SHOWGIRLS

US, 1995, 128 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Berkely, Kyle Mac Lachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Gina Rivera, Lin Tucci.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven.

It's what you would expect, - plus. A familiar plot of a would-be dancer with a mysterious plot who wants to make it as an exotic dancer in Las Vegas - and who achieves her ambition. Buffs will recognise the echoes of All About Eve as Elizabeth Berkley (longer legs than acting talent) as Nomi Malone (!) becomes ruthless on her way to the glitzy top. Dutch Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) directs with flair and bluntness rather than subtlety, but, all in all, it is pretty tawdry.


1. The film’s reputation? As a bad film?

2. The director, his work, blunt, interest in sex and sexuality, his visual style, unsubtle? Defenders of the film saying that he intended it to be kitschy, over the top?

3. Nevada, the countryside, Las Vegas, the city, casinos, small clubs, apartments, the shows, the business behind the shows? Auditions, careers?

4. Visual spectacle, the shows, costumes and decor, choreography? Songs and score? Provocative, nudity, sexy?

5. Nomi, her plans for a career, her naivete, hopes, the breaks? The theme from All About Eve?

6. Nomi, no background story until later, as regards her parents, leaving home, her career, solicitation? Her survival? Wanting to dance? Hitchhiking, the lift – and her tough attitude and drawing the knife? The final trip with the same driver – and saying that she had found herself?

7. Her arrival, tough, fights, finding Molly, sharing the apartment with her? Going to the clubs, Molly as a designer, a sympathetic character? Nomi assisting, eager?

8. Crystal, the star of the show, calling people Darlin’, attitudes, the shows, the star, sexy, nudity? Acclaim? Zac and the relationship? The sexual attraction to Nomi? Arranging the audition, coming on to her, Nomi’s resistance, the development of the relationship, tripping Crystal?

9. The world of the producers, cash, promotion, looking for talent, the staff at the casinos, the dancers and their world, the lifestyle?

10. Nomi, the audition, her chance? At the club, with Al, her friendship with Mama, Mama’s performances and the audience, appreciative? lapdancing, issues of touching, sex and exploitation? Nomi’s reaction? Leaving?

11. Her encounters with James, as a character, dancer, resisting him, the friendship and his support, training her, his relationship with the other dancer, his shown not being a success?

12. Zach, in the casino business, opportunities with him, sex, possibilities for love, the final clash?

13. The build-up to the accident, Nomi in the show, the witness, the dancers, the mother and the child and her rival, preserving her career?

14. The producers deciding that Nomi should be a star, training, glamour, her appearance in the show, posters, success?

15. Nomi and Molly, the party, the celebrity, the group rape, the effect on Molly, in hospital?

16. Crystal, in hospital, Nomi visiting her, crystal saying she had had her chance – and began the same way.

17. Nomi going to see Molly, a change of heart or not, leaving Las Vegas?