Breakin' Information

Breakin', released as Breakdance: The Movie in some countries, is a 1984 breakdancing-themed film directed by Joel Silberg. The film setting was inspired by a German documentary entitled Breakin' and Enterin' set in the Los Angeles multi-racial hip hop club Radiotron, based out of Macarthur Park in Los Angeles. Many of the artists and dancers, including Ice-T (who makes his movie debut as a club MC) and Boogaloo Shrimp, went straight from Breakin' and Enterin' to star in Breakin'. Ice-T has stated he considers the film and his own performance in it to be "wack".

The music score featured the hits "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Freakshow on the Dance Floor". Breakin' was followed by a sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Breakin' was the final Cannon film production released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After Breakin' was released, MGM and Cannon Films dissolved their distribution deal, reportedly over the potentially X-Rated content in John Derek's film Bolero and MGM's then-current rule of not releasing X-Rated material theatrically, forcing Cannon to become an in-house distribution company once again. Because of the demise of the distribution deal, Breakin' is considered to be the final financially profitable film released by Cannon Films.

Plot

Kelly, a struggling young jazz dancer (Lucinda Dickey) meets up with two break dancers, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) (known for crazy inversions) and Turbo (Michael Chambers), who have a bitter rivalry with another crew, Electro Rock, consisting of poppers Popin' Pete (Timothy Solomon), Poppin' Taco (Bruno Falcon) and Lollipop (Ana 'Lollipop' Sánchez). They also struggle to overcome scorn from Kelly's dance instructor, Franco, who disapproves of her hybrid dance style and affiliation with street dancers. Kelly soon becomes the sensation of the street crowds. Through it all the audience is treated to a variety of breakthrough performances, including Turbo's "Broom Scene" and Taco's unique popping solos during the dance battles at the Radiotron nightclub. Many hit songs are featured, including "There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Tour de France" by Kraftwerk.

Cast

• Lucinda Dickey as Kelly / Special K
• Adolfo Quiñones as Orlando / Ozone (as Adolfo 'Shabba-Doo' Quiñones)
• Michael Chambers as Tony / Turbo (as Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers)
• Ice-T as Rap Talker (as Ice T)
• Ben Lokey as Franco
• Christopher McDonald as James
• Phineas Newborn III as Adam
• Bruno Falcon as Electro Rock 1 (as 'Bruno Pop N' Taco' Falcon)
• Timothy Solomon as Electro Rock 2 (as Timothy 'Popin' Pete' Solomon)
• Ana Sánchez as Electro Rock 3 (as Ana 'Lollipop' Sanchez)
• Cooley Jackson as Featured Street Dancer
• Richie Haglund as Background Break Dancer (as Lil "R")
• Lisa Freeman as Waitress
• Peter Bromilow as Judge
• Eleanor Zee as Judge
• Scott Cooper as Judge
• Marshall Mathers as Scrawny Looking White Boy (uncredited)
• Michael Biehn as Background Tough Guy (uncredited)
• Chris Rock as a Dancer in dance off scene (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
• Lela Rochon as Bystander in First Scene (uncredited)
• Jean-Claude Van Damme as Background Dancing Spectator (uncredited)
• Michel Qissi as Background Dancing Spectator (uncredited)
• Kara Vallow as Break Dancer (uncredited)

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film was released by Mercury Records in 1984. The album contains the first performance on an album of rapper Ice-T. (He had released some 12" singles previously.)

Track listing

1. "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" by Ollie & Jerry " 4:34
2. "Freakshow on the Dance Floor" by Bar-Kays " 4:42
3. "Body Work" by Hot Streak " 4:22
4. "99 ½" by Carol Lynn Townes " 4:02
5. "Showdown" by Ollie & Jerry " 3:57
6. "Heart of the Beat" by 3V " 4:18
7. "Street People" by Fire Fox " Music by (Ollie & Jerry) 3:23
8. "Cut It" by Re-Flex " 3:11
9. "Ain't Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan " 4:45
10. "Reckless" by Ice-T " 3:57

Despite not being included on the official soundtrack, the film also features the songs "Tour de France" by Kraftwerk, "Boogie Down" by Al Jarreau, and "Beatbox" by Art of Noise.

In popular culture

Several months before the release of Breakin', Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones, Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, Bruno Pop N' Taco' Falcon, Timothy Solomon and Ana 'Lollipop' Sanchez were all prominently featured in the music video for Chaka Khan's remake of the 1979 Prince song "I Feel for You".