Autumn 2011 movie preview: Fall films hold promise of more substantial fare
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
My excellent colleague George Lang of Staticblog and I tag-teamed this story, which also appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Fall movie preview holds promise of more substantial fare
With the blast-furnace heat of summer starting to subside in Oklahoma, the films of fall require more than just movie theater air-conditioning to be cool. The fall movie season looks like a boon for audiences looking for more substance, including new films by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney.
With the blast-furnace heat of summer starting to subside, the films of fall require more than just movie theater air-conditioning to be cool. Starting this weekend, the movies populating the multiplexes start to feel a little more adult as studios position their elite properties for awards season.
But this year, the shift in tone will not feel as abrupt as it has in recent years. August is usually a dumping ground for lowbrow comedies and slapdash horror garbage, but in 2011, the month was dominated at the box office by the heartfelt period drama “The Help,” which is expected to surpass $100 million this weekend. So in the next few months, once viewers get past Nick Swardson’s porn-oriented comedy opening today, the fall movie season starts to look like a boon for audiences looking for more substance, including new films by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney.
"Contagion"
Friday
Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet and Laurence Fishburne face down the consequences of a global epidemic in Steven Soderbergh’s slow-burning, hyper-realistic drama “Contagion.”
The acclaimed indie science-fiction film “Attack the Block” centers on a group of South London gang members who battle invading aliens.
In “Warrior,” Tom Hardy of “Inception” revisits the fight scene he dominated in 2008′s “Bronson” as a mixed martial arts fighter trained by his alcoholic ex-boxer father, played by Nick Nolte.
After playing second-banana in Adam Sandler’s recent films, comic Nick Swardson steps into the spotlight in “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star,” in which a naive man-child from the Midwest discovers that his parents (Edward Hermann and Miriam Flynn) were porn stars. Naturally, he is inspired to follow in their footsteps. Christina Ricci, Don Johnson and Kevin Nealon also star.
In other stand-up news, comedian Kevin Hart’s recent 90-day concert tour is captured in the concert film “Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain.”
"Straw Dogs"
Sept. 16
Oklahoma City’s James Marsden steps into Dustin Hoffman’s shoes in a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s tense masterwork “Straw Dogs.” In this version, screenwriter David Sumner (Marsden) relocates to the deep South with his wife, Amy (Kate Bosworth), and they encounter resentment and violence from the local population. Alexander Skarsgard (“True Blood”), James Wood and Walton Goggins (“Justified”) co-star.
Director Nicholas Winding Refn follows up “Bronson” and “Valhalla Rising” with “Drive,” in which a stunt driver played by Ryan Gosling gets embroiled in a disastrous robbery. Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”) and Bryan Cranston also star, but look for Albert Brooks playing against type as a dark-hearted mobster in this stylish thriller.
Sarah Jessica Parker plays a finance executive who is the chief breadwinner for her family in “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” Greg Kinnear and Oklahoma City’s Olivia Munn co-star in this comedy directed by Doug McGrath (“Emma”).
In “Life, Above All,” the realities of life in modern South Africa are reflected in the relationship between a mother and a daughter (Khomotso Manyaka and Keaobaka Makanyane).
Vera Farmiga of “Up in the Air” makes her directorial debut with “Higher Ground,” a drama about one woman’s lifelong struggle with her faith.
“Lion King 3D” retrofits Disney’s 1994 animated classic with 3-D visuals for a special two-week theatrical release, followed by a Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3-D release Oct. 4.
"Moneyball"
Sept. 23
Based on Michael Lewis’ acclaimed nonfiction book, “Moneyball” stars Brad Pitt as a baseball manager putting together a team based on computer analysis. The film also stars Jonah Hill, Robin Wright and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Taylor Lautner of the “Twilight” films stars in “Abduction,” a thriller in which a young man tries to uncover the secrets of his life after he sees his baby photo on a missing persons’ website. “Abduction” is directed by John Singleton (“Boyz N The Hood”) and co-stars Lily Collins, Alfred Molina and Sigourney Weaver.
