Is Flashdance based on a true story?

You learn something new every day! And this one came from bar chat…. as it should. 

So I’m sittin’ at the local the other night — jukebox’s hummin’, someone’s playin’ that “Maniac” tune from Flashdance, and this guy next to me leans in and goes, “you know that movie was based on a real chick? my cousin used to date her when he lived in Canada”

Now, I ain’t one to take people on face value, we have instant fact-checkers these days – our phones. So obviously i googled that shit. 

So it seems that the director was inspired by a real-life woman named Maureen Marder. She was a Canadian welder by day and exotic dancer by night. Paramount bought the rights to her life story for a whopping $2,300. That’s it. Two grand and change for a story that made over $200 million at the box office. That’s Hollywood math for ya — give us your soul, here’s a check that might cover a used Buick.

Now, Maureen didn’t do the water dance. That was movie magic. She didn’t get into a prestigious dance academy either — again, Hollywood needed a clean third act. But the bones of the story? A working-class woman chasing a dream? That’s Maureen all over. She was out there grinding (sometimes literally), putting in long hours with sparks flying in more ways than one. 

More Hollywood magic was to come— Jennifer Beals didn’t do most of her own dancing in the movie. Nope. They had a French dancer, a gymnast, and even a dude in a wig doing the moves. That’s right — when she’s breakdancing? That’s a fella. Ain’t that somethin’?

Still, credit where it’s due — the movie hit a nerve. That soundtrack owned the radio. That off-the-shoulder sweatshirt look? Every girl I knew in ‘83 cut up their tops tryin’ to pull it off. And that whole “nobody believes in me but I’m gonna go for it anyway” attitude? Hell, that’s America right there. Or at least it used to be.

So yeah. Flashdance was “based on a true story” the way gas station nachos are “based on real cheese.” There’s something real in there, but good luck findin’ it under all the glitter.

Anyway. Your round next.

Sam