Slow Dancing in the Big City, a beautiful romance movie from the director of Rocky. Lou Friedlander (Paul Sorvino, Goodfellas, That Championship Season, Blood Brothers) is a popular columnist for the New York Daily News, writing about the little people of bustling New York City. His life changes dramatically upon falling in love with neighbor Sarah Gantz (Anne Ditchburn, Curtains, Six Weeks), a young ballerina who had just discovered she is stricken with a debilitating condition that will eventually force her to quit dancing. Will this mismatched couple find romance before it’s too late? Also starring Nicolas Coster (Golden Girl, The Sporting Club, Little Darlings), beautifully scored by Bill Conti (Rocky, The Formula, The Right Stuff) and directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky, Neighbors, The Karate Kid, Lean on Me). Now see this lost classic from a brand new 2K scan!
For thoughts on Slow Dancing In The Big City, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.
Video Quality
Slow Dancing In The Big City comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan of the interpositive. The presentation is pretty solid throughout with only the occasional mark against it. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation and only runs slightly on the soft side in a handful of shots, most likely due to limitations of the original source material. Colors appear stable with some of the lights of the city popping off the screen, and instances of print damage have been cleaned up immensely with only the occasional specks and marks visible. Overall clarity and detail is pretty great with natural skin tones and subtle facial features that are easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels are admirable in their depth with only a few of the darker moments lacking some detail. This new presentation from Scorpion Releasing is a great effort for the long-unavailable film, which should please fans who have been eagerly anticipating a proper release.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that preserves the artistic intention of the film quite well. The score and music of the film from Bill Conti sounds strong throughout the duration of the film as it sets the mood for the events of the story. There are rarely moments where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, as elements work together in harmony. Dialogue is very clearly defined and does not get lost among the din of the city. Environmental sounds such as various car sounds and sirens are rendered well alongside everything else. Scorpion Releasing has given this film a worthy audio presentation.
Special Features
- Interview with Star Nicolas Coster: A five-minute interview in which Coster reflects on his role in the film, the work of Anne Ditchburn, his friendship with Paul Sorvino, his ties to the newspaper business and more.
- Interview with Composer Bill Conti: A seven-minute interview in which Conti discusses developing the score for the film, the misunderstanding that led to him having to scrap some music, his feelings about his work and more.
- Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Slow Dancing In The Big City is a striking romance which weaves in some darker material that gives the narrative some emotional heft. This film explores the drive to serve your purpose at the highest level of your abilities and how that can be harmful to both your body and your soul. While the core romance is not always the most believable, the leads are very good in their roles and quickly get you invested in their journey. Fans of Paul Sorvino should not pass up a chance to see a very different side of the performer which suits him well. Scorpion Releasing and Kino Classics have released a new Blu-Ray with a fetching A/V presentation and a couple of enjoyable special features. This movie has long been difficult to find, so fans who have been awaiting this one should be thrilled with what has been delivered. Recommended
Slow Dancing In The Big City is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Scorpion Releasing and Kino Classics have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
