40 years of Flashdance in 10 curiosities: did you know that Jennifer Beals could not dance?

Jennifer Beals celebrate 40 years like “Cinderella in leg warmers” in Flashdance. The cult directed by Adrian Lyne That debuted in theaters on April 15, 1983. The Story Alex Owens, welder by day and dancer by night, made it dream and dance entire generations to the rhythm of What a Feeling. Still, when it was released in theaters, the film was panned by critics but was a triumph at the box office, cashing in the world 201 million dollars. Thanks to the love story between the beautiful protagonist and her boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), a series of iconic outfits and dance numbers imprinted in the collective imagination on the notes of a memorable soundtrack.

In particular Maniac by Michael Sembello and the aforementioned Oscar-winning song composed by Giorgio Moroder (music) and Keith Forsey (words): both sung by Irene Cara, who passed away at the age of 63 on November 25th. The consecration of Flashdance is due in part to the newly formed MTV, with the two video clips rotating on the music channel. In the OST, the famous English version of Glory by Umberto Tozzi interpreted by Laura Branigan. The romantic fairy tale about dancing redemption will pave the way for generational cults such as Footloose (1984) and Dirty Dancing (1987). The film definitively launched the career of the British Lyne who rang one success after another; they followed 9 1/2 weeks (1986), Fatal Attraction (1987) and Indecent Proposal (1993). In 2008, the musical inspired by the film debuted. We celebrate wild 40 years of Flashdance with 10 curiosities.

The film is based on a true story

Flashdance was inspired by the true story of Maureen Marder, a construction worker by day and dancer by night at Gimlets, a Toronto strip club. In 1982, he signed to give Paramount the rights to her life story in exchange for a check for $2,300. The film is estimated to have grossed more than $200 million in box office and home video.

The role of Alex Owens

For the role of the beloved worker-ballerina, the then newcomer Jennifer Beals was even preferred to Demi Moore.

Jennifer Beals’ career

After the resounding success of the film, she devoted herself mainly to auteur cinema. In the Nineties, the star of Flashdance suffered from chronic fatigue due to the Epstein-Barr virus, contracted in those years. Since 2004, the actress has made a comeback in the series The L Word (and in the sequel The L Word: Generation Q) as Bette Porter, an LGBTQ+ advocate. She recently she appeared in The Book of Boba Fett.

The actress could not dance

In all the dance scenes it is not Jennifer Beals who dances, but four different doubles: one of these (in the breakdance scene at the audition) was a man: Richard Colòn, known by the stage name of Crazy Legs.

The role of Nick Hurley

Newcomer Michael Nouri accepted the role of the protagonist’s love interest after the refusal of the great Burt Reynolds. Kevin Costner, then almost unknown, had also proposed for the part.

Age is just a number

Jennifer Beals was literally half the age of Michael Nouri. She is 18, he is 36.

The sweatshirt-icon by chance

The famous gray sweatshirt with bare shoulder is the result of an accident. Following a wrong laundry, her sweatshirt had shrunk and the actress had to run for cover by cutting her collar. In doing so, she unknowingly transformed that sweatshirt into an 80s fashion trend. When director Adrian Lyne and costume designer Michael Kaplan saw her in a wardrobe rehearsal, they fell in love with her.

The double «No» by Adrian Lyne

The controversial director set out to direct Flashdance after having rejected the project twice.

The city of Pittsburgh

Flashdance it is the only musical set in Pittsburgh.

The tributes to Flashdance

Numerous quotes dedicated to the film: from Geri Halliwell in the video clip It’s Raining Men to Jennifer Lopez in that of I’m Glad. The last, in chronological order, is the poster of Deadpool 2with the rain of bullets instead of water.