Footloose
Directed by: Herbert Ross
Written by: Dean Pitchford
Other cast: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest & Chris Penn
Release date: February 17, 1984
Genre: Drama, Music & Romance
Running time: 1h 47m
Ren McCormack, a big-city kid looking for some action after moving to a sleeping Midwest town. When Ren discovers that the town’s uptight minister (John Lithgow) outlawed rock music and dancing, he enlists his best friend (Chris Penn), and the minister’s rebellious daughter to abolish the outdated ban. With an infectious soundtrack featuring “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Footloose,” everybody will cut loose to the film that started it all!
Tagline
One kid. One town. One chance.
All he wanted to do was dance.
The music is on his side.
He’s a big-city kid in a small town. They said he’d never win. He knew he had to.
Photos
Trivia
💛 Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t the first actress to be hired for the role of Rusty, despite being offered it originally. She later stated: “They wanted me to cut my hair off and dye it red because the character’s name was Rusty, and I was like, ‘Oh God, my hair just grew back from [the Broadway production of] Annie,” for which she had to cut her hair short and dye it red. She passed on the role, “I couldn’t imagine cutting my hair off and dying it red again, and being a redhead didn’t really suit me, so I passed, and they hired Tracy Nelson.” Parker recalled that “they called me from the set. It didn’t work out [for Nelson], and they said, ‘Can you fly to Utah tomorrow?’ I was like, ‘I can, but I cannot cut my hair off and dye it red.’ They were like, ‘Don’t worry about your hair. Just get here ASAP…'”
💛 Both Dianne Wiest and Sarah Jessica Parker have played witches. Dianne Wiest played Aunt Jet in Practical Magic (1998). Sarah Jessica Parker starred in Hocus Pocus (1993) as Sarah Sanderson.
Character Quotes
Rusty: What is wrong about getting a little psyched over Ren? He’s *cute*! He’s from out of town, and *don’t* tell me that doesn’t curl your toes, Ariel, I know you too well. You want out of here so bad you probably memorize bus schedules.
Rusty: [reporting back on Ren] Okay, he hasn’t dated since he’s been in town, and late Friday nights…
Ariel: Yeah?
Rusty: …by the light of the full moon… he, uh… breaks into churchyards and bites the heads off live chickens.
Rusty: [to Ren] Hey, your tie is fabulous! I mean it, fabulous! Don’t let anyone tell you any different.