A 1977 ballet drama holds a record for the most Oscar nominations without winning
In short: The Turning Point received 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, yet walked away empty-handed. This fictionalized look at the lives of real-life ballerinas Isabel Mirrow Brown and Nora Kaye explores the divergent paths of two friends: one who chose domestic life and one who pursued a legendary stage career.
Directed by Herbert Ross and written by Arthur Laurents, the film centers on the reunion of DeeDee Rodgers and Emma Jacklin. Their story mirrors the real-life friendship of Isabel Mirrow Brown and Nora Kaye, who grew up together in a New York City brownstone. While the film depicts DeeDee leaving the ballet world for a family in Oklahoma City, the real-life Isabel moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1965. The film’s script, developed in the mid-1970s, fictionalized many elements, including the addition of a love interest for DeeDee’s daughter, Emilia, played by Leslie Browne—Isabel’s real-life daughter.
The production was a family affair, with Ross and his wife, Nora Kaye, taking a special interest in Browne’s career. Browne, who had joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1976, portrayed a version of herself, even adopting the stage name 'Browne' to sound more feminine. The film’s title serves as a double meaning, referencing both a pivotal life change and the ballet technique of dancing on pointe. Despite the film's critical success—with reviewers like Charles Champlin calling the performances 'stunning' and Gary Arnold praising its depiction of strong women—it remains tied with the 1985 film The Color Purple for the most Oscar nominations without a single win.
Behind the scenes, the film was not without tension. Laurents claimed that a significant subplot regarding the homosexuality of the character Wayne was excised by the filmmakers, which he believed stunted the character's development. Furthermore, while the film portrays a dramatic rooftop altercation between the two leads, the real-life friendship between Mirrow and Kaye was defined by long-term professional support. Kaye, who eventually married Herbert Ross in 1959, remained a prominent figure in the ballet world until her death in 1987. The film’s legacy persists in pop culture, frequently referenced in television shows and literature as a shorthand for complex female friendship and the sacrifices inherent in choosing between career and family.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Turning Point (1977 film)
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