An interesting, although not wholly successful film about careers, regrets, love, applause and envy, set against the unusual backcloth of ballet. The story is treated with great delicacy by director Herbert Ross, as are its two stars: Shirley MacLaine as the ballerina who married and gave it all up, and Anne Bancroft as the one who went on, and must now face the inevitability of getting too old. There are several good performances in support of their histrionics, notably from Tom Skerritt as MacLaine's husband and Mikhail Baryshnikov who, besides being a brilliant dancer, projects a pleasing personality. As MacLaine's daughter, Leslie Browne is a pretty dancer but hard and unsympathetic as a character. The first hour of the film is exceptionally good, but leaves too little room for expansion of the plot. It must be added that there is rather a lot of splendid ballet.


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