Product Details

• Actors: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson, Kyle T. Heffner
• Directors: Adrian Lyne
• Writers: Joe Eszterhas, Thomas Hedley Jr.
• Producers: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jon Peters, Lynda Obst, Peter Guber
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: October 8, 2002
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JKG5
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,491 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Flashdance" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

That Oscar-winning title song buzzes in your ears long after the movie has stopped. The attraction here is youthful spirit and a pulsating score, because the weak story is merely a conduit for the song-and-dance numbers. The plot is every young woman's daydream come true. Jennifer Beals holds down a macho job as a welder by day, but performs erotic dance numbers in a club at night. It's not a strip club, so her morality remains intact. She dates her wealthy boss (Michael Nouri) and practices hard for the day she can audition for the upscale, local dance school, even though she has no formal training. It is malarkey, of course, unless you view this as total romantic fantasy. It works because you are carried along by the sheer force of the energetic, boisterous, MTV-style imagery by director Adrian Lyne. Beals is a plus as the stubborn, pouty, somewhat eccentric young woman made all the more interesting for her driving ambition. In the end, she is aided by her Prince Charming, who arrives bearing favors. Mind you, this is not the same as a rescue, as Beals is one rather tough damsel who does just fine on her own. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Product Description

A pittsburgh welder dances nights in a bar dates her boss and dreams of going to ballet school. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 03/22/2005 Starring: Jennifer Beals Sunny Johnson Run time: 95 minutes Rating: R Director: Adrian Lyne

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jennifer Beals- thank you!! September 7, 2003

By CWC VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Of the top five or so movies that have had the greatest impression on me, no movie had the personal impact as did "Flashdance." I was going through, what I like to call, a "character building" period in my life after having moved to California a little less than a year before this movie came out. Long story short: no job, no car, no money when a friend of mine called and said he wanted me to go see "Flashdance," with him- his treat. After a little coercing, I gave in.

Yes, the movie has a typical or predictable plot, but I would not call it weak because of the actors and the memorable characters they created. The viewer is bonded to the characters in this movie- one cares what happens to them. The cinematography in this movie is great, especially the opening credit scenes of Pittsburgh as Alex is riding her bike to work. No, this movie doesn't have "5-star" acting... I think that would have ruined this whole movie. It has, what I would call, "real-life" acting: not that polished and maybe stumbles a bit here and there. It gives this movie its strength, not a weakness.

Not only are the musical scenes great, the background musical interludes chosen also help set the feeling in many of the scenes... "Lady, Lady, Lady," sung by Joe Esposito playing during a tender romantic scene between Alex and her boss, and- my favorite- "I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is," sung by Kim Carnes played during one of Alex's low-points in the film.

The highlight of the film is its finale when Alex is auditioning in front of the Pittsburgh Dance and Conservatory Company's selection committee. I would call it one of the greatest movie moments of all time. I stepped out of the theatre feeling I was walking three feet above the ground back to the car.... I have never left another movie sensing that level of enthusiasm, exhilaration, and energy. I made myself a promise at that moment that things would get better... and they did too... in ways I never could have imagined at the time. Thank you, Jennifer Beals, for the motivation and inspiration you gave me at that time in my life!

This was one of the most influential movies of the '80's. The DVD picture is clearer and the sound incredible compared to my ol' VHS tape. GREAT movie! If you haven't seen it, buy it and see what positive effect it has on you! Read more ›

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What a song! It carries the movie December 17, 2003

By Peggy Vincent

Format:DVD

You just keep waiting for that Oscar-winning title song to come around again; it's gotta be the most joyful, uplifting, foot-stompin', head and hip swinging tune ever written for a movie. Jennifer Beals works as a welder by day, but does sexy dancing in a club at night, practicing constantly for a chance to audition for the formal dance school, tho she'd never had formal training and feels inferior to the others in the audition lines.
As reality, it won't float. But as an energetic and boisterous vehicle for a sweet story and some of the best music and dancing ever seen on screen, it's a five-star winner.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Take Your Passion and Make it Happen July 16, 1999

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

Words can't describe how much I love this film. This was the film that made me want to become a dancer. I love the opening dance scene and I've always wanted to re-create it. Jennifer Beals is a great actress and it's hard to believe that she was only 18 years old when this film was made. Michael Nouri is great as well. This film also has an incredible soundtrack and the title song is one of my favorites. The story is one that any dancer can relate to. Before I go to an audition I always try to watch the end scene in this film or listen to the song "What a Feeling." I absolutely adore this film and I hope that many young dancers will enjoy it too.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars musical inspiration February 1, 2000

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

I remember when a group of friends went to see this film.... our lives changes (musicaly speaking)... Please realise it in DVD format! (excuse my english...I dont speak english everyday)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This movie is great! Everyone should see it. Inspirational!! September 20, 1999

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

As a little kid, I was inspired by this movie. It has music and funk. To sum it up in one word--GREAT! Any dancer would enjoy this film. It shows that she had to work hard and get up the courage to go to the audition. I don't think that I could've went! A lot of people drag about it's plot. I don't think that the plot is that important. Only guys want a good plot so they can follow the movie! But for real, watch the movie and see for yourself.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Cinematography and directing April 2, 2001

By Victor A. Vyssotsky

Format:VHS Tape

This movie has some good music and dancing, in a sappy plot. But the music and dancing are not integral to the plot development; they do not carry the film in the way dancing carries "Dirty Dancing" or "The Turning Point" (both of which have better dancing, by the way.)

But it's one of my favorite movies. Why? The director, Adrian Lyne, got his experience directing TV commercials, where the entire message has to be conveyed in 60 seconds, and in Flashdance every moment is contributing something. The key is the cinematography. Leonard Maltin calls Lyne a "visual stylist", and he is, but he's more. He takes Roman Polanski's cinematographic innovations and pushes them to new limits; the camera tells the story.

When you watch "Flashdance", watch how light and camera angle are used. Light: Pittsburgh light, hazy, smoky, dull, reflecting off puddles, blazing from lamps, dim, bright, strobe, whatever; lighting carries the mood of each scene. As for camera angle, in most movies we are observers, outside the movie, watching the actors. In some of "Flashdance" that is also true, but then in many places the camera angle shifts so we are inside the movie, seeing what one of the actors, or several of the actors, see at that moment. It just pulls you in. If you're not familiar with the film, the first time you watch it wait for the final "audition" scene, and watch how the camera is first an observer, before the dancer enters the audition room, then sees from the dancer's view as the audition begins, and then shifts to show us what the judges see, as the dancing becomes compelling. I don't know about you, but this grabs me and pulls me in; I could watch that scene five times running.... And there are many other scenes in which camera angle is used similarly but not quite as obviously. I give this movie four stars; I would give it five if the music and dancing were as well integrated with the plot as in some other movies. Read more ›