MovieChat Forums > I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982) Discussion > The title

The title

posted 14 years ago by WarpedRecord
5 replies | jump to latest

Can anyone explain the joke that has this film's title as a punch line?

The man says: "I'm only here for the weekend."
The woman says: "I'm dancing as fast as I can."

Am I to understand that the couple are rushing through the formalities on a date before consummating their relationship? How is this funny, and how does this relate to the film other than being a throwaway line used by Geraldine Page's character? And in conclusion, does anyone have a valium? I'm typing as fast as I can.

[–] Anniston 13 years ago

I think that line is something that relates to most addicts. They are dancing as fast as they can/keeping on wheeling through life to make everyone appeased while so much else is going on in their life.

I see what you are saying that it doesn't fit so well with the movie. They did not focus enough on her developing addiction, just the end result of getting off drugs.

If you're not responding to me, "reply" to the post you're responding to. kthanks.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Yes, the title's kind of odd because we don't see much of her "dancing" – just her withdrawal. I had been aware of this film for years before I saw it, and I thought it was an excellent title because it conveyed someone on the fast track who couldn't stop – sort of like Bob Fosse's character in "All That Jazz." But I was surprised when I finally saw the film to learn that it was the punch line of a joke from Geraldine Page's character and not all that relevant to Jill Clayburgh's situation as portrayed here.

Anyway, did you get the joke?
Man: "I'm only here for the weekend."
Woman: "I'm dancing as fast as I can."

Does that mean that the date will be ready to go home with him soon, that the dance is the prelude to romance? I feel like a bit of a dunce, but I just don't get it.

[–] Anniston 13 years ago

Does that mean that the date will be ready to go home with him soon, that the dance is the prelude to romance?

I think that is basically it. She knew that he was there for a short time, so she was going to fast forward customary formalities in order to get to the intimacy faster than she normally would. I took "dancing as fast as I can" to equate to "mentally wrapping my head around sleeping with you as fast as I can."

If you're not responding to me, "reply" to the post you're responding to. kthanks.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

OK, thanks for the reply. I guess I was reaching for something more profound, considering they chose to use that line for the title of this movie.

[–] ofumalow 11 years ago

Seriously? It's that hard for people to get? The joke (and admittedly it's a pretty mild one) is about the anxiety of worrying you're not living life to the fullest. It's meant to be funny-sad. It's less a commentary on Clayburgh's floundering character than on Geraldine Page's dying one.