Ice Castles
Encyclopedia
Ice Castles is a 1978 American romantic drama, starring Lynn-Holly Johnson
and Robby Benson
.
It is the story of Alexis, a young figure skater, and her rise and fall from super stardom. Tragedy strikes when, following a freak accident, Lexie loses her sight
, leaving her to hide away in the privacy of her own despair. She eventually perseveres and begins competing in figure skating again.
The work was filmed on location in Colorado
and Minnesota
. Its theme song "Through the Eyes of Love." was made famous by Melissa Manchester
. The director, Donald Wrye, filmed a remake of the movie in 2009. The movie, starring Taylor Firth
, was released as a direct-to-DVD title on February 9, 2010, shortly before the 2010 Winter Olympics
.
), dreams of being a hockey player.
Coached by a family friend & former skater, Lexie enters a regional championship despite her father's protests. There, she is discovered by an elite coach (Jennifer Warren
) who sees her potential despite a lack of training and qualifications at an advanced age for figure skaters. Despite initial protests from her father (Tom Skerritt
) Lexie moves from her home in Waverly, Iowa
to train at the legendary Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is not well received by the other girls because of the attention lavished on her natural talent, but she proves herself and qualifies for the next level. Lexie's life is drastically changed; she becomes a star, alienates her high school sweetheart and begins dating an older man.
Feeling uncomfortable at a party, Lexie leaves and goes to the rink nearby to skate in her dress clothes. In plain view of party goers & coach, she jumps and as she lands, trips on a set of tables & chairs on the edge of the ice, causing her to fall and hit her head. This accident causes a blood clot in her brain, costing her her eyesight. The doctor is uncertain if her injury is permanent. In the midst of feeling sorry for herself, she and Nick rediscover their love for each other. With help from Nick, her father Marcus and original coach Beulah, Lexie begins to realize that she can still fulfill her dreams with Nick's reverse psychology & tough love, learns how to skate blind and competes once again, skating a flawless program that merits an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd.
In the scene after Lexie skates beautifully, Beulah (Colleen Dewhurst) says it best, "They couldn't believe their eyes!! They think you're a flash in the pan." The audience starts stomping their feet to get Lexie back on the ice, where they threw flowers to show her how much she was loved.
Lynn-Holly Johnson
Lynn-Holly Johnson is an American professional ice skater and actress. After achieving some success as a figure skater in the mid 1970s, she began an acting career, including a Golden Globe-nominated role in 1978's Ice Castles....
and Robby Benson
Robby Benson
Robby Benson is an American film and television actor, television director, educator and singer.-Early life:Benson was born Robin David Segal in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann , a singer, actress, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer...
.
It is the story of Alexis, a young figure skater, and her rise and fall from super stardom. Tragedy strikes when, following a freak accident, Lexie loses her sight
Visual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
, leaving her to hide away in the privacy of her own despair. She eventually perseveres and begins competing in figure skating again.
The work was filmed on location in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Its theme song "Through the Eyes of Love." was made famous by Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
. The director, Donald Wrye, filmed a remake of the movie in 2009. The movie, starring Taylor Firth
Taylor Firth
Taylor Firth is an American figure skater.-Personal life:Firth was born on Grand Island, New York. Her sister, Chelsea Firth, is also a competitive skater.-Career:...
, was released as a direct-to-DVD title on February 9, 2010, shortly before the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.
Plot summary
Alexis "Lexie" Winston (Lynn-Holly Johnson) is a young girl from a small town who dreams of becoming a champion figure skater. Her high-school sweetheart, Nick (Robby BensonRobby Benson
Robby Benson is an American film and television actor, television director, educator and singer.-Early life:Benson was born Robin David Segal in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann , a singer, actress, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer...
), dreams of being a hockey player.
Coached by a family friend & former skater, Lexie enters a regional championship despite her father's protests. There, she is discovered by an elite coach (Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren is an American actress and film director.Warren was born in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, the daughter of Paula Bauersmith, an actress, and Barnet M. Warren, a dentist. Her uncle was Yiddish theatre actor and director Jacob Ben-Ami. Warren graduated from Elisabeth...
