Film Snail

6.2

A Chorus Line

PG-13·1985·117m

Drama

Music

Drama

Music

Summary

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.

Cast

Michael Douglas

Zach

Alyson Reed

Cassie

Terrence Mann

Larry

Gregg Burge

Richie Walters

Vicki Frederick

Sheila Bryant

Michelle Johnston

Beatrice Ann 'Bebe' Benson

Audrey Landers

Val Clarke

Janet Jones

Judy Monroe

Pam Klinger

Maggie Winslow

Cameron English

Paul San Marco

Yamil Borges

Diana Morales

Nicole Fosse

Kristine Evelyn Erlich-DeLuca

Tony Fields

Al DeLuca

Justin Ross

Greg Gardner

Jan Gan Boyd

Connie Wong

Sharon Brown

Kim

Khandi Alexander

Dancer

Matt West

Bobby Mills III

Charles McGowan

Mike Cass

Peter Fitzgerald

Dancer with Gum

Michael Blevins

Mark Tobori

Blane Savage

Don

Pat McNamara

Robbie

Sammy Smith

Doorman

Timothy Scott

Boy with Headband

Bambi Jordan

Girl in Yellow Trunks

Mansoor Najee-Ullah

Cab Driver

John Hammil

Advertising Executive

Jack Lehnert

Posterman

Gloria Lynch

Taxi Passenger

Gregg Huffman

Misfit Boy Dancer

Eric Aaron

Dancer

Jeff Adkins

Dancer

David Askler

Dancer

AnneMarie

Dancer

Michele Assaf

Dancer

Bryant Baldwin

Dancer

Buddy Balou

Dancer

Carol Baxter

Dancer

Tina Bellis

Dancer

Ida Broughton

Dancer

Robin Brown

Dancer

Anna Bruno

Dancer

Brian Bullard

Dancer

Cheryl Burr

Dancer

Bill Bushnell

Dancer

Sergio Cal

Dancer

Cole Carpenter

Reject Dancer

Joe Anthony Cavise

Dancer

Linda Cholodenko

Dancer

Cheryl Clark

Dancer

Christine Colby

Dancer

Alex Cole

Dancer

Anne Connors

Dancer

Leslie Cook

Dancer

Jeffrey Cornell

Dancer

Alicia Cox

Dancer

Frank Cruz

Dancer

Roxann Dawson

Dancer

Richard DeFabees

Reject Dancer

Eldo Ray Estes

Dancer

Sandra Gray

Dancer

Niki Haris

Dancer

Reed Jones

Dancer

Jennifer Kent

Reject Dancer

Barbara Lavorato

Dancer

Felix Montano

Dancer

Alan Onickel

Dancer

Scott Plank

Dancer

Karen Prunczik

Reject Dancer

Rhett Pyle

Dancer

Melissa Randel

Reject Dancer

Elissa Rosati

Dancer

Leslie Stevens

Dancer

Mary Ellen Stuart

Dancer

Scott Wise

Dancer

Kim Smith Yandow

Dancer

Barbara Yeager

Dancer

Yvonne Farrow

Dancer (uncredited)

Monique Mannen

Dancer (uncredited)

Keith Nisonoff

Dancer (uncredited)

John DeLuca

Dancer

Michael Scott Gregory

Dancer

Crew

Director

Richard Attenborough

Lyricist

Ed Kleban

Musical

Michael Bennett

Musical

Nicholas Dante

Musical

James Kirkwood Jr.

Screenplay

Arnold Schulman

Reviews

talisencrw

April 11, 2016

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.