Episode 186 - Strictly Ballroom
This week, we strap on the sequins, fluff up our ruffled shirts, and step into the glitter-soaked world of Strictly Ballroom — the 1992 debut feature from Baz Luhrmann that kicked off his Red Curtain Trilogy.
From Federation dance politics to flaming Galahs and the power of self-expression, we pull apart every sparkly frame to bring you circa 100 weird, wonderful, and deeply daft things we learned along the way. Expect mullets, Paso Dobles, and more than one mention of the word "strictly."
We also look at Baz’s background in theatre, how the film was made on a shoestring budget, and why ballroom dancing became big in the early ’90s — all with our usual mix of facts, nonsense, and affectionate ridicule.
This episode is especially for Mrs Planty's Birthday. 21 and a bit you absolute legend.
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Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann in his feature directorial debut. The film is the first in his Red Curtain Trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; it was followed by 1996's Romeo + Juliet and 2001's Moulin Rouge!
Strictly Ballroom is based on a critically acclaimed stage play, originally set up in 1984 by Luhrmann and fellow students during his studies at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney. An expanded version of the play became a success at the Czechoslovakian Youth Drama Festival in Bratislava in 1986. In 1988, it had a successful season at Sydney's Wharf Theatre, where it was seen by Australian music executive Ted Albert and his wife Antoinette. They both loved it, and, when Albert, soon after, set up the film production company M&A Productions with ex-Film Australia producer Tristram Miall, they offered Luhrmann their plan to transform his play into a film. He agreed on the condition that he would also get to direct it.
