The movie tells the story of blue-collar worker Alexandra Owens (Beals). It is based on the life of construction worker/welder-turned-dancer Maureen Marder. She works as a dancer in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bar at night, and in a construction site as a welder during the day, but dreams of joining an upscale dancing school.
Some consider the film a 1980s Hollywood classic, a view not shared by Roger Ebert, who included it on his list of most hated films. It is famous for its dancing, particularly by the protagonist Alex (portrayed while dancing by Marine Jahan and several others, including breakdancer Crazy Legs).
Its soundtrack includes Giorgio Moroder's Oscar winning hit "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (sung by Irene Cara), as well as other hits, such as the Oscar-nominated Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky's "Maniac". The film is not a musical in the traditional sense, in that the characters do not break into song as part of the story's diegesis, however the music is a vital component of the film. Many of the dance/musical sequences, several of which are part of Alex's bar job, are presented in the form of music videos.
'''Taglines:'''
* What a feeling.
* When the dancer becomes the dance.
* Take your passion... And make it happen!
* Something happens when she hears the music...it's her freedom. It's her fire. It's her life.
Plot summary
Alex meets her construction company boss Nick Hurley (Nouri) and they quickly fall in love. Meanwhile, she keeps practicing hard, waiting for her opportunity to join a school to come up. When it finally does, she gets scared that she will be rejected and decides not to apply. However, with the help of her boyfriend, she is given a second chance.This time, Alex trains even harder. After a long dancing routine she gets accepted to the school.
There are a few subplots that rely on Alex's friends and enemies.
Soundtrack highlights
* "Gloria" (Laura Branigan)* "Imagination" (Laura Branigan)
* "Flashdance...What a Feeling" (Irene Cara) won the Academy Award for Best Song
* "I'll Be There Where the Heart Is" (Kim Carnes)
* "Lady, Lady, Lady" (Joe Bean Esposito)
* "Manhunt" (Karen Kamon)
* "Love Theme from Flashdance" (Helen St. John)
* "Maniac" (Michael Sembello)
* "Romeo" (Donna Summer)
* "He's a Dream" (Shandi)
* "Seduce Me Tonight" (Cycle V)
* "It's Just Begun" (Jimmy Castor and the Jimmy Bunch)
* "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
Controversy
Maureen Marder, the woman whose life the movie is based on, has sued to gain copyright interest in the movie several times. On the rejection of her latest lawsuit the three judge panel ruled that the agreement between Paramount and Marder "appears to be unfair" but that "there is simply no evidence that her consent was obtained by fraud, deception, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence." The judges also backed a lower court's dismissal of her lawsuit against Sony Corp. and Jennifer Lopez for Lopez's "I'm Glad" video in which she mimicked some of the notable dance moves from the film.Marder signed away the film rights to Paramount in 1982 for $2,300. The film has gained over $150 million worldwide.
Producers and Executives
''Flashdance'' is famous in the film industry as being the first major success of a number of producers, executives and filmmakers who would go on to define the decade of the 1980's and beyond.The original idea for the movie was developed by Lynda Obst, who would go on to produce ''Adventures in Babysitting'', ''The Fisher King'', ''Sleepless in Seattle'' and many others. She is currently producing and writing ''Interstellar'', the next Stephen Spielberg project.
Dawn Steel took over the project from Obst as executive producer. Directly because of her work on ''Flashdance'', Steel would become head of production at Paramount, which would lead to her being named head of Columbia Studios, replacing David Puttnam.
Michael Eisner at Paramount approved the movie and shepherded it through the company. He would go on to become CEO of The Walt Disney Company
''Flashdance'' was the first collaboration between Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who would go on to produce ''Beverly Hills Cop'', ''Top Gun'' and ''The Rock'', among many others.
Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas received his first screen credit for ''Flashdance''. He would go on to write ''Basic Instinct'', ''Showgirls'' and the critically acclaimed ''Telling Lies in America''.
Adrian Lyne, though he had directed ''Foxes'', had his first hit with ''Flashdance''. He would go on to direct ''Fatal Attraction'', ''9½ Weeks'', ''Indecent Proposal'' and ''Lolita'', among other films. The look he created for ''Flashdance'' would become the signature visual style for much of the 1980's.
External links
*complete Giorgio Moroder Discography
*Giorgio Moroder fan page
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