Dancin' Thru the Dark

Based on Russell's play 'Stags & Hens' the screen version captures the essence of the traditional British pre-wedding celebrations. Linda & Dave are made for each other and are waiting for their fairy-tale wedding day so they can spend the rest of their lives together. From Linda leaving the factory she works in to Dave & the boys visiting the local Indian restaurant and taking advice about not mixing their drinks, Russell's portrayal of the Liverpudlian working classes is perfect! Pulling on your heartstrings from every possible angle, this film follows Linda's journey of self discovery...is there anything better beyond the Mersey? With a catchy sound track and brilliant performances throughout, this is definitely one to watch. A treat for any Willy Russell fan!

Dancin' Thru The Dark This is based on Willy Russell's play "Stags and Hens".

Linda is an intelligent girl who is getting married the following day. She and her friends go on a hen night, while at the same time her simpleton of a fiancé is having his stag night. They all end up at a club where there is a rock band from London playing. The rock band is fronted by Linda's ex-boyfriend...

For those of us who come from humble origins and have escaped to loftier heights, we notice that there are really no powers from on high that press the lower classes to keep them in their place. There is no need for that: the lower classes keep themselves in place. Willy Russell has observed what I have observed. Anyone who tries to break the class barrier is held back by an intense amount of peer group pressure. And we see it in action in this film - in all its sordid detail. Willy Russell returns to this theme again and again in his works, and it is also the linchpin of his better-known "Educating Rita." There are a few scenes - such as the stags and hens pairing off far too quickly - which are a little unreal, which is why I have given it 9 instead of 10. Otherwise this film captures the social scenes it portrays exceedingly well.

Willy Russell himself appears as a bitter piece of work who challenges the rock band's guitarist and bass player to play some "real music," and gets a beer inside his trousers for his pains.

I have seen many stage plays mutilated by film makers. If anything, in this case. the original stage play is enhanced as a photoplay, but perhaps not enhanced enough: it still has the claustrophobia of the stage in places; and I doubt it was left like that to display the claustrophobia of a lower class existence.

A gang of stags and hens end up in the same nightclub the night before a wedding with obvious and dramatic results.

Throw in a travelling band and a lead singer ( Con O'Neill ) who is an old flame of the bride to be and you have a very powerful mix indeed.

Most of the drama takes place in the toilets and themes explored previously by the writer are displayed here.

Class and escaping from the drabness of your lot like in his previous works are once again the main themes of this film .

However away from all this are some great comedy moments from a very good cast and also a great soundtrack.

All I will say is if you need cheering up watch this film and revel at some of the weird and wonderful scenes .

My favourite is the angry husband who come looking for his Madonna lookalike wife who has hooked up with one of the stags.

He turns up shouting whilst eating an apple and then drags her out. Quite what the relevance of this scene is I have no idea but it adds to the quirkiness of the whole thing .

dancin thru the dark is one of my favourite films. I love the grittiness of the way Liverpool is portrayed. The characters are really believable. Mark womaks character is very well acted. Con o'neills character is so lovely.I would love to know more about the exact locations of the club and the Italian restaurant used in the film.I'd love to visit where they were filmed as i go to Liverpool sometimes. i am a huge fan of all of Willy Russell's films and plays. he's a fantastic writer.I love Shirley valentine the most. Pauline Collins portrayal of Shirley is amazing, she brings such a feeling of warmth and realism and humour to the character. I feel that Julie Walters character in Educating Rita is portrayed by her with such compassion. You really feel for her as she try's to better her life to a one she knows she is capable of achieving. All his writing appears to show his leads desperately want more from their lives than they appear to be getting.They all feel there has to be more!

Dancin' through the Dark is a favourite nostalgia film about nightlife in the pre-britpop 90's. Nightclubs playing the most awful music, live here-today-gone-tomorrow bands, and a flotsam of characters who are obviously the fore-runners of today's Chavs.

We meet Dave, out on his stag night, soon to be almost comatose with drink, accompanied by his loyal mates, oh and some total animal who's idea of a good night out is a fight and a sh*g. His bride-to-be is having second thoughts, which are only intensified by the reappearance of a former beau who has made it big in the music industry and co-incidentally is appearing in the nightclub where she is enjoying her hen night.

To complicate issues further, Dave is also in the nightclub (throwing up in the toilet - a place he occupies for most of the rest of the film) causing mayhem amongst the Hen party who feel very bad ramifications will result if they meet prior to the nuptials.

I won't spoil the ending, but rest assured, the path of true love does not run smoothly, neither does a scouser scorned take betrayal lightly.

Favourite quote:

Man Dancing: Do you want to come back to my place tonight? Hen night girl: What for? Man Dancing: A F**k and a pizza. (Pause - music still playing and everyone dancing) Hen night girl: Is it a wholemeal pizza? (Man dancing is taken aback)