Breakin'

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This article is about the 1984 film. For other uses, see breaking (disambiguation).
Breakin'
Breakin' movie poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Joel Silberg
Produced by Charles Parker
Allen DeBevoise
Executive Producers:
Menahem Golan
Yoram Globus
Screenplay by Charles Parker
Allen DeBevoise
Story by Charles Parker
Allen DeBevoise
Gerald Scaife
Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Lucinda Dickey
Adolfo Quinones
Michael Chambers
Music by Michael Boyd
Cinematography Hanania Baer
Editing by Larry Bock
Gib Jaffe
Vincent Sklena
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (USA)
Cannon Films (non-USA)
Release date(s) May 4, 1984
Running time 90 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1.2 million[1]
Box office Domestic:
$ 38,682,707[1]
Foreign:
$18,774,000
Worldwide:
$ 57,456,707

Breakin', released as Breakdance: The Movie in some countries, is a 1984 breakdancing-themed film directed by Joel Silberg. The film setting was inspired by a German documentary entitled Breakin' and Enterin' set in the Los Angeles multi-racial hip hop club Radiotron, based out of Macarthur Park in Los Angeles. Many of the artists and dancers, including Ice-T (who makes his movie debut as a club MC) and Boogaloo Shrimp, went straight from Breakin' and Enterin' to star in Breakin'. Ice-T has stated he considers the film and his own performance in it to be "wack".[2]

The music score featured the hits "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Freakshow on the Dance Floor". Breakin' was followed by a sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Breakin' was the final Cannon film production released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After Breakin' was released, MGM and Cannon Films dissolved their distribution deal, reportedly over the potentially X-Rated content in John Derek's film Bolero and MGM's then-current rule of not releasing X-Rated material theatrically, forcing Cannon to become an in-house distribution company once again. Because of the demise of the distribution deal, Breakin' is considered to be the final financially profitable film released by Cannon Films.

Contents

Plot [edit]

Kelly, a struggling young jazz dancer (Lucinda Dickey) meets up with two break dancers, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) (known for crazy inversions) and Turbo (Michael Chambers), who have a bitter rivalry with another crew, Electro Rock, consisting of poppers Popin' Pete (Timothy Solomon), Poppin' Taco (Bruno Falcon) and Lollipop (Ana 'Lollipop' Sánchez). They also struggle to overcome scorn from Kelly's dance instructor, Franco, who disapproves of her hybrid dance style and affiliation with street dancers. Kelly soon becomes the sensation of the street crowds. Through it all the audience is treated to a variety of breakthrough performances, including Turbo's "Broom Scene" and Taco's unique popping solos during the dance battles at the Radiotron nightclub. Many hit songs are featured, including "There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Tour de France" by Kraftwerk.

Cast [edit]

Soundtrack [edit]

The soundtrack of the film was released by Mercury Records in 1984. The album contains the first performance on an album of rapper Ice-T.[4] (He had released some 12" singles previously.)

Track listing [edit]

  1. "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" by Ollie & Jerry – 4:34
  2. "Freakshow on the Dance Floor" by Bar-Kays – 4:42
  3. "Body Work" by Hot Streak – 4:22
  4. "99 ½" by Carol Lynn Townes – 4:02
  5. "Showdown" by Ollie & Jerry – 3:57
  6. "Heart of the Beat" by 3V – 4:18
  7. "Street People" by Fire Fox – Music by (Ollie & Jerry) 3:23
  8. "Cut It" by Re-Flex – 3:11
  9. "Ain't Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan – 4:45
  10. "Reckless" by Ice-T – 3:57

Despite not being included on the official soundtrack, the film also features the songs "Tour de France" by Kraftwerk, "Boogie Down" by Al Jarreau, and "Beatbox" by Art of Noise.

In popular culture [edit]

Several months before the release of Breakin', Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones, Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, Bruno Pop N' Taco' Falcon, Timothy Solomon and Ana 'Lollipop' Sanchez were all prominently featured in the music video for Chaka Khan's remake of the 1979 Prince song "I Feel for You".

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Andrew Yule, Hollywood a Go-Go: The True Story of the Cannon Film Empire, Sphere Books, 1987 p47
  2. ^ Ice T; Sigmund, Heidi (1994). The Ice Opinion. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-312-10486-3. 
  3. ^ "Jean-Claude Van Damme". A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-03-22. 
  4. ^ "Breakin'". Allmusic.

External links [edit]

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