IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations total
Howard 'Sandman' Sims
- Sandman
- (as Sandman Sims)
The Gifted
- Anthony
- (as Louis Castle)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
If you like tap dancing, this is one of the rare opportunities to see tap legends like Jimmy Slyde, Sandman Sims, Henry LeTang, and Harold Nicholas along with latter-day tap wizards Gregory Hines and Savion Glover and icon Sammy Davis, Jr. Dianne "Lady Di" Walker even has a cameo appearance.
This movie is glued together with a questionable plot and some illogical excuses to tap dance. But who cares? Once these folks are dancing, nothing else matters.
P.S. Look (and listen) for the incomparable Etta James singing in the club scene.
This movie is glued together with a questionable plot and some illogical excuses to tap dance. But who cares? Once these folks are dancing, nothing else matters.
P.S. Look (and listen) for the incomparable Etta James singing in the club scene.
While the story isn't up to par, as many have said, it's really just a sort of excuse to allow these great, great dancers to get up and do their thing on screen. And, let's be honest. You've got a lot of just awesome talent up there. Jimmy Slyde, Sammy Davis Jr., Sandman Sims, Steve Condos (very little of him, however), Gregory Hines, Diana Ross, Gregory Hines, and in his very first film role, Savion Glover.
It's so strange to see him as a kid, now, though. I'm used to seeing the thirty-some odd year old with the long dreads and scraggly beard, not the kid with short hair and nary a whisker 'bout his face. But, even at this stage, he's just awesome.
I'll admit, I've stolen a couple of steps from the people up there in this movie, from time to time. I know I don't do them half as well as they do, but I don't have as much experience as they do.
I keep thinking that they're going to remake this movie one day with Glover in the Hines' role. That'd be just awesome. But then, almost all the other hoofers in the film like Sims and Slyde, are much to old to be doing film roles any more. That's not meant to be an insult, but they're in their eighties, at least.
All in all, a good film. Hines, you will be missed.
It's so strange to see him as a kid, now, though. I'm used to seeing the thirty-some odd year old with the long dreads and scraggly beard, not the kid with short hair and nary a whisker 'bout his face. But, even at this stage, he's just awesome.
I'll admit, I've stolen a couple of steps from the people up there in this movie, from time to time. I know I don't do them half as well as they do, but I don't have as much experience as they do.
I keep thinking that they're going to remake this movie one day with Glover in the Hines' role. That'd be just awesome. But then, almost all the other hoofers in the film like Sims and Slyde, are much to old to be doing film roles any more. That's not meant to be an insult, but they're in their eighties, at least.
All in all, a good film. Hines, you will be missed.
This is a fine performance by Gregory Hines as a extremely talented tap dancer who also uses his flexibility and physical agility to be a cat burglar and comes to a crossroad in his life. Sammy Davis Jr. is also very good as an elder hoofer(tap dancer) who is trying to convince him to do the right thing.
This movie showed the extreme talent of Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr. and all of the fine old hoofers. It also shows that even though you may get older you still have to keep your legs. Tap dancing is a very demanding art.
This movie, though the plot is somewhat weak,is really, really good. The dancing is soooo amazing that you can't watch it without getting up and trying some of the steps yourself. I'm a tap dancer as well, so it's fun "stealing steps" from the tap masters in this film. If you like dancing at all,see this movie.
Did you know
- TriviaMany of the dance scenes were shot in single takes and at wide angles to show that the dancers were really doing all the steps.
- GoofsWhen Little Mo (Sammy Davis Jr.) is talking to Max (Gregory Hines) and first shouts out "Challenge" to the other dancers, he is wearing a white do-rag on his head. As the dancers run up and join him in the dance room, he is suddenly wearing a hat instead.
- Quotes
Max Washington: I don't do it like everyone else, remember?
- Crazy creditsDuring the end credits, the photograph of Bill Bailey animates to show him backsliding (i.e., moon-walking).
- Alternate versionsTo receive a PG certificate, two uses of 'fuck' were cut from the UK cinema and video releases. These were restored in the 12 rated DVD.
- How long is Tap?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,114,702
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,217,150
- Feb 12, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $9,114,702
- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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