Released in 1985, A Chorus Line, based on the 1975 Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by James Kirkwood, Jr., Nicholas Dante, Edward Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch, examines a single, intense Broadway audition for a chorus line of dancers. It’s a cattle call; a bunch of hopefuls, needing that one job that will make them a star—or at the very least pay this month’s rent. Renowned director Zach (Michael Douglas) gradually whittles the herd down to seventeen “gypsies,” those freelance dancers who seldom if ever progress past the chorus. This isn’t just any audition; Zach—known for being a relentless taskmaster—has told the gypsies that this production calls for dancers who can also act and sing. The dancers acting must be natural, reciting a pre-written scene won’t do; Zach wants them to be total honest and revealing. Their answers to deeply personal questions will determine which four boys and four girls are chosen.

Zach’s strict regimen is thrown off by the sudden arrival of Cassie (Alyson Reed) who is desperate for a job. It slowly becomes clear that Cassie was once a lead dancer who left New York more than a year earlier for an opportunity that didn’t work out. Now she’s desperate to work again, even if it’s just in the chorus. Complicating matters is the fact that Zach and Cassie where lovers. Flashbacks reveal that she and Zach happily shared a spacious loft. Zach is less than thrilled to see Cassie arrive at the theater, and instructs his secretary, Kim (Sharon Brown), and choreographer assistant, Larry (Terrence Mann) to ask her to leave. Cassie steadfastly refuses; will she get a shot at the chorus line, or even get Zach back?

Given the success of the Broadway show, and the signing of Sir Richard Attenborough to direct—he was just coming off the critical and commercial success of Gandhi—expectations were high. The film’s “main” actor Michael Douglas had finally gained some box office credibility with the success of Romancing the Stone. Despite that potential, A Chorus Line can only be considered a box office flop. Made for $25 million, it took in only $15 million, and was trounced by such classic fare as The Care Bears Movie and Porky’s Revenge.

Exactly what went wrong is difficult to pinpoint, but there are some possibilities. The first and most obvious issue: It’s a filmed play; and done badly to boot. The tension of the dancer facing elimination just isn’t there. A Chorus Line is such an energetic and emotional experience that it requires live performance. The play has also been significantly altered for the film. While the Zach and Cassie subplot is an important but equally balanced aspect of the play, Richard Attenborough and screenwriter Arnold Schulman slowly turn Zach and Cassie’s trials and tribulations into the main focus of the film. The “gypsies” take a backseat; the story of their dreams jettisoned in favor of the “Tale of Zach and Cassie.”

So while there are a few good musical numbers to be found, the film version of A Chorus Line is a bland version of its Broadway namesake.  Fans of the show should approach this film with caution.

Presented in the 2.34:1 aspect ratio, Fox/MGM’s 1080p transfer is surprisingly clear and well detailed. Facial expressions and specific elements of audition outfits are easily seen. Blacks are deep, and the color palette ranges from dull to the brightest of the bright. The source material appears excellent, and the grain pattern looks natural. Artifacts are a no show, making this a fine transfer.
The Blu-ray includes the two-channel Dolby Surround mix that accompanied the film’s general release. The mix has been formatted as lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0. The track has solid separation, spreading the orchestral score between the left and right fronts, with occasional pans as the singers move across the stage. The chorus generally emanates from the surrounds, creating a surprisingly immersive experience.

English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.

The following extras are included:

  • Trailer (HD, 2:13)