Dancin' Thru the Dark

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!

I am reflective of the age of the cast in this movie and saw it when it came out and it really hit the mark with me. Many of the actors in it have had pretty solid careers on TV but I am amazed that at least some of them like Con O'Neil never really hit the big time. Suffice to say if you are a Generation X'er like myself and have not seen this film I advice you to give it a go next time it is on the TV it really takes you back to pub and club life and the pro's and cons of life back then for working class men and women.

I love Dancin' Thru The Dark and have done since I saw it on the BBC several years ago.

It's hard to pinpoint what I like best about it, but I think a lot of it comes from the brilliant and funny script, the excellent choice of unknowns to play the leads and the atmosphere of the whole thing - I think we all know local dives like Bransky's!

The soundtrack also stands out for me, with three excellent songs written by Willy Russell and sung by Con O'Neill (So Many People, Shoe Shine, Dancin' Thru The Dark) who shows a considerable musical talent.

All in all, I'd watch this movie all day and wish it was more widely available on DVD - if only to let more people see Bernie stick her foot in the men's toilet!

A Classic - 5 out of 5!!

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)

The only reason I give it a 9 is because of the lighting. It's so dark on the set that half the time I had trouble keeping track of the characters. Otherwise, I loved this oh-so-believable winking slice of working-class life. I have a couple of questions for other viewers: 1. I don't recall actually seeing the much-commented-upon boots that Peter is wearing. Did anyone? 2. I also don't recall the name of Peter's band ever being mentioned. Is this correct?

Also, when Linda's friends try to convince her to leave because it's bad luck for her to see her groom the night before the wedding, I'm surprised she didn't suggest that _he_ leave, not her.

I also was impressed with the building tension that climaxed in the two bathrooms (Ladies and Gents respectively). A Russell masterpiece.

Anyone else in love with Con O'Neill? I adore Blood Brothers too!!!