After his mentor (Robert De Niro) is taken captive, a retired member of British special forces (Jason Statham) must kill three assassins dispatched by underground kingpin Spike (Clive Owen) in “Killer Elite.”
Based on a true story, “Dolphin Tale” is about the heroic efforts of a prosthetics doctor (Morgan Freeman) to give an injured dolphin a new tail. Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kristofferson also star.
Listen: Blake Shelton covers the “Footloose” theme song for remake
What a red-letter day for Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton.
Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, has recorded a new version of the iconic theme from “Footloose” for the upcoming remake of the well-loved 1984 dance drama. Shelton’s cover of Kenny Loggins’ famed hit premiered exclusively today on TheBoot.com.
To hear Shelton cut “Footloose,” click here.
Shelton told TheBoot.com that the movie’s producers initially approached him to cut another song for the remake’s soundtrack and wanted a woman singer to belt the new version of the title theme. But he convinced them to let him do the cover.
“They threw out ideas for some other songs for me, but I finally just campaigned enough and whined about it enough that they said, ‘Why don’t you cut it, and just let them hear your version?’ So I cut it, gave it to them and they wanted to go with mine. I really lucked out,’” he told TheBoot.com.
Shelton isn’t the only country artist contributing music to the 2011 “Footloose” soundtrack: Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, Zac Brown, Whitney Duncan, Jana Kramer and Hunter Hayes with Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice. Also providing tunes for the new movie are Shelton’s fellow “The Voice” star Cee Lo Green with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Smashing Pumpkins, White Stripes and Three 6 Mafia.
“It’s music that was rock back then but is country now. That’s where those songs would fit in today in the music industry — they sound like the country format,” Shelton told TheBoot.com. “I think they did the right thing by finding the artists who fit that movie, too — and not just country artists, Cee Lo is on there, too. To do those songs justice, you have to find the right artist for the movie. That’s probably why they went with a lot of country artists. The movie is based in a small town full of country people.”
Due in theaters Oct. 14, “Footloose” follows closely to the dance steps of the 1984 original film, which made Kevin Bacon a star. The remake stars newcomer Kenny Wormald, country singer/dancing TV personality Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid and is written and directed by Craig Brewer, who made the music-driven movies “Hustle & Flow” and “Black Snake Moan.”
The original film was loosely based on real-life events that happened in 1980 in Elmore City, where students convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom last year.
Today started getting good for Blake bright and early this morning when he received five nominations for November’s 45th Annual CMA Awards, tying for the most nods with tour mate Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift. The Ada native is nominated for male vocalist of the year, album for “All About Tonight,” single and video for “Honey Bee,” and he earned his first nomination for the top prize, entertainer of the year.
“To be honest, I secretly hoped that I’d get this nomination one day, but I never thought I actually would,” Shelton said in a statement at BlakeShelton.com. “After 10 years of watching my friends receive this incredible honor, I got pretty used to being a cheerleader for them, ya know? I didn’t expect this today but I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my band and crew. Most of them have been with me from the beginning of my career, and they are such a big part of why I get to do what I love.”
To read more about the artists with Oklahoma ties who received CMA nominations, click here.
Then, the Tishomingo resident debuted the video for his earnest new ballad “God Gave Me You” exclusively on BlakeShelton.com. The video opens and closes with a message from Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert, shot less than 36 hours before their wedding day back in May.
To watch the video, click here and enter your name and email address.
-BAM
Video: “Footloose” MTV VMAs spot
Here is another look at Paramount Pictures’ remake of the 1984 dance drama “Footloose,” the spot that aired during MTV’s Video Music Awards.
The ’84 film, which turned Kevin Bacon into a star, was loosely based on actual events in Elmore City, where students in 1980 convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom last year.
