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6.9/10
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A biography of the 1920s dancer Isadora Duncan, who forever changed people's ideas of ballet. Her nude, semi-nude, and pro-Soviet dance projects as well as her attitude and lifestyle shocked... Read allA biography of the 1920s dancer Isadora Duncan, who forever changed people's ideas of ballet. Her nude, semi-nude, and pro-Soviet dance projects as well as her attitude and lifestyle shocked the public of her time.A biography of the 1920s dancer Isadora Duncan, who forever changed people's ideas of ballet. Her nude, semi-nude, and pro-Soviet dance projects as well as her attitude and lifestyle shocked the public of her time.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 6 nominations total
Zvonimir Crnko
- Essenin
- (as Ivan Tchenko)
Lado Leskovar
- Bugatti
- (as Vladimir Leskovar)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen filming "the Russian dance sequence" in a theater filled with unsuspecting extras, Dame Vanessa Redgrave duplicated a real-life incident in the life of Isadora Duncan by ripping off the top of her dress and dancing bare-breasted. The extras were not told that she would do this, thus providing the desired audience-aghast reaction shots that director Karel Reisz wanted.
- Quotes
Isadora Duncan: A man's looks have nothing to do with his success as a lover.
- Alternate versionsNBC broadcast the complete roadshow version over two nights twice in the early 1970s. While that broadcast was missing (1) the Intermission music, (2) the lovemaking scene between Redgrave and James Fox, and (3) a snippet of nudity in the "Marche Slav" sequence, much new footage was added. Karel Reisz's 153-minute Director's Cut from 1987 is very close to what was seen on NBC. What is missing are some early establishing scenes of:
- The Duncan Family taking a transatlantic cattleboat to Europe in dreadful weather.
- The Duncan Family checking into Claridge's Hotel as "The O'Gormans" and sneaking out the next day without paying the bill
- ConnectionsFeatured in Merci Docteur Rey (2002)
- SoundtracksSymphony No. 7 in A major Op. 92 I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Arranged by Anthony Bowles
Featured review
Under-appreciated director, and undervalued screenplay,
Over the past weekend, I viewed a VHS of Isadora. Throughout the movie (and I assume this was in the script), the motif of the scarf is repeated in various ways showing that she loved scarves and billowy fabric; even if she didn't in real life, the reinforcement of the scarf (as well as her pursuit of the man driving the Bugatti), gives her death a logic and finality that "real" life cannot. Surely, Isadora's death must have been so fictional as not to be believed, as well as the fate of her children. Film-makers must craft a film in such a way that the viewer believes that every moment is true. Compare this screenplay with what Robert McKee says about writing screenplays in his incomparable book, Story, and you'll agree that the Isadora screenplay is undervalued. Also, Redgrave's performance is surely one of the finest of any era--and should have gotten the Oscar, but thankfully won at Cannes (outside the Hollywood political machine). The length of the film, to me, was no problem; the life of Isadora Duncan, could not have been shown in less. The stage scenes of her dancing were perfectly directed and illustrated how she could fill a theatre while also being rejected.
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- Swifttraveler
- Aug 13, 2006
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Loves of Isadora
- Filming locations
- Kingsdown, Deal, Kent, England, UK(Filming took place on the beach near The Zetland Arms)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 11 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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