Showgirls (film)
Since its release, the movie has achieved
cult status. According to activist writer Naomi Klein, ironic enjoyment of the
film initially arose among those with the video before MGM capitalized on the
idea.
Tagline: Leave Your Inhibitions At The Door
Cast
Elizabeth Berkley - Nomi Malone
Kyle MacLachlan - Zack Carey
Gina Gershon - Cristal Connors
Robert Davi - Al Torres
Alan Rachins - Tony Moss
Gina Ravera - Molly Abrams
Lin Tucci - Henrietta 'Mama' Bazoom
Greg Travis - Phil Newkirk
Al Ruscio - Mr. Karlman
Patrick Bristow -
Marty Jacobsen
William Shockley - Andrew Carver
Michelle
Johnston - Gay Carpenter
Dewey Weber - Jeff
Rena Riffel - Penny / Hope
Plot
Sexy, mysterious and temperamental Nomi Malone (Berkley) hitchhikes into Las Vegas hoping to make it as a Las Vegas showgirl. She's picked up by a "kind" man, but everything she owns is stolen by the driver. While an upset Nomi is crying and banging her fists on the side of a car, the car's owner, Molly (Gina Ravera), a seamstress, confronts her. After talking and discovering Nomi does not have any family, Molly takes her in, helping to get her a job as a stripper at the seedy Cheetah Club to make ends meet. One night Nomi accompanies Molly backstage at Goddess, the Vegas show at the Stardust where Molly works as the costume seamstress. There, Nomi meets Cristal Conners (Gina Gershon), the irritable, diva-like star of the show. When Molly tells Cristal that Nomi is a dancer as well, Cristal derisively tells Nomi that what she does is akin to prostitution.
The next evening, Cristal and her boyfriend Zack (Kyle MacLachlan), an entertainment manager at the Stardust, visit the Cheetah and pay Nomi $500 for a lap dance. It turns out that Cristal is bisexual and very attracted to Nomi. Nomi does not want to do the private dance, for fear it will prove her to be the prostitute Cristal made her out to be, but is forced to do so by her manager, much to her embarrassment. Nomi later discovers Cristal has arranged for her to have an audition as an ensemble dancer in Goddess. Nomi takes off her clothes and dances in her underwear because the director calls her "Pollyanna", but when she is told to use ice to make her nipples hard for the second part of the audition, she gets upset and leaves, even though she obviously knows that this is an audition for a topless Vegas show.
Nomi gets the job and immediately quits the Cheetah. Although she shows talent, Cristal repeatedly takes malicious swipes at Nomi in a never-ending attempt to portray Nomi as a cheap whore. Soon, Nomi is overwhelmed by her desire for Cristal's status. Nomi flirts with Zack more and more, eventually seducing him for outdoor sex in his swimming pool. He offers her a chance to become Cristal's new understudy, but Cristal continues to sabotage her. Coupled with increasing hostility from Cristal, Nomi pushes Cristal down a flight of stairs, injuring her badly and sending her to the hospital. With Cristal unable to perform, Nomi ends up getting Cristal's lead in the show.
Things seem to be going well for Nomi; she has finally secured the fame and fortune she initially sought. However, at the opening night party, Molly is brutally raped and beaten by famous musician Andrew Carver and his two security guards. When Nomi confronts Zack about it, she is told that they will give Molly some money to keep quiet; their primary interest is in protecting their high-profile celebrity client, not in seeking justice for Molly. Zack then turns and confronts Nomi with the truth he has just discovered: she is actually a runaway and former prostitute named Polly; her father murdered her mother and then killed himself, and she has been arrested several times for drug possession, prostitution, and assault with a deadly weapon. Finally confronted with her seedy past, and frightened at who she has become and what lies ahead, Nomi flees Las Vegas (but not before attacking and clouting Andrew Carver with her boots), hoping to try her luck in Los Angeles instead. She bids goodbye to a comatose Molly, and also makes amends with Cristal, before departing.
The movie comes full circle when Nomi coincidentally hitches a ride to Los Angeles with the very same guy who robbed her, and attacks him for what he did to her in the beginning.
Animation
- Comedy - Crime
- Documentary
-
Family - Foreign
Language - Historical
- Horror - Musical
- Political
Recommended- Romance- Science Fiction and Fantasy - Sport Movies -- Thriller - War - Western - Wildlife
A map of where different US films & TV programmes blanket across the USA are
ZANADU - A FUN BASED SITE, WITH SOME FILM RELATED SECTIONS
Flight Las Vegas Nevada - Find a flight to Las Vegas
Cheap flights Beijing - Get your tickets here Fly to Beijing
Bank Interest Rates - A Website on Bank Interest Rates
Car Cheap Insurance - Get Cheap Car Insurance from here
Flights London - Want to fly to or Visit London get your Flight and Hotel place here
Get
your fave music here for your IPOD
Buy DVD Rent DVD Get your DVDs from here