In the remake, newcomer Kenny Wormald takes on the lead role of Ren MacCormack, a Chicago teen who moves to a rural Southern community that has a law prohibiting dancing. Hough plays his love interest Ariel (the role originated by Lori Singer).
Quaid plays stern minister Rev. Moore, played by John Lithgow in the original. Miles Teller plays Ren’s pal Willard, whose dancing boots the late Chris Penn filled back in ’84.
A self-professed fan of the original, Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) co-wrote and directed the new version, due in theaters Oct. 14.
As previously reported, country music star Blake Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, will be covering the well-known theme song, made famous by ’80s soundtrack king Kenny Loggins.
Also included in the film is the latest hit from country duo Big & Rich, “Fake ID,” featuring their frequent collaborator and current tourmate Gretchen Wilson. Check out what Big Kenny had to say about the movie in my recent interview with him by clicking here.
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Reunited Big & Rich getting “Footloose,” comin’ to 2 Oklahoma cities this weekend
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Reunited Big & Rich “Comin’ to Your City”
The bombastic duo is making the rounds on its “Xtreme Muzik…The Tour” and will have their new single “Fake I.D.” featured in the remake of “Footloose.”
Big & Rich are riding together again and they’re getting “Footloose.”
After spending a few years apart to pursue solo interests, bombastic country showmen John Rich and Big Kenny are comin’ to two Oklahoma cities this week on their “Xtreme Muzik…The Tour,” featuring Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy, fellow members of their creative alliance known as MuzikMafia.
“It’s been so fun for all of us to get back together and feel that energy we used to feel at Mafia shows where we were each backing each other up on whatever anybody’s song was. And now we’ve got all this collection of hits that have come out over the years,” said Big Kenny in a phone interview from his tour bus, which was parked in his yard in Nashville, Tenn.
“It’s just nonstop music and creative energy and fun.”
As fans of the gonzo duo and their colorful cohorts might expect, the “Xtreme Muzik” shows Friday in Clinton and Saturday in Newkirk won’t adhere to concert customs like neatly divided sets. The tour features one band and one big party.
“We’re all onstage at one time, and sometimes we’ll go off stage, or we’ve got a bar on the stage so we’ll go up and hang out there for a couple songs. But the interaction just continually goes back and forth,” said Big Kenny, who leaves his surname, Alphin, out of his stage name.
Big & Rich blasted onto the music scene in 2004 and matched a showy country/rock/hip-hop sound with rowdy bravado. They racked up hits with the party anthems “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and “Comin’ to Your City” and with serious ballads “8th of November” and “Lost in This Moment.”
In 2008, the duo went on hiatus so Big Kenny could have surgery to fix a neck injury he suffered when a drunken driver hit him in a 2002 car accident. After a neurosurgeon “put my neck back together like the Bionic Man,” the singer-songwriter and his musical partner both released solo albums. Earlier this year, Rich won the latest season of Donald Trump’s reality TV show “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
But Big & Rich always expected to saddle up and continue their musical ride together.
“We just continue to be inspired and both of us love making music. We both feel blessed that we’ve been able to take a little time off and get our families started and do some things individually that were important to each of us,” Big Kenny said. “Like last year, I just took the year and went around and played benefit shows for things I wanted to help out, from building homes for wounded warriors to helping my fifth-grade teacher feed 400 homeless kids outside of Tampa, Fla., to helping build a soapbox derby track in my hometown of Culpeper, Va.”
The duo is making its comeback with “Fake I.D.,” a raucous party song featuring Wilson. They played the new single in June on the CMT Music Awards, marking their first live performance as a duo in more than three years. They were featured playing the rollicking single on the Aug. 14 TV special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” too.
“Fake I.D.” also will rock movie screens in its entirety in “Footloose,” a remake of the iconic 1984 musical drama that starred Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow and Lori Singer and was loosely based on real-life events that happened in 1980 in Elmore City. “Hustle & Flow” filmmaker Craig Brewer, a pal of Big Kenny’s, directed and co-wrote the remake, due in theaters Oct. 14.
