IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.Just released from prison, Max Washington must decide which of his previous professions to return to: burglary or tap-dancing.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations
Howard 'Sandman' Sims
- Sandman
- (as Sandman Sims)
The Gifted
- Anthony
- (as Louis Castle)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMany of the dance scenes were shot in single takes and at wide angles to show that the dancers were really doing all the steps.
- GoofsWhen Little Mo (Sammy Davis Jr.) is talking to Max (Gregory Hines) and first shouts out "Challenge" to the other dancers, he is wearing a white do-rag on his head. As the dancers run up and join him in the dance room, he is suddenly wearing a hat instead.
- Quotes
Max Washington: I don't do it like everyone else, remember?
- Crazy creditsDuring the end credits, the photograph of Bill Bailey animates to show him backsliding (i.e., moon-walking).
- Alternate versionsTo receive a PG certificate, two uses of 'fuck' were cut from the UK cinema and video releases. These were restored in the 12 rated DVD.
Featured review
Max is the son of Sonny, who was a great tap dancer. Max has inherited his father's talent but there are few opportunities to use it, so he has had to turn to crime. The big question: will he be able to go straight using his talent? The dancing is what makes this movie work, but Sammy Davis Jr. gives a wonderful performance as a washed-up dancer, and Sandman Sims makes an impact as a cynical former dancer who doesn't think much of today's music and dance. Gregory Hines does a capable job too. Savion Glover is also quite good as Amy's son. Suzzanne Douglass is good as dance teacher Amy.
At the time this movie was made, Gregory Hines must surely have been the best living tap dancer. If he wasn't, one of his co-stars probably was. In one of the movie's most memorable scenes, Max comments that the old men don't have the ability any more. They take this as a challenge and display incredible talent. Little Mo and Max actually have a duel of sorts, much like the Arthur Smith composition adapted as 'Dueling Banjos' for 'Deliverance'.
Another great scene is the one where Max shows where he got his ideas for routines by dancing in the streets of New York while construction is going on.
And there is the scene where 11-year-old Lewis is teaching Amy's dance class above Sonny's.
There was plenty of good music here, but surprisingly, a lot of the dancing was done without music--though what I like most about tap is the music made by the dancers, much like the percussion style of Buddy Rich. I especially liked the arrangement of 'Cheek to Cheek' which started out as elevator music when Max and Amy were dancing ballroom style, but changed over to jazz when they switched to tap. I wasn't crazy about attempts to make tap more hip by adding special equipment to shoes so the dancing could be heard with rock music, but it made the movie interesting.
This was worth seeing.
At the time this movie was made, Gregory Hines must surely have been the best living tap dancer. If he wasn't, one of his co-stars probably was. In one of the movie's most memorable scenes, Max comments that the old men don't have the ability any more. They take this as a challenge and display incredible talent. Little Mo and Max actually have a duel of sorts, much like the Arthur Smith composition adapted as 'Dueling Banjos' for 'Deliverance'.
Another great scene is the one where Max shows where he got his ideas for routines by dancing in the streets of New York while construction is going on.
And there is the scene where 11-year-old Lewis is teaching Amy's dance class above Sonny's.
There was plenty of good music here, but surprisingly, a lot of the dancing was done without music--though what I like most about tap is the music made by the dancers, much like the percussion style of Buddy Rich. I especially liked the arrangement of 'Cheek to Cheek' which started out as elevator music when Max and Amy were dancing ballroom style, but changed over to jazz when they switched to tap. I wasn't crazy about attempts to make tap more hip by adding special equipment to shoes so the dancing could be heard with rock music, but it made the movie interesting.
This was worth seeing.
- vchimpanzee
- Aug 16, 2005
- Permalink
- How long is Tap?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,114,702
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,217,150
- Feb 12, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $9,114,702
- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content