) who sees her potential despite a lack of training and qualifications at an advanced age for figure skaters. Despite initial protests from her father (Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt
Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:...
) Lexie moves from her home in Waverly, Iowa
Waverly, Iowa
Waverly is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,874 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bremer County and is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to train at the legendary Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is not well received by the other girls because of the attention lavished on her natural talent, but she proves herself and qualifies for the next level. Lexie's life is drastically changed; she becomes a star, alienates her high school sweetheart and begins dating an older man.
Feeling uncomfortable at a party, Lexie leaves and goes to the rink nearby to skate in her dress clothes. In plain view of party goers & coach, she jumps and as she lands, trips on a set of tables & chairs on the edge of the ice, causing her to fall and hit her head. This accident causes a blood clot in her brain, costing her her eyesight. The doctor is uncertain if her injury is permanent. In the midst of feeling sorry for herself, she and Nick rediscover their love for each other. With help from Nick, her father Marcus and original coach Beulah, Lexie begins to realize that she can still fulfill her dreams with Nick's reverse psychology & tough love, learns how to skate blind and competes once again, skating a flawless program that merits an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd.
Cast
Actor (character)- Robby BensonRobby BensonRobby Benson is an American film and television actor, television director, educator and singer.-Early life:Benson was born Robin David Segal in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann , a singer, actress, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer...
(Nick Peterson) - Lynn-Holly JohnsonLynn-Holly JohnsonLynn-Holly Johnson is an American professional ice skater and actress. After achieving some success as a figure skater in the mid 1970s, she began an acting career, including a Golden Globe-nominated role in 1978's Ice Castles....
(Alexis Winston) - Jim McShaw (Phil McRackin)
- Colleen DewhurstColleen DewhurstColleen Rose Dewhurst was a Canadian-American actress known for a while as "the Queen of Off-Broadway." In her autobiography, Dewhurst wrote: "I had moved so quickly from one Off-Broadway production to the next that I was known, at one point, as the 'Queen of Off-Broadway'...
(Beulah Smith) - Tom SkerrittTom SkerrittThomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962.-Early life:...
(Marcus Winston) - Jennifer WarrenJennifer WarrenJennifer Warren is an American actress and film director.Warren was born in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, the daughter of Paula Bauersmith, an actress, and Barnet M. Warren, a dentist. Her uncle was Yiddish theatre actor and director Jacob Ben-Ami. Warren graduated from Elisabeth...
(Deborah Markland) - David HuffmanDavid HuffmanDavid Huffman was a longtime character actor with many television, film and stage credits. He was married to award winning casting director Phyllis Huffman until he was murdered in 1985.-Murder:...
(Brian Dockett) - Diane Reilly (Sandy)
- Craig T. McMullen (medical doctor)
- Kelsey Uffort (Cecile Monchet)
- Leonard LilyholmLeonard LilyholmLeonard Paul "Len" Lilyholm is an American retired professional ice hockey player who played 77 regular season in the World Hockey Association for the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 1972-73....
(hockey coach) - Brian FoleyBrian FoleyFor the New York State Senator, see Brian X. Foley.Brian Foley is a former Australian rules footballer who played with West Perth in the WANFL. He occupies a forward pocket in West Perth's official 'Team of the Century'....
(choreography) - John Claude Bleuze (French Coach)
- Theresa Willmus (Annette Brashout)
- Diana Holden (X-ray technician)
- Michelle McLeon (Sketer)
- Carol Williams (television producer)
Differences between theater version and subsequent releases
In the original theater version, Alexis falls down during her first competition, then gets back up and completes her routine. This is what causes her to receive low scores. All subsequent releases of this movie have removed the scene where she falls down, making her low scores inexplicable, as she appears to have done a flawless routine.In the scene after Lexie skates beautifully, Beulah (Colleen Dewhurst) says it best, "They couldn't believe their eyes!! They think you're a flash in the pan." The audience starts stomping their feet to get Lexie back on the ice, where they threw flowers to show her how much she was loved.