The Turning Point

The plot of this 1977 movie will stay with you. Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine, are professional ballerinas whose lives took different paths, and then their lives intersect again dramatically, a generation later. Believable plot and spot on acting. I highly, highly recommend this picture.

Combine Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, Tom Skerritt, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne and Martha Scott...throw in the Corps de Ballet of any reputable company plus the aging ballerina, Alexandra Danilova, as well as the famed apartments above the stage at Carnegie Hall and you have a very believable and entertaining film about transitioning from ballet to ballet to even more ballet. I was pleasantly surprised to see the treatment given the character of Emma, beautifully acted by Anne Bancroft, was not one which elicited moanful oh nooooo's! As a non-dancer, they depicted her perfectly and yet, her positioning, arm and hand movements were spot on. Even Shirley MacLaine, who is a dancer by trade, was not depicted as an aging ballerina in anything but dialog. Anne Bancroft cuts a delicate and elegant figure from any vantage point and is one of the most versatile actresses ever to grace the screen. Her preparation and understanding of the dance is evident in her actions and reactions. We don't often get to see the back stage machinations or personal interactions of any company, let alone from the world of ballet so this was a special treat for all comers! Within the context are snippets of dance sequences that are a delight for anyone who loves the excitement of dance. Leslie Browne delivers a fine performance as, Emilia, Dee Dee's daughter who happens to be Emma's Godchild and who will be the next prima ballerina. Mikhail Baryshnikov is splendid as, Yuri, the handsome Russian lover of the company who knows everyone intimately and dances superlatively. He is always exciting to watch, even when not in tights! The story is one of past, present and future and as two aging ballerinas come to grips with their places within and outside the company for whom they both danced...the next generation is poised and waiting in the wings as even those behind them are crashing the entry doors to the practice floors and careers of a lifetime. This is a story of desire, commitment, missed opportunities, recriminations, self doubt, acceptance, dreams and successes realized and yet, overall, this is a story of hope even as the torch is passed. This is a film I have watched over and over again through the years and is always a first choice for re-viewing one of the great films of the era.

I was slightly disappointed with the picture and sound quality, but the movie itself was as wonderful as I remembered. Excellent writing, acting, and an entertaining story. The big bonus: All the spectacular dancing to the glorious music.

an anne bancroft film is always worth watching.

One of my favorite movies of all time. I watch it with my Granddaughters over and over because we all love Ballet.

Enjoyed

Paid for Cinemax so I could watch this film again. But it doesn't play. What up, Amazon?

This a terrific movie if you like some gorgeous ballet sequences throughout a drama about how our life choices when we are young affect the rest of our lives. Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine give really great performances as two middle age woman that decided to make very different choices about their careers in ballet when young. Still best friends they have many resentments towards each other and regrets within themselves. MacLaine marries another ballet dancer played by Tom Skerrit and has three children. They have a dance studio which fulfills Skerrit's life dreams but leaves MacLaine upset that she did not choose the path that Bancroft did as a prima ballerina who has known fame and fortune but lacks real love in her life. MacLaine's oldest daughter is a dancer with the talent to be in the limelight. I liked how they show her dancing and at the same time exploring love too. There is some real fireworks set off by the main characters involved. It is beautifully acted and directed. If you love a mix of dance and drama you will be pleased by this moving film.