“I love the first version, but I like the second version even better,” said Big Kenny, who screened the film right before the duo’s tour began. “I love how he really connects with this story. It really feels to me like he really gets the concept of a rebel with a cause in the story line. And then he just uses so much music throughout the film, everything from Dirty South to Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson. The music is just thumpin’ the whole time; it’s so cool.”
The “Footloose” remake is set to include music from Zac Brown, Cee Lo Green with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The White Stripes, The Smashing Pumpkins and Three 6 Mafia. Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton will remake the famed theme, which Kenny Loggins popularized in the ’80s.
“I love that he (Brewer) really hits on the concept of what the MuzikMafia’s all about, and that’s music without prejudice. So many of us these days just like so many styles of music. As has been evident in Big & Rich’s music since the beginning: We love to make country music but to incorporate flavors of all the kinds of music that we’ve appreciated and grew up with.”
With football season approaching, Big & Rich recently filmed new commercials for ESPN’s College Game Day, which again will use “Comin’ to Your City” as its theme. And Oklahoma State University will be among the schools whose fans will use “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” as an unofficial anthem.
“It’s just so cool to see so many of our songs be theme songs for different people all across America. It’s an awesome thing,” Big Kenny said with his trademark big laugh. “We’re truly blessed to be able to make music that inspires people.”
In concert
“Xtreme Muzik…The Tour”
Featuring: Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy.
When: 8 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: Lucky Star Casino, 101 N. Indian Hospital Road, Clinton.
Information: (580) 323-6599 or www.luckystarcasino.org.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: First Council Casino, 12875 N U.S. 77, Newkirk.
Information: (580) 448-3015 or www.myfirstwin.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Second trailer for “Footloose” remake released
Paramount Pictures’ has released a second trailer for its long-awaited remake of the 1984 dance drama “Footloose.” While the first trailer emphasized the similarities to the original film, the second puts more focus on its stars, Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald and Dennis Quaid.
The ’84 film, which turned Kevin Bacon into a star, was loosely based on actual events in Elmore City, where students in 1980 convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom last year.
In the remake, newcomer Kenny Wormald takes on the lead role of Ren MacCormack, a Chicago teen who moves to a rural Southern community that has a law prohibiting dancing. Hough plays his love interest Ariel (the role originated by Lori Singer).
Quaid plays stern minister Rev. Moore, played by John Lithgow in the original. Miles Teller plays Ren’s pal Willard, whose dancing boots the late Chris Penn filled back in ’84.
A self-professed fan of the original, Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) co-wrote and directed the new version, due in theaters Oct. 14.
As previously reported, country music star Blake Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, will be covering the well-known theme song, made famous by ’80s soundtrack king Kenny Loggins.
Also included in the film is the latest hit from country duo Big & Rich, “Fake ID,” featuring their frequent collaborator and current tourmate Gretchen Wilson. Big & Rich’s “Xtreme Muzik … The Tour” will play two dates in Oklahoma next week: Aug. 26 at Lucky Star Casino in Clinton and Aug. 27 at First Council Casino Newkirk.
Look for my interview with Big Kenny Alphin next week, and in the meantime check out the “Fake ID” video featuring “Footloose” footage.
-BAM
Blake Shelton to cover “Footloose” on remake’s soundtrack
Oklahoma country music and reality TV star Blake Shelton will sing the famed title track for the upcoming remake of the musical drama “Footloose,” reports EW.com.
Kenny Loggins memorably recorded the title track to the original 1984 film.
Judging from the trailer and EW’s account, the remake, due in theaters Oct. 14, follows closely the dance steps of the first “Footloose,” which starred Kevin Bacon as a Chicago teen who moves to a rural Southern community that has a law prohibiting dancing.
Shelton, an Ada native and Tishomingo resident, is an interesting choice to cut the theme song since the original film is based on real-life events that happened in another small southern Oklahoma town: Elmore City.
