TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

White Nights [1985]


RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £4.85 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Sometimes movies are built around a great idea begging for a story, in this case pairing ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov with tap great Gregory Hines. The resulting storm of dance in White Nights, as one would expect, is great, but the story is a little forced. Baryshnikov plays (in parallel to his own life) a Russian defector to the U.S. who ends up a prisoner in the motherland after his plane is forced to land in Leningrad during an emergency. Hines is an American expatriate who gets involved with the situation. Director Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman) punctuates an escape scenario and relationship dilemmas with as many dance sequences as possible, and the result is a wobbly, unconvincing tale with some furious footwork. Fortunately, performances carry the day, as the two male leads are both very strong as actors, and the supporting cast--Isabella Rossellini, Helen Mirren, and filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski (Moonlighting)--is terrific. --Tom Keogh


I can't help it...
Review date: 2007-10-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

... I just LOVE this film. Its an eighties masterpiece. I remember watching it as a child and instantly falling in love with Mikhail Baryshnikov. I haven't seen it for nearly 25 years and I've just watched it again, it is just BRILLIANT. I felt all the same things I did when I was young but this time I understood all the difficulties involved with the lead character's defection to the West. The dancing is thrilling and the soundtrack, although distinctly eighties, suits the time and style of the film beautifully. Great film.

Similar Products

Reviews


Dance Magic
Review date: 2007-05-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

I'm a big fan of dance films, and 'White Nights' is one of the best around. Helen Mirren turns in an excellent performance as the faded and damaged ex-primo Russian ballerina, ultimately jealous of Barishnikov's freedom. Gregory Hines is superlative as the dissolutioned American tap-dancer. Isabella Rossolini is charming as his Russian wife.

The moments of pure brilliance are of course the dance scenes, set off beautifully against the sinister KGB dominated backdrop of Moscow, as Hines and Barishnokov fuse their two distinct styles to produce some truly fantastic sequences. The film is supported by a decent soundtrack with the likes of Lionel Richie's haunting 'Say you, say me'.

It is certainly well worth a watch, even if you are not a dance fan.

A collision of Dance and Culture.
Review date: 2006-08-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first saw this film at the cinema over 20 years ago and found it as good today as I did back then. Both Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines perform some great dance sequences but their acting through out is great. Also Helen Mirren and Isabella Rossellini perform well in their supporting rolls. Whilst the film does contain many dance sequences it also contains a great storyline and touches upon events that no doubt happened back then and still happen today.

stunning
Review date: 2006-05-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

this is one of the best films i have ever seen, and the dance sequences are truly stunning, as is the music. Well worth the money.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Jerzy Skolimowski
Gregory Hines
Helen Mirren
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Geraldine Page

Creators:
Helen Mirren (Primary Contributor)
Gregory Hines (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822704237
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-07-10
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 131 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional