Editorial Review:Description:As young dancers, they were best friends and fierce rivals. Deedee (Shirley MacLaine) left the stage for marriage and motherhood, while Emma (Anne Bancroft) would become an international ballet icon. But when Deedee’s teenage daughter (Leslie Browne in her film debut) is invited to join Emma’s dance company and begins an affair with a young Russian star (Mikhail Baryshnikov in his film debut), the two women are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the resentments they’ve hidden, and the emotional truths they must face at THE TURNING POINT.
Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe and the artists of The American Ballet Theatre co-star in this Oscar®-nominated classic written by Arthur Laurents (THE WAY WE WERE, WEST SIDE STORY) and directed by Herbert Ross (STEEL MAGNOLIAS, FOOTLOOSE) that became one of the most acclaimed dramas of the decade and remains among the most stunning dance films of all time.
Amazon.com essential video:Mikhail Baryshnikov made his film debut in this lightweight but entertaining drama about the relationship between a renowned ballerina (Anne Bancroft) and the woman (Shirley MacLaine) who had trained with her but had given up dance to become a wife, mother, and teacher. Between MacLaine's envy over her friend's career and the attention her own ballerina daughter (Leslie Browne) is getting, MacLaine's character goes through a complicated crisis. The two actresses carry the story very well and probably camouflage its thinness; they even make a somewhat condescending climax involving a catfight seem like a good idea. A subplot involving a developing romance between the virginal Browne and Baryshnikov's womanizer makes for pretty window dressing. More memorable are dance sequences featuring each in splendid performance. Baryshnikov's leaps are something to behold.
--Tom Keogh
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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A Storm of Vulgar Language and Vulgar Emotions
I am very surprised that this movie had this high ratings. I may agree with others on the right casting, but this was not my genre. I mean, I love watching ballet but I hated to see ballet connected with divorce, alcohol, sexual relationships before marriage, jealous, mean words and actions, and swearing words. It was a very ugly movie with a beautiful ballet. The dance was exquisite but I didn't enjoy it at all because I didn't like the characters at all. When my daughter covered her ears, I had to turn it off. The peace came back as soon as it was shut off. I picked this movie because it was on the government's pick list, but I don't think my Heavenly Father wants me to watch this again.
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spp
I love this movie!! It didn't get the credit it deserved!! The fight scene between Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft is hilarious!
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Great Tender Movie
I hadn't seen this movie in over 10 years, but even though there were some slow scenes, I'll still watch this movie again and again. The dancing was wonderful, and Leslie Brown's dancing sparkled. Youthful, Mikhail Baryshnikov was fantastic, as usual. I also loved the rest of the cast. I'm very happy with my purchase.
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Catfights On Tiptoe
This is another one of those movies you will not forget, and probably hold dearly because it attaches itself to our own subconscious levels of doubts, fears, regrets, and high ambitions. What better way to display and exploit those human frailties than by a modern tale of two close friends bond together for life in the face of roads torn apart. The plot need not be discussed here because it is the stars Shirley Maclaine and Anne Bancroft that illuminate this vehicle. The supporting cast shine around them both, and the setting of the ballet ciruit is the lively backdrop for these two actress pros to wallow. Just sit back, and expect to giggle at what could be the best lesson in bitter rivalry among the best of friends. Top notch!
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Ballet and more
Wonderful movie shows consequences of choices and why we should not second guess them afterward. Shirley Mc Laine and Anne Bancroft portrayed their characters very well. And as always Mikael Barishnokov was fantastic. love to watch him move, what a wonderful dancer.