Stepping Out (1991 film)

Infobox Film
name = Stepping Out


image_size = 200px
caption = One-sheet promotional poster.
director = Lewis Gilbert
producer = John Dark
Lewis Gilbert
writer = Richard Harris
starring = Liza Minnelli
music = Peter Matz
cinematography = Alan Hume
editing = Humphrey Dixon
distributor =
released = 1991
runtime = 106 min.
country = U.S.A.
language = English
budget =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0102979

"Stepping Out" is a 1991 musical-comedy film directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Liza Minnelli, written by Richard Harris and based on a play also written by Richard Harris. Minnelli plays the role of a has-been Broadway performer who teaches tap lessons to a group of misfits who, through their dance classes, bond together and realise what they really can achieve. All the actors who play the awkward students are established theatre performers.

Differences between play and film

In order to appeal to a broader audience, and to justify the hiring of headliner Liza Minnelli, the setting of the play was transferred from a gritty North London suburb to gritty Buffalo, New York. Mavis' back story was expanded to allow her a chance to sing some numbers in a bar and more generally focus on Mavis; in the play she has a role equal to those of the students.

The students personalities are generally the same, although minor plot strands have been omitted, and Rose was initially a Trinidadian, a significant immigrant population in London. Any character outside the class is an addition for the film, as well as any scene outside the classroom or the final presentation.

Cast

* Liza Minnelli as Mavis Turner, a former Broadway dancer who currently teaches a tap dance class in Buffalo, New York
* Bill Irwin as Geoffrey, an intoverted, widower insurance salesman, interested in Andy
* Ellen Greene as Maxine, cute, funny, and slightly wild mom
* Robyn Stevan as Sylvia, loud mouthed buddy of Maxine's
* Jane Krakowski as Lynne, delicate, sensitive Registered Nurse, one of the best dancers
* Sheila McCarthy as Andy, mousey battered wife, who sees hope in a possible relationship with Geoffrey
* Andrea Martin as Dorothy, naive but sincere housewife
* Julie Walters as Vera, insecure wealthy woman
* Carol Woods (singer / actress) as Rose, vibrant African-American woman, has a teenage son who gets into trouble
* Shelley Winters as Mrs. Fraser, dour rehearsal pianist who longs for a connection with others
* Luke Reilly as Patrick, Mavis' husband
* Nora Dunn as Pam, director of the upscale dance center, a rival to Mavis
* Eugene Robert Glazer as Frank
* Géza Kovács as Jerry
* Raymond Rickman as Alan

Casting notes

Most of the actors are Broadway level actors and performers, several of whom have won Tony Awards, specifically Liza Minnelli, Jane Krakowski, Andrea Martin, Bill Irwin, and Ellen Greene (nominee). Shelley Winters is an Oscar Award Winner. Carol Woods was the only member the Broadway cast to be cast in the Film.

External links

*imdb title|id=0102979|title=Stepping Out
*http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=108731 - Review