 3, 2024 7:21 PM
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Wait, Jennifer Beals is a lesbian?? She has married 3 men.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | April 3, 2024 7:26 PM
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I think Jennifer's first post-Yale film was The Bride with Sting. She was great in the zany Nicholas Cage horror/comedy Vampire's Kiss.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 74 | April 3, 2024 8:32 PM
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She had her first babies (twins) when she was around 42.
by Anonymous | reply 75 | April 3, 2024 8:41 PM
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People tittered when she took off her bra in the movie.
by Anonymous | reply 76 | April 3, 2024 8:54 PM
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R75, she has one daughter.
by Anonymous | reply 77 | April 3, 2024 9:01 PM
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Beals has a small part in the 1980 film “My Bodyguard” and it’s easy to see that she is mixed race in that. She kind of has the same look as Kathleen Beller.
by Anonymous | reply 78 | April 3, 2024 9:36 PM
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I was teaching aerobics at the time, complete with Dance France high shine thong leotard, slouchy sweatshirt, and leg warmers. When I shouted, "FLASHDANCE!!" everyone knew to furiously stomp in place, a la Maniac. Marine Jahan did come out with an aerobics program that looked a lot like the dancing in Flashdance:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 79 | April 3, 2024 9:37 PM
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[quote] Wait, Jennifer Beals is a lesbian?? She has married 3 men.
No one said she was a lesbian.
Pay attention.
by Anonymous | reply 81 | April 3, 2024 10:21 PM
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I saw Flashdance at a drive-in movie place in Spencer, Iowa. Don't ask.
by Anonymous | reply 82 | April 3, 2024 10:57 PM
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It's such a time capsule, one of the most 80s of 80s movies.
by Anonymous | reply 83 | April 3, 2024 11:01 PM
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I've had Maniac stuck in my head all day thanks to this thread.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 84 | April 3, 2024 11:02 PM
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People would clutch the hell out of their pearls today considering Alex was only 18 and she was dating her boss who had to be at least 30. AND said boss asked her out after seeing her semi strip at a club. They would probably say he "groomed" her or someshit. God those idiots live that word.
by Anonymous | reply 85 | April 3, 2024 11:03 PM
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A shit film. Totally 1980s!
by Anonymous | reply 86 | April 3, 2024 11:14 PM
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R81 see R52 who asked did Jennifer ever come out.
by Anonymous | reply 87 | April 3, 2024 11:54 PM
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Who cares if she has parents of different races? It’s 2024 not 1924. Just stop it. Please.
by Anonymous | reply 88 | April 4, 2024 12:30 AM
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^^Back in the early 80s that was still a big deal to a lot of people. Today it wouldn't be a barrier to a big acting career but back then it was.
by Anonymous | reply 89 | April 4, 2024 12:31 AM
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She got to bang Sting when he was still hot!
by Anonymous | reply 90 | April 4, 2024 12:38 AM
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Sting is still fucking hot.
by Anonymous | reply 91 | April 4, 2024 12:41 AM
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R64 I bestow upon you a MARY! in honor of your MARY! post.....a nice memory nonetheless.
by Anonymous | reply 92 | April 4, 2024 12:48 AM
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I miss the old days when we had huge movie soundtracks like Flashdance, Fame, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Xanadu, A Star is Born, Urban Cowboy, The Bodyguard. That doesn't happen anymore for some reason.
by Anonymous | reply 93 | April 4, 2024 12:50 AM
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Beals could not act back then, now she can. Virginia Madsen too, could not act in her youth but has grown as a talent.
They both starred in a ridiculous TV show, Swamp Thing that I watched for the great acting from these vets.
The show was canceled after a single season, completely asinine. Terrific performers placed in unbelievable scenarios.
by Anonymous | reply 94 | April 4, 2024 12:54 AM
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What was so bad about Jennifer’s acting in Flashdance? She was great in that.
by Anonymous | reply 95 | April 4, 2024 12:57 AM
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Sorry dude, I have nostalgia for the 1980s and watch bad 1980s movies for pleasure. Flashdance is a bad 90s film with bad acting.
by Anonymous | reply 96 | April 4, 2024 1:00 AM
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[quote] What was so bad about Jennifer’s acting in Flashdance? She was great in that.
She was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Flashdance" so clearly she's a great actress.
by Anonymous | reply 97 | April 4, 2024 1:06 AM
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Fat fingers = Flashdance is a bad 80s film with bad acting.
I also hate the puffy 80s hair.
by Anonymous | reply 98 | April 4, 2024 1:06 AM
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r93 I really miss big movie soundtracks with big hit songs too. Why did that end?
by Anonymous | reply 100 | April 4, 2024 1:16 AM
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen the entire movie but played the soundtrack a lot. Footloose was kind of the same - saw it once but wore my vinyl out playing that album so much.
by Anonymous | reply 101 | April 4, 2024 1:18 AM
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How do you even become a welder at 18 lol. You have to have a few years of experience and Alex was basically straight out of highschool. The movie seems like some dumb teenage girls fevered dream.
by Anonymous | reply 102 | April 4, 2024 1:21 AM
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Her loft was amazing and the character owned a beautiful pitbull.
by Anonymous | reply 103 | April 4, 2024 1:23 AM
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Yes, I loved her living space.
by Anonymous | reply 104 | April 4, 2024 1:28 AM
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I would have eaten Michael Nouri's ass until I got to his small intestines.
by Anonymous | reply 105 | April 4, 2024 2:56 AM
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Michael Nouri's looks were at his peak in The Hidden, a great 1980s film with Kyle McLachlan who also never looked better than in this film.
by Anonymous | reply 106 | April 4, 2024 3:19 AM
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r107, that is a gem that I've forgotten about, thanks for the reminder.
by Anonymous | reply 107 | April 4, 2024 3:46 AM
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R4 I just watched the water scene, but still think Rhodes' Manhunt dance is better. Something about it seems more natural and feral, and she moves like her joints are on rollers or gyroscopic or something.
by Anonymous | reply 108 | April 4, 2024 4:13 AM
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Sting seems like he might have an open marriage, mostly open on his side of the marriage.
by Anonymous | reply 109 | April 4, 2024 4:16 AM
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It was of its time and captured and created the zeitgeist.
This was the '80s and people forget what the fitness scene was like at the time. It was leotards, leg warmers, aerobics. The desired body type for women was not pear-shaped, like it is now. The desired body type was thin with narrow hips and long legs (in proportion to the torso). Like Beals' shape.
This movie is similar to "Pretty Woman." You have a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who meets a Mr. Big type who sweeps her up and away from the drudgery.
Both the Beals & Julia Roberts' characters are doing a type of sex work. Robert was an actual hooker (with a heart of gold); Beals worked in a stripper-type environment.
by Anonymous | reply 110 | April 4, 2024 4:22 AM
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I had to laugh when Lilia Skala is said to be a former ballerina. That Heffer?
by Anonymous | reply 111 | April 4, 2024 4:49 AM
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R110, brought to you by Yvonne.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 112 | April 4, 2024 5:52 AM
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