FOOTLOOSE

US, 1984, 107 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Penn.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

Footloose was one of several exuberant musicals of the early 80s - following a trend started by Fame and its TV series. The 1983 vigorous dance film was Flashdance. Footloose focuses on a young man, energetically played by Kevin Bacon, and his going to a small Utah town which is influenced by its religious minister (John Lithgow of Terms of Endearment, The World According to Garp) and a prevailing attitude of censorship and repression.

The film has a variation of the 'show must go on' theme - but highlights the life of the town, the clashes of values, the
dangers of religious fanaticism in repression. The dance routines are engagingly vigorous as is the music. With the background theme, the film has entertainment value for younger and older audiences. The direction is by choreographer Herbert Ross, maker of such musicals as Funny Lady, Good bye Mr. Chips, The Turning Point, Nijinsky.

1. A musical of the 80s, exuberant dance, music? A piece of 80s Americana?

2. The work of Herbert Ross as choreographer and director? His applying this talent to the video clip style musical of the 80s? The influence of films like Fame and Flashdance? Television clips? The vigour of the choreography? The credits and the focus on the feet moving? The choreography of the dances ? especially Wren's own dancing, teaching his friend, the finale? The editing and pace and the influence of television? The lively musical score and its beat? The importance of the lyrics? A feel for contemporary 80s music?

3. The backgrounds of Utah, the town, location photography, lifestyle, home, school, work, the church? Middle America?

4. The familiar story: the city boy, the town, being considered as an outsider, religion and prohibitions, the victimising of the hero, reaction, romance, fights, success? The show must go on?

5. Kevin Bacon as Ren? Likable, vigorous, his dancing? He and his mother leaving Chicago, his father leaving and his comment about how he had tried to do everything to please his father? The bond between mother and son and their discussion about the putting on of the dance? His relations and their narrow attitudes, fearful of reprisals if he put on the dance? Churchgoing, the relationship to the preacher and his attitudes, the discussion about the forbidding of books like Slaughterhouse Five? The attraction towards Ariel? His going to school, car, clashes in the corridors, the reaction of the girls? The clash with his friend and the bond between them? The humorous sequences of Wren teaching his friend to dance? Carl and his animosity? The bulldozer chicken fight and Ren winning? His getting a job in the mill and his hard work? The police harassing him? His anger, the taunts of Ariel? His feeling victimised? The idea of a dance? His motivation, wanting to do it for himself? His preparing his plea for the town council, Ariel's scripture quotations? The gradual falling in love with Ariel? His speech at the meeting? The success of the dance?

6. The minister and his sermons, the hymn-singing, his influence over his congregation about books, music, the attack on rock 'n roll and the association with sensuality, sexual sin? Low expectations of contemporary music? The reaction of the youngsters of the town, Ariel and her going to the drive-in? The symbolic move for freedom by Ariel's moving from the car to the truck and standing astride as the oncoming semitrailer came closer? The reaction of her friends? Her defiance against her father? The background of the accident after the dance and the memory of the townspeople, the minister and the loss of his son? His hard attitudes, the meetings, his wife's challenge

7. The minister’s wife, her family, her husband, her daughter? Understanding the problems? Contribution to the solution?

8. Will’s contribution to the drama, the story of other towns and dancing? Ren teaching him to dance and Let’s Hear it for the Boy?

9. Ariel’s boyfriend and his jealousy? The fight with Ren at the end?

10. The popularity of the film and the music in the 1980s, a 2011 re-make? The elements that make for continued appeal?