A Chorus Line (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film, Musical theatre |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Richard Attenborough (director) |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Musical film |
| Parent | Columbia Pictures (distributor) |
A Chorus Line is a 1985 American musical film directed by Richard Attenborough, featuring performances by Michael Douglas and Terrence Mann. The script, written by Arnold Schulman, adapts the 1975 stage musical A Chorus Line authored by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. The film’s musical score includes compositions by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban. It narrates the journey of dancers competing for roles in a forthcoming Broadway production.
Distributed by Columbia Pictures on December 9, 1985, the movie experienced mixed critical reception and earned $14.2 million at the box office against a production cost of $25 million.
Plot
The story centers on director Zach as he assesses dancers vying for eight parts (four male, four female) in a Broadway musical. Among those auditioning is Cassie, a former lead dancer and Zach’s previous romantic partner, who returns after a year-long hiatus from performing. Zach interviews each candidate, revealing their personal hardships and commitment to dance.
Despite arriving late, Cassie requests to participate in the audition; Zach permits her to learn the choreography. Paul opens up about his childhood abuse and experiences performing in drag, highlighting the difficulties he faces as a gay artist, which moves Zach to show uncommon empathy.
During rehearsals, Paul sustains a knee injury, leading Zach to inquire about the dancers' plans beyond their stage careers. Diana expresses her wish to be remembered for her contributions to dance, striking a chord with the group. Ultimately, Zach chooses Val, Cassie, Bebe, Diana, Mike, Mark, Richie, and Bobby for the cast.
Several months later, these eight performers present "One" dressed in identical costumes before an audience. As the number advances, dancers previously cut from the show join onstage, culminating in an extensive kickline that symbolizes their collective dedication and resilience.
Cast
- Michael Douglas as Zach, the choreographer
- Alyson Reed as Cassie
- Terrence Mann as Larry, assistant choreographer
- Sharon Brown as Kim, Zach's secretary
- Dancers
- Michael Blevins as Mark Tobori
- Yamil Borges as Diana Morales
- Jan Gan Boyd as Connie Wong
- Gregg Burge as Richie Walters
- Cameron English as Paul San Marco
- Tony Fields as Al DeLuca
- Audrey Landers as Val Clarke
- Nicole Fosse as Kristine Evelyn Erlich-DeLuca
- Vicki Frederick as Sheila Bryant
- Michelle Johnston as Beatrice Ann "Bebe" Benson
- Janet Jones as Judy Monroe
- Pam Klinger as Maggie Winslow
- Charles McGowan as Mike Cass
- Justin Ross as Greg Gardner
- Blane Savage as Don Kerr
- Matt West as Bobby Mills
Musical numbers
- "I Hope I Get It" – Full cast—Features additional segments not found in the original stage production
- "Who Am I Anyway?" – Paul—initially part of "I Hope I Get It"
- "I Can Do That" – Mike
- "At the Ballet" – Sheila, Bebe and Maggie—soundtrack includes an extended version absent from the film
- "Surprise, Surprise" – Richie and ensemble—substitutes for "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" and "Gimme the Ball"; spoken monologues appear elsewhere without musical accompaniment
- "Nothing" – Diana
- "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" – Val
- "Let Me Dance for You" – Cassie—replaces "The Music and the Mirror," retaining elements of its instrumental passage
- "One" (rehearsal) – full cast
- "What I Did for Love" – Cassie—performed simultaneously with the Tap Combination; originally sung by Diana on stage
- "One" (Finale) – entire cast (eight kicklines each consisting of seventeen dancers)
The songs "And...", “Sing!”, and "The Tap Combination," along with most of "The Montage," were omitted from this adaptation.
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Highest ranking |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 100 |
Production
Prior to its Broadway debut, the project attracted interest from Hollywood studios for a film version. Universal Pictures secured the rights for $5.5 million plus a 20% royalty on gross rentals exceeding $30 million. Michael Bennett was initially appointed as director but departed after his concept, which resembled an audition-style film, was rejected. Numerous directors declined involvement due to the musical’s widespread acclaim and the financial risks associated with ongoing royalty payments.
In 1984, when Richard Attenborough agreed to direct, there were doubts about his ability to capture this distinctly American narrative. Universal had sold the rights to PolyGram in 1982 for $7.8 million; in 1983, Embassy Pictures joined the production by investing 20% through Embassy Film Associates.
Attenborough turned down Madonna’s audition for a dance role during 1984. Jeffrey Hornaday was responsible for choreographing the dance sequences.
Several cast members had previously performed in A Chorus Line on Broadway or in major stage productions, including Matt West, Vicki Frederick, Pam Klinger, Justin Ross, and Alyson Reed. Others joined theatrical performances after filming concluded. Audrey Landers was selected despite limited formal dance training and does not appear in complex choreography scenes.
Alterations to the musical score disappointed many fans: beloved numbers such as "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love," "Sing!," and "The Music and the Mirror" were either removed or replaced by new songs like "Surprise, Surprise" and "Let Me Dance for You." The famous "What I Did for Love" was repurposed from Diana’s tribute to dancers into Cassie’s reflective love ballad about Zach. Additionally, the character Bebe replaced Judy among the final eight dancers.
The original stage production explored gay performers’ experiences; however, the film minimized this aspect to present a more family-oriented narrative.
Six months before its premiere, Embassy Pictures was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company, which owned Columbia Pictures. Later, Dino DeLaurentiis purchased Embassy but did not obtain its 20% stake in Embassy Film Associates, creating distribution complexities ahead of Columbia’s scheduled release.
Release
The movie premiered on December 9, 1985, debuting on 15 screens in New York City and expanding to 4 screens in Los Angeles two days later. It earned $306,509 during its initial six days across those 19 theaters.
Critical response
Vincent Canby of The New York Times remarked that although previous musical adaptations often faltered, Richard Attenborough’s straightforward direction resulted in a film that felt “fatally halfhearted.”
Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times described it as "one of the most intelligent and compelling movie musicals in a long time," appreciating its mature tone relative to other musicals of the era.
Variety noted that despite moments where the film appeared static and confined, Attenborough along with cinematographer Ronnie Taylor utilized available cinematic techniques effectively to maintain audience interest. The production benefited from a capable cast, strong music, and a well-known source material.
In contrast, Time Out London criticized the adaptation for losing the original’s raw energy and momentum, labeling it as “corny and unbelievable.”
Kelly Bishop, who originally played Sheila on stage, criticized Attenborough’s portrayal of the story as focusing on “kids trying to break into show business,” stressing that it actually centered on seasoned dancers seeking one final chance—a misinterpretation she believed contributed to the film’s shortcomings.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 48% based on 44 reviews, with consensus indicating that it fails to capture the stage production’s vitality and urgency when translated to film. Metacritic assigns a score of 46 out of 100 from 13 critics, reflecting mixed or average reactions.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Film Editing | John Bloom | Template:Nom |
| Best Original Song | "Surprise Surprise" Music composed by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics written by Edward Kleban |
Template:Nom | |
| Best Sound | Donald O. Mitchell, Michael Minkler, Gerry Humphreys and Chris Newman |
Template:Nom | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Editing | John Bloom | Template:Nom |
| Best Sound | Jonathan Bates, Chris Newman, and Gerry Humphreys | Template:Nom | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Template:Nom | |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Richard Attenborough | Template:Nom | |
| Japan Academy Film Prize | Outstanding Foreign Language Film | Template:Nom | |
Home media
A Chorus Line became available on DVD through MGM Home Entertainment on April 15, 2003 (Region 1 widescreen), followed by a Blu-ray release and reissue on January 14, 2014.