There are movies they you just love.
This is one of them, for me.
Stupidly and ineptly "released" by Paramount Pictures in October 1991, "Stepping Out" is a movie that should have been a profound critical and commercial success. I'm not saying this film is anything more than it is. But "Rocky" and "Saturday Night Fever" mined this mother-lode with similar results. Alas, for "Stepping Out," the boxing and disco dancing flicks had savvy PR guys, and "Stepping Out" had--I dunno.
"Feel good" movie beyond completely applies to "Stepping Out."
This film, properly marketed, would have rejuvenated Liza Minnelli's film career.
And we would have had a wonderful Liza movie every few years or so, instead of--well, sequels.
Anyone reading this thread, who was or is still working for Paramount and could explain how they dropped the ball on this film's release? I'd love details.
UPDATE: I just stumbled upon an article about a theatre in Des Moines, the Varsity, that ran "Stepping Out" for a jaw-dropping TEN WEEKS. It was their Christmas release in 1991. The legendary theater owner, Bev Mahon, was undeterred about the unsuccessful platform release in October, and booked the movie anyway. He rewrote his own ad campaign (apparently he did this a LOT when he championed a movie underdog), and the movie was a big hit at this theatre. It would have run indefinitely (he ran "Doctor Zhivago" for 50 weeks in 1965), but Paramount wanted the theatre's print returned for another engagement. Since only 8 prints had been made of this film (what confidence, Paramount!), Bev Mahon had to comply, but since "Stepping Out" had been a bonafide smash at his theatre, Paramount did allow him to announce a final 2-week engagement. Nice story. Kind of vindicates Liza and her film and makes Paramount look even stupider than I thought they were back in 1991.
This is one of them, for me.
Stupidly and ineptly "released" by Paramount Pictures in October 1991, "Stepping Out" is a movie that should have been a profound critical and commercial success. I'm not saying this film is anything more than it is. But "Rocky" and "Saturday Night Fever" mined this mother-lode with similar results. Alas, for "Stepping Out," the boxing and disco dancing flicks had savvy PR guys, and "Stepping Out" had--I dunno.
"Feel good" movie beyond completely applies to "Stepping Out."
This film, properly marketed, would have rejuvenated Liza Minnelli's film career.
And we would have had a wonderful Liza movie every few years or so, instead of--well, sequels.
Anyone reading this thread, who was or is still working for Paramount and could explain how they dropped the ball on this film's release? I'd love details.
UPDATE: I just stumbled upon an article about a theatre in Des Moines, the Varsity, that ran "Stepping Out" for a jaw-dropping TEN WEEKS. It was their Christmas release in 1991. The legendary theater owner, Bev Mahon, was undeterred about the unsuccessful platform release in October, and booked the movie anyway. He rewrote his own ad campaign (apparently he did this a LOT when he championed a movie underdog), and the movie was a big hit at this theatre. It would have run indefinitely (he ran "Doctor Zhivago" for 50 weeks in 1965), but Paramount wanted the theatre's print returned for another engagement. Since only 8 prints had been made of this film (what confidence, Paramount!), Bev Mahon had to comply, but since "Stepping Out" had been a bonafide smash at his theatre, Paramount did allow him to announce a final 2-week engagement. Nice story. Kind of vindicates Liza and her film and makes Paramount look even stupider than I thought they were back in 1991.