Footloose (1984)

Free-spirited teenager Ren MacCormack  (Kevin Bacon) fights the small-minded town minister (John Lithgow) who hates all that sinful new-fangled dancing.

Suddenly the new kid in Bomont, an isolated rural town in middle America, Ren brings from Chicago a big-city knowledge of discos, strobe lights and the newest tapes by groups like The Police and Men at Work.

Yes sir, in a town where dancing is forbidden, one man and his Kenny Loggins tape can make a difference . . .

Ren shakes up the preacher, the school, the cops, and especially the preacher’s bored, rebellious daughter, Ariel (Lori Singer). Harassed and blamed for everything, he lets off steam by dancing.

The scene where he teaches his hick farm pal Willard (Chris Penn) to dance is a classic 80s scene, while Kevin Bacon struts his stuff in a skinny tie, gelled hair and rolled-up jacket sleeves.

The girls have big hair and little denim shorts, the boys are in cowboy boots, jeans and hats.

It isn’t long before the whole school dances with him, and by the time Ren stands courageously alone before the preacher and the town council to plead for the right to have a school dance, just about everyone is cheering him on.

The cast, score and style are appealing, so as rock musical movies go Footloose is doing alright.

Ren MacCormack
Kevin Bacon
Ariel Moore
Lori Singer
Reverend Moore
John Lithgow
Vi Moore
Dianne Wiest
Willard
Chris Penn
Rusty
Sarah Jessica Parker
Woody
John Laughlin
Wendy Jo
Elizabeth Gorcey
Chuck
Jim Youngs
Ethel
Frances Lee McCain
Burlington
Douglas Dirkson
Lulu
Lynne Marta
Wes
Arthur Rosenberg
Andy
Timothy Scott

Director
Herbert Ross