A Chorus Line (1985)

Directed by Richard Attenborough. Starring Michael Douglas, Alyson Reed, Terrence Mann, Vicki Frederick, Janet Jones, Audrey Landers, Tony Fields, Jan Gan Boyd, Charles McGowan, Yamil Borges, Nicole Fosse, Michael Blevins, Matt West, Michelle Johnston, Blane Savage, Sharon Brown. [PG-13]

Unimaginative translation of the milestone stage musical where Broadway hopefuls auditioning for chorus line roles are pushed to share their thoughts, fears, concerns, etc. by the demanding choreographer (Douglas). The rank-and-file players aren’t particularly good actors, clearly hired for their dancing chops, but there are only about three total minutes of worthwhile dance footage in the entire production, so what gives? Director Richard Attenborough seems lost in the reeds, piling up a succession of close-ups and wide shots that make it all about either the individual or the full crew, revealing (and feeling) nothing about interpersonal relationships. The song numbers are mutilated as incorporated, and staged/performed with such banality, it’s hard to understand why any of them had become recognizable to anyone but die-hard fans (“One”, “I Hope I Get It”, “What I Did for Love”). In the interim between the stage show’s debut and the film’s release, several music-heavy films had come along to steal the original concept’s glory, and these “new” results feel like an awkward amalgam of two of them: All That Jazz and Fame. Neither of those are great films by any stretch, but they’d each be better options than this humdrum misfire. Nicole Fosse, playing shy and anxious dancer Kristine, is Bob’s daughter (with Gwen Verdon).

38/100