Trivia for
Strictly Ballroom (1992) More at IMDbPro »

• Baz Luhrmann participated in the sorts of ballroom dancing competitions shown in the movie. Stricly Ballroom began life as an improvised play, featuring Luhrmann. The play was later performed at the Sydney Theatre Company.
  
  
• First part of the Red Curtain Trilogy, which included Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge! (2001). This was the only trilogy entry that didn't receive an Oscar nomination.
  
  
• There are only a few professional dancers among the principal cast, including Paul Mercurio, Antonio Vargas, Sonia Kruger, and Leonie Page.
  
  
• Antonio Vargas wore all his own clothes throughout the shoot.
  
  
• Director Cameo: [Baz Luhrmann] the guy whom Scott pushes past while looking for Fran at the Pan Pacifics; he is carrying a silver dress over his shoulder.
  
  
• Cameo: [John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell] tryout Coach #3, Guest at the fiesta.
  
  
• The film received a 15-minute standing ovation when it played at the Cannes Film Festival, where an agent of Rank Films promptly snapped up the UK release rights for a million pounds in cash.
  
  
• Tara Morice was almost not cast as Fran, even though she played the character in the stage version, because the financial backers were reluctant to cast a non-dancer in the role. Pimples were painted onto her face for her early scenes.
  
  
• The flashback about Doug's past was originally planned as being realistic but due to budget constraints, the makers had to change it to the present cartoon version.
  
  
• The trophies in Kendall's Dance Studio were real trophies borrowed from dance studios.
  
  
• The first scene filmed was the big finale at the dance competition. It was filmed at a real dance competition during the 1-hour lunch break.
  
  
• The film makers had to beg Coca-Cola to allow them to have the sign on top of the studio. The company ended paying a bit for the cost of the sign but not the whole price.
  
  
• Fran's house was a set built on to an existing railway station. In the most expensive shot in the entire film, a train was hired to pass by the house twice. Once, a real food inspector came onto the set and demanded paperwork because he thought it was a real shop.
  
  
• The most expensive costume was the jacket worn by Scott during the grand finale. It took over six weeks to make. Some of the ornaments, and the flamenco shoes, were imported from Spain.
  
  
• Pat Thomson, who plays Scott's mother, died before the film's premier.
  
  
• Paul Mercurio danced the final sequence with a sprained ankle.
  
  

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