Strictly Ballroom **** (1992, Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter) – Classic Movie Review 9236

The 1992 Australian heart-warmer Strictly Ballroom started life as a play, but director Baz Luhrmann recreates it cinematically, swirling you along and sending you away dancing.

Take a bit of David and Goliath, a bit of Cinderella and a bit of the Forties dance musical and you’ve got this spiffing Australian musical romantic comedy drama that takes the dreams of youth, sends them up and re-invents the clichés.

Paul Mercurio steals hearts as Scott Hastings, the young ballroom dancer champion dumped by his partner when he dances steps not recognised by the Dance Federation. All seems lost till Fran (Tara Morice), the ugly duckling of the dance studio, steps in and gets him to give her a chance with the dance as Scott’s new partner. The misfit duo then try to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championships in their own style.

Strictly Ballroom is a happy film, with the tone exactly right, and smashing dancing from Mercurio, who also acts genially with Morice, and there is also splendid work from the grown-ups too.

Also in the cast are Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Gia Carides, Peter Whitford and Barry Otto.

Strictly Ballroom is directed by Baz Luhrmann, runs 94 minutes, is made by Beyond Films, M & A and New South Wales Film & Television Office, is released by Ronin Films (1992) (Australia), Rank Film Distributors (1992) (UK) and Miramax (1993) (US), is written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, from an original idea by Baz Luhrmann,  is shot in Eastmancolor by Steve Mason, is produced by Tristram Miall, is scored by David Hirschfelder and choreographed by John (Cha Cha) O’Connell.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9236

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