Square Dance

Square Dance, a near unknown film (probably because it is violentless) is actually a nice feel-good movie. The best thing about this movie is the acting, Lowe especially... in a enduring performance. Noted mainly because of Ryder's first film, whom is also great (as usual). The only bad thing about this film is what can be expected... it is rather slow at times, and yet still seems to leave loose ends. But it is very much rewarding with a nice ending and notable symbolism of the actual square dances, which leads Ryder back home.

So sorry to correct Mr. Moeller, but this was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas. I had always bragged about the Belknap Bridge on Belknap Street coming down from downtown at the end of it was where Winona got off from the bus. Then, she crossed over to the other side to the garage with the upstairs apartment where her mother lived with the boyfriend. The garage is still there, but I was sad to see the apartment knocked down. The beauty shop is still there that the mother had and the club is "The Stagecoach." This was filmed in the 2400 block of Belknap Street.

Square Dance is a film short on plot, but long on character, kind of like an O'Neil work of which one of the stars here Jason Robards, Jr., is most familiar. A lot of the hopelessness of Eugene O'Neil is prominent among these people.

If there's a lesson to be learned it's that we make our life choices early and it's hard to change. Jason Robards is a hardbitten old man who has a few acres of farm land on which he raises his granddaughter Winona Ryder who is a most naive young girl having drunk fully from the teachings of the fundamentalist church they belong to.

It was her mother who after she had Ryder left home. Now however Jane Alexander is married to Guich Koock who owns a service station and has come back for Ryder.

Jane and Gooch live in Fort Worth and the relative sophistication of Fort Worth is too much for Ryder. She forms a friendship with Rob Lowe who is cast in the most offbeat role of his career, a good looking but developmentally disabled young man. He has a gift for music and plays the violin strictly by ear.

Simply what happens is that Alexander and Ryder are just too different to get along. And her relationship with Lowe ends in a near tragedy.

In his recent memoir Rob Lowe says he took the part to extend his range and show he is more than capable of being the Eighties 'It' boy as he described himself. Square Dance may have been the first time he's attempted a broadening of the range, but in the years since he's not been a teen heart throb, he's met a number of acting challenges successfully.

Ryder was all innocence and shine in Square Dance which was her breakthrough part as well. In fact the whole ensemble performed well in this most unknown of Rob Lowe films.

The only Winona Ryder film to elude me trying to buy a US import in the UK in the early 90s, and after watching for the first time a couple of decades later it was such a shame it has taken me this long to finally achieve this.

Whilst Lucas may have been WR's film debut, this film takes her to another level in her first starring role and opens up the door to the rest of her career.

The film is very slow paced with no real direction or much of a story other than moving from one place and back again, it feels almost depressing knowing she will probably end up their for the rest of her life in her final destination.

But saying that it's still enjoyable for the most part, with some great acting from all the lead characters especially Winona, but the film is lacking that certain something and its not a film i will return to very often.

a couple of years ago bought square dance at a video store on VHS and watched the movie from start to finish and i have to say this movie is very good but very underrated. let's start with the film debut of wynonna rider. i thought her film debut was very astonishing and to be considered a promising actress in that decade which she continued to promise more great performances up until her arrest for shoplifting years ago.

Jane Alexander and Jason robards were very affective in this film. last but not least rob Lowe's performance.

let's start by saying that his performance was very underrated however was nominated for a golden globe, i thought he should of got an Oscar nomination for his role as mentally in-pair gema now that's the hardest role Lowe has ever taken on. if you can find this movie on VHS or DVD go buy it!!!1