Joli divertissement mais sans plus rien à voir avec soleil de nuit

The film itself deserves five stars, however the picture quality of the DVD lets it ever so slightly down - it's fine if watched on a small screen, but it's nowhere near sharp on a large modern HD screen. Having said that, it's nice to be able to own this oldie but goodie and it comes at an affordable price. The sound quality is rather good and English subtitles are available.The story is set in the world of professional ballet with its jealousies and rivalries. There are some jaw dropping dance scenes, in particular those featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov, but there is not enough of that to make it an out and out dance film. He plays the male dance star and love interest of young ballerina Emilia. The real drama however plays out between the two middle aged female leads, the ageing ballerina Emma (Anne Bancroft) and her friend and former rival Deedee (Shirley McLaine) who chose marriage and motherhood over a dance career. The two women reunite when Deedee's daughter Emilia starts out on what is a promising dancing career. Each woman has regrets, and there is much drama as emotions run high.Being set in the timeless world of classical ballet this 40+ year old film from the 70s has aged surprisingly well and is still an enjoyable watch. At the time it received numerous Oscar nominations (11 in total), among them acting nominations for both leading ladies as well as supporting actress/actor nominations for Leslie Brown and Mikhail Baryshnikov who prove that they are not only amazing dancers but also have a great presence on the screen and can convincingly deliver a line. Highly recommended for anybody who likes female led drama. And, obviously, for all fans of classical ballet in general and Mr Baryshnikov in particular.

For anyone loving dance, ballet in particular, this film is a pleasurable experience and the story of rivalries within the ballet world provide a storybook backdrop to a film full of wonderful examples of great ballet dancing.Anne Bancroft and Shirley Maclaine, stalwarts of the film acting world, add vigour and depth to what is, essentially, a family film for matinee viewing. Bancroft plays the fading, but still dedicated, ballerina who has given up everything, especially family and children, for The Dance. Maclaine is her opposite who did give up her dancing for her family. But her daughter, played with exquisite loveliness by Lesley Browne of the American Ballet Theatre, is to prove that her sacrifice was not in vain.Mikhail Baryshnikov in his film debut enhances the film to heights of wonder with his magnificent dancing and he proves he can act a little in his delightful scenes with the ingenue but ambitious young fledgling dancer.The best parts of the film are, obviously, the fabulous dancing, the best of which is the pas de deux from Don Quixote with Baryshnikov's leaps simply stunning.Recommended for both Maclaine and Bancroft in fine style and for Baryshnikov's and Browne's beautiful dancing.

The storyline is based on two good friends who look back on their different choices, each with some envy on the other. They knew each other as ballerinas and both were tipped to be principals, but Shirley's character took the path of marriage and family, whist the other became the ballet star that both had aspired to be. There is much more to the storyline, which makes fascinating viewing with some sad and poignant scenes as well as some very funny moments. Ballet fans will enjoy the second half, which does have some snippets of truly outstanding ballet. After seeing this film I readily recommended as key viewing to friends and relatives with an interest in ballet as it reflects the passion and commitment of the dancing profession as well as the sorrow behind sacrifices made to succeed.

Ein Semi-Klassiker aus den 1970ern, der voll und ganz von Bancrofts und MacLaines bravourösen Darsteller-Leistungen lebt. Seinerzeit für -zig Oscars nominiert, konnte "Turning Point" nicht eine Trophäe einheimsen. Wohl auch deshalb steht er heute noch in so manchem Filmbuch. Ansonsten ist ihm der Zahn der Zeit nicht besonders gut bekommen. Der Streifen hat deutliche Längen und keine allzu ansprechende Ästhetik. Interessant ist die Wahl des Sujets, welches durchaus zeitlos ist: das Hadern mit dem Altern, das Bedauern nicht wahrgenommener Chancen, der melancholische Blick zurück. Heutzutage wäre ein solch sensitives Thema (zumindest in Hollywood) nicht mehr verfilmbar. Schon allein deshalb nicht, weil selbst Schauspielerinnen jenseits der 50 keine 40jährigen spielen dürfen (oder wollen oder können). Audrey Hepburn hatte ursprünglich eine Hauptrollen übernehmen sollen, es wäre nach zehn filmfreien Jahren ihr Comeback geworden. Bancroft und MacLaine spielen uneitel und authentisch, es ist eine Freude, ihnen zuzusehen. Für Fans des "leisen" Films ein Tipp, wer mehr auf Action oder Kurzweil steht, sollte "Turning Point" zielsicher meiden.