A Magia da Dança

Teresa Wright and Lou Jacobi meet to waltz and shmooze. Gigolo Christopher Walken bilks old ladies and Geraldine Chaplin. Lilia Skala's attempt to win the Peabody dance competition is thwarted when her partner winds up in the hospital.

It's an anthology movie of three stories set at New York City's Roseland Ballroom. For decades it sat at 239 West 52nd Street, with an increasingly elderly patronage. Probably that's why this Merchant-Ivory picture (script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, of course) has people dying on the dance floor As you might expect, the dialogue is excellent, and so are the performances, but it's a remarkably unsentimental and unsympathetic view of the institution. Perhaps this reflects the problems they had shooting it, like being picketed by the Teamsters and getting into a wrangle with the Screen Actors Guild. With Helen Gallagher and Conrad Janis,.

I saw this film when it first came out in Bay Harbor, Florida. I was nineteen at the time and for some me reason thought I was going to see a film about ballroom dancing with some beautiful dancers. Nope, not even close. Basically, a very downbeat, low-key, sad movie about a bunch of very lonely and somewhat burnt out people. A young and at the time, a somewhat unknown Christopher Walken steals the whole film, which honestly is not much to steal. He definitely shows his talents and has a strong screen presence which will take off shortly with his breakout role in The Deer Hunter. The movie theater was totally empty the night I saw this movie. Seriously, I was the only one there. Leaving the theater, I felt a bit melancholy after watching this total Downer. Enough said.

Maybe I wouldn't have bought the movie if I'd seen the low voting-rate here. But I read the three bones in the Videohounds and got curious for Roseland, New Yorks famous old ballroom, filled up with mostly older dance-lovers, often looking for some company. Two bitter-sweet stories in the Ginger y Fred-style open and end. The middle part "Hustle" has Christopher Walken - who in his youth was dreaming of becoming a dancer - as the young darling gigolo for the older ladies. Walken plays a brilliant part here (just before his Deer Hunter-fame), you believe him right away. As the younger Geraldine Chaplin offers her love, house and help, he gratefully accept it,but when she tries to force things and make him think of him and her alone she loses easily from a golden watch. We've seen a lot of dancing-movies alright, but especially the genuine atmosphere with regular customers as the extra's, gives Roseland some unforgettable moments. 9 out of 10 is rather high, but boy, you have to fight against these poor ratings!

I watched this movie for the simple pleasure of staring at pretty young Christopher Walken; I had no expectations of actually caring about the rest of it since it didn't seem like something that aligned with my interests whatsoever. I was pleasantly surprised, and I've been thinking about it ever since. The three stories are simple and subdued, wistful, mournful little vignettes peering in on the lives, drama, and regrets of various characters who frequent this ballroom. It's mellow yet moving, sweet yet sad, with compelling characters and an inviting atmosphere that kept my tiny attention span thoroughly invested. Also, if you're like me and you're here for the prettyboy, you won't be disappointed.

Roseland was an actual dance/music hall in New York City that closed down in 2014. Three vintage stories takes place in the dance hall. The main theme is old age is sad and lonely.

The screen writer, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, was fifty when the movie came out and after seeing the movie, makes me wonder if she dreaded growing old.

The first story is "The Waltz" about an old woman played by Teresa Wright who has a difficult time in letting go of the memory of her late husband. She meets a fellow dancer, Stan (Lou Jacobi).

It reminded me of old Twilight Zone episode where old folks try to reclaim their youth or go back into past.

The second story, "The Hustle" is the longest and best one. It's about a gigolo named Russell (Christopher Walken) and the women in his life. Walken chews up the scenery.

One the best moments in this story is when Geraldine Chaplin mimes that she is going home to get some sleep.

The third story, "The Peabody" about an elderly woman who participates in a dance contest. There is a hint that the dancing the Peabody is deadly for old people (two people die after dancing it). The story came across as something I have seen in a thriller/horror anthology movie.

The overall movie has an old timey feel to it with a mixture of 1970's. That same year Saturday Night Fever came out which was a huge success.

The reason I gave it a seven is because the acting was good and "The Hustle"