In 1980, Elmore City students convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom last year.
In the remake, newcomer Kenny Wormald plays the lead role of Ren, which made Bacon a star. Playing his love interest Ariel (the role originated by Lori Singer) is another country singer/reality TV star, Julianne Hough.
Dennis Quaid plays stern minister Rev. Moore, played by John Lithgow in the original. Miles Teller plays Ren’s pal Willard, whose dancing boots the late Chris Penn filled back in ’84.
A self-professed fan of the original, Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) co-wrote and directed the new version.
Shelton won’t be the only celebrity coach from the hit reality TV show “The Voice” to contribute to the “Footloose” soundtrack: Cee Lo Green and Kenny Wayne Shepherd will collaborate on “Walkin’ Blues,” according to EW.com.
Check out “Footloose” trailer and the full track listing for the remake’s soundtrack after the break.
Wednesday Video Spotlight: “Footloose” remake trailer debuts
The first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ long-awaited remake of the 1984 dance drama “Footloose” has debuted.
From the looks of the trailer, the do-over stays pretty faithful to the story of the first “Footloose,” which starred Kevin Bacon as a Chicago teen who moves to a rural Southern community that has a law prohibiting dancing.
The ’84 film was loosely based on actual events in Elmore City, where students in 1980 convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom last year.
In the remake, newcomer Kenny Wormald plays the lead role of Ren, which made Bacon a star. Playing his love interest Ariel (the role originated by Lori Singer) is country singer/reality TV dancing machine Julianne Hough.
Dennis Quaid plays stern minister Rev. Moore, played by John Lithgow in the original. Miles Teller plays Ren’s pal Willard, whose dancing boots the late Chris Penn filled back in ’84.
A self-professed fan of the original, Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) co-wrote and directed the new version, due in theaters Oct. 14
-BAM
Dennis Quaid, newcomer Kenny Wormald cast in “Footloose” remake
Kenny Wormald
Paramount Pictures announced today that it has finally completed principle casting on the remake of “Footloose,” after two high-profile stars and a well-known director danced away from the update of the 1984 dance drama.
Following an extensive worldwide search, newcomer Kenny Wormald will play the lead role of Ren, which made Kevin Bacon a star back in ’84. Playing his love interest Ariel (the role originated by Lori Singer) will be previously announced song-and-dance star Julianne Hough.
Dennis Quaid (Associated Press photo)
Dennis Quaid is joining the cast in the role of stern minister Rev. Moore, played by John Lithgow in the original. Also newly cast is Miles Teller as Ren’s pal Willard, whose dancing boots the late Chris Penn filled back in ’84.
Director Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) has been hired to helm the project from his rewritten script. It will be set in the South in present day.
“I saw ‘Footloose’ in my hometown theater when I was 13-years-old and it rocked my world. It was a teenage rebellion movie that explored the struggles of faith and family in a small town, and it had a killer soundtrack. I can promise ‘Footloose’ fans that I will be true to the spirit of the original film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and kick it into 2011,” said Brewer in today’s news release. “It’s going to be a blast!”
The first “Footloose” film starred Bacon as a Chicago teen who moves to a rural community that has a law prohibiting dancing.
The film was loosely based on actual events in Elmore City, where students in 1980 convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom in April.
The remake has been dancing on shaky ground since March 2009, when “High School Musical” star Zac Efron pulled out of the project. Director Kenny Ortega, also of “HSM” fame, left the film last fall. In April, Efron’s replacement, Chace Crawford, also departed the picture.
Production will start this summer on the remake, which is due in theaters April 1, 2011.
Julianne Hough (AP photo)
Hough will make her feature film debut in “Burlesque” in November, opposite Christina Aguilera and Cher, which will also coincide with the release of the two-time “Dancing With the Stars” champion’s second country album.
She will co-star alongside newcomer Wormald, who appeared in the MTV series “Dancelife”, and most recently toured with Justin Timberlake. The film will mark the first major U.S. feature film role for the Boston native.
