The Turning Point
starring: Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne, Tom Skerritt
directed by: Herbert Ross
directed by: Herbert Ross
Price: $249.98
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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
Description:
As young dancers, they were best friends and fiercerivals. Deedee (Shirley MacLaine) left the stage for marriageand motherhood, while Emma (Anne Bancroft) would become an international ballet icon. But when Deedee's teenagedaughter (Leslie Browne in her film debut) is invited to joinEmma's dance company and begins an affair with a youngRussian star (Mikhail Baryshnikov in his film debut), the two womenare forced to confront the choices they've made, theresentments they've hidden, and the emotional truths they must face at THE TURNING POINT.
Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe and the artists of TheAmerican Ballet Theatre co-star in this Oscar®-nominated classic written by ArthurLaurents (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.
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
Description:
As young dancers, they were best friends and fiercerivals. Deedee (Shirley MacLaine) left the stage for marriageand motherhood, while Emma (Anne Bancroft) would become an international ballet icon. But when Deedee's teenagedaughter (Leslie Browne in her film debut) is invited to joinEmma's dance company and begins an affair with a youngRussian star (Mikhail Baryshnikov in his film debut), the two womenare forced to confront the choices they've made, theresentments they've hidden, and the emotional truths they must face at THE TURNING POINT.
Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe and the artists of TheAmerican Ballet Theatre co-star in this Oscar®-nominated classic written by ArthurLaurents (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.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- If not for the stunning performances of the two leads I would have certainly turned away from this one...
I don't know if you can label this a `sports movie', but for the sake of my argument I'm going to.I mean, technically ballet is sort of a sport, right?Well, I guess not, but whatever.It'll have to be considered one for the time being.Okay, so my argument is this.Sometimes there are `sports movies' that can be enjoyed by any and everyone, regardless of your feelings on the sport itself.Other films rely on your personal appreciation of the sport to fuel your love for the movie.I happen ... Read More
Rating: 
- 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
I still think it's a joke that Baryshnikov got an Oscar nomination for this movie, but despite my grudging I have to admit that The Turning Point completely works as a backstage drama-cum-soap opera; whether you're interested in ballet or not, it's a very watchable film.
Rating: 
- 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 ... Read More
Rating: 
- spp
I love this movie!! It didn't get the credit it deserved!! The fight scene between Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft is hilarious!
Rating: - 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.
- If not for the stunning performances of the two leads I would have certainly turned away from this one...I don't know if you can label this a `sports movie', but for the sake of my argument I'm going to.I mean, technically ballet is sort of a sport, right?Well, I guess not, but whatever.It'll have to be considered one for the time being.Okay, so my argument is this.Sometimes there are `sports movies' that can be enjoyed by any and everyone, regardless of your feelings on the sport itself.Other films rely on your personal appreciation of the sport to fuel your love for the movie.I happen ... Read More
- 3 stars out of 4The Bottom Line:
I still think it's a joke that Baryshnikov got an Oscar nomination for this movie, but despite my grudging I have to admit that The Turning Point completely works as a backstage drama-cum-soap opera; whether you're interested in ballet or not, it's a very watchable film.
- A Storm of Vulgar Language and Vulgar EmotionsI 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 ... Read More
- sppI love this movie!! It didn't get the credit it deserved!! The fight scene between Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft is hilarious!
- Great Tender MovieI 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.
