John G. Avildsen directed Slow Dancing in the Big City, his first film after the 1976 Rocky, which won the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.
The romantic drama stars Paul Sorvino and Anne Ditchburn.
Paul Sorvino plays Lou Friedlander, a popular columnist for the New York Daily News, writing about the people of bustling New York City while befriending a street boy named Marty.
His life changes dramatically upon falling in love with neighbor Sarah Gantz, a young ballerina who had just discovered she is stricken with a debilitating condition that will force her to quit dancing.
Writer Barra Grant, producer Lloyd Kaufman, composer Bill Conti, Avildsen and his sons Anthony and Rufus made cameos in the picture.
This was Sorvino’s second collaboration with Avildsen after Cry Uncle, in 1971.
The dance sequences were primarily set up by choreographer Robert North, though Ditchburn choreographed her own routine for a sequence in which she danced on rooftop.
Following poor reviews, the film was reedited and ten minutes of cut footage was restored in order to develop Sorvino’s character.
However, the movie was ultimately unsuccessful, earning $1,576,500 at the end of its theatrical run against a budget of $7,000,000.
Cast
Paul Sorvino as Lou Friedlander
Anne Ditchburn as Sarah Gantz
Nicolas Coster as David Fillmore
Anita Dangler as Franny
Thaao Penghlis as Christopher
Linda Selman as Barbara Bass
Hector Mercado as Roger Lucas
Dick Carballo as George Washington Monroe
Jack Ramage as Doctor Foster
Adam Gifford as Marty Olivera
Brenda Starr as Punk
Daniel Faraldo as T.C. Olivera
Michael Gorrin as Lester Edelman
Tara Mitton as Diana
Matt Russo as Jeck Guffy
Bill Conti as Rehearsal Pianist
Richard Jamieson as Joe Christy
Susan Doukas as Nurse
Ben Slack as Mort Hoffman
Danielle Brisebois as Ribi Ciano
Mimi Cecchini as Rose Ciano
Lloyd Kaufman as Usher
Barra Grant as Mildred