Quaid, known for his starring roles in countless hit movies including “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Traffic,” and most notably for his Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild-nominated role in the acclaimed movie “Far From Heaven”, also joins the cast. The actor most recently starred in the critically praised HBO movie “The Special Relationship.”
Teller, who will next appear in John Cameron Mitchell’s “The Rabbit Hole” starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, will also appear in the film.
The “Footloose” remake will feature choreography from Jamal Sims, who recently worked with Madonna on her “Sticky & Sweet Tour.” Sims has choreographed numerous movies and videos and will next choreograph the Neil Patrick Harris’ production of the award-winning musical “Rent,” starring Nicole Scherzinger and Vanessa Hudgens, Aug. 6-8 at the Hollywood Bowl.
“When we discovered Kevin Bacon in 1984, we were both excited and gratified – and also knew the chances of ever duplicating that effort was a million to one shot. Decades later Kenny Wormald proved history could repeat itself,” said Craig Zadan, who served as a producer on the original film and is executive-producing the remake. “We’ve wanted to work with Brewer ever since we saw ‘Hustle & Flow.’ His fresh and contemporary vision will bring ‘Footloose’ to a whole new generation of moviegoers when the movie opens in 2011.”
- BAM
Paramount Pictures casting for “Footloose” remake
Paramount Pictures is seeking guys ages 18 or older to play high school seniors in the remake of “Footloose,” which will be shooting this summer.
According to www.footloosecasting.com, candidates “must have natural rhythm and be comfortable dancing. You don not have to be a trained dancer but a quick learner.”
Hopefuls should send their auditions in Quicktime via e-mail to footloosecasting@yahoo.com. The deadline is Wednesday.
Director Craig Brewer (music-oriented indie films “Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) has been hired to helm the project from his rewritten script. It will be set in the South in present day.
The first “Footloose” film, released in 1984, starred Kevin Bacon as a Chicago teen who moves to a rural community that has a law prohibiting dancing.
The film was loosely based on actual events in Elmore City, where students in 1980 convinced the school board to let them organize the school’s first prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The Oklahoma farming community marked the 30th anniversary of the first prom in April.
The remake has been dancing on shaky ground since March 2009, when “High School Musical” star Zac Efron pulled out of the project. Director Kenny Ortega, also of “HSM” fame, left the film last fall. In April, Efron’s replacement, Chace Crawford, also departed the picture.
According to IMDB, Thomas Dekker (this year’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake) is rumored to be boogeying into the lead role.
The new “Footloose” is set for 2011 release.
For more information, go to www.footloosecasting.com.
-BAM
Elmore City celebrating anniversary of first prom, inspiration for “Footloose,” today
Top: In this provided 1980 photo, Vicki (Bural) Schmidt and Dennis Chapman dance at Elmore City High School’s first prom. The Garvin County town will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first prom today. Bottom: Lori Singer and Kevin Bacon appear in a scene from the movie “Footloose.” The story behind Elmore City’s first prom inspired the 1984 film.
In 1980, the Elmore City school board narrowly voted to allow the junior class to organize a prom, despite an 80-year-old city ordinance banning public dancing. The story became the inspiration for the 1984 hit film “Footloose.”
Elmore City will mark the 30th anniversary of the first prom today with a daylong celebration and a dance re-creating the 1980 prom, down to the “Stairway to Heaven” theme.
The festivities start at 10 a.m. today and include lawn mower races, an arts and crafts festival, dance contests, class reunions and a 3 p.m. parade.
The dance will start with promenade at 5:30 p.m., then the prom will begin at 7 p.m. at the Elmore City Community Center, 104 S Main Street. South Main Street will be closed to allow the dancing to spill into the street.
A crew from “Good Morning America” reportedly will be on hand to cover the anniversary celebration.
To read more on the big anniversary celebration, click here.
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