Dance with a Stranger (1985)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 10
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 1,514
My Rating
Movie Info
This darkly haunting slightly fictionalized film is a retelling of the life and death of Ruth Ellis (Miranda Richardson), the last woman to be executed in England. Ellis, a divorcee and ex-prostitute works as a "hostess" in a tacky nightclub. There she meets and begins an obsessive love affair with upper-class David Blakely (Rupert Everett), who eventually discards her. Still obsessed and jealous because of David's upcoming marriage to a woman of his own class, Ellis murders him. Miranda
Jan 1, 1985 Wide
Jan 23, 2001
Concorde Film
Cast
-
Miranda Richardson
Ruth Ellis -
Rupert Everett
David Blakely -
Ian Holm
Desmond Cussen -
Matthew Carroll
Andy -
Tom Chadbon
Anthony Findlater -
Jane Bertish
Carole Findlater -
David Troughton
Cliff Davis -
Paul Mooney
Clive Gunnell -
Stratford Johns
Morrie Conley -
Charles Cork
Policeman -
Patrick Field
Builder -
Lesley Manville
Maryanne -
Martin Murphy
Roy -
Colin Rix
Landlord "Madgala" -
Joanne Whalley
Christine -
David Beale
Man in Little Club -
Charon Bourke
Ballroom Singer -
Sallie-Anne Field
Claudette -
Ian Hurley
Policeman -
Miki Iveria
Landlady -
Michael Jen
Wilf -
Susan Kyd
Barbara -
Tony Mathews
Customer "Madgala" -
Nicholas McArdle
Landlord -
Lizzie McKenzie
Woman in Launderette -
Elizabeth Newell
Baby -
-
Tracy-Louise Ward
Girl with David Blakely -
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (13) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)
Miranda Richardson gives a brilliant performance as Ruth Ellis in Mike Newell's gloomy and dowbeat film noir, based on the life of the last British femme to be hanged for murder.
An unforgettable performance by Miranda Richardson.
Compelling fact-based drama
Brilliantly exposes the dark underside of the supposedly happy and benign decade of the 1950s.
Audience Reviews for Dance with a Stranger
Good News: Miranda Richardson is incredible. Beyond her command of the character, which in itself is remarkable, is her sheer screen presence. To quote Steve Wiecking, she looks like a "delicious chilled confection".
Bad News: The film has a BBC-made-for-television feel to it, especially the sound reproduction and score.
Good News: The docudrama presentation lends itself well to detail and, as far as I can tell, historical accuracy. Ruth's debilitating codependency with her abusive and alcoholic beau is laid before us with excruciating clarity.
Bad News: Except for a postscript reference, there are no details about Ruth's trial, incarceration, execution, or the impact it all had [if any] on public attitudes and perceptions. Dance With A Stranger delivers a detailed reenactment of a terminally dysfunctional relationship, but barely hints at the tragic consequences.
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Dance with a Stranger yet.
What's Hot On RT
Bradley Cooper's Best Movies
Fast & Furious 6 is Certified Fresh
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Critics Consensus: Fast & Furious 6 is Certified Fresh 22
- Red Carpet Photos with Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano and More 0
- Video: The Hangover Part III Cast Interviews 0
- Total Recall: Bradley Cooper's Best Movies 38
- Parental Guidance: Epic and Beautiful Creatures 2
- Comic Book Movies You Can Watch Online 9
- In Pictures: The Cars of Fast & Furious 0
Top Headlines
-
Evan Peters Joins X-Men: Days of Future Past
0
-
Toby Jones Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier
0
-
The Poltergeist Reboot May Actually Be a Sequel
8
-
Will Forte Promises MacGruber 2
1
-
Universal Plans Timecop Reboot
2
-
Return of the Jedi Turns 30
1
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Take Place in L.A.
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Foreign Titles
- Un crime pour une passion (DE)
- Un crime pour une passion (FR)
Miranda Richardson (possibly better known for her comedy roles) plays a great role here as a woman who doesn't suffer fools gladly and a fiesty, perhaps controversial character of her time and has a weakness in the man she loves. I am unaware of how factual this film is, but it made for entertaining viewing.