Emile Ardolino

Directing

Emile Ardolino

Born — Died

1943-05-09 — 1993-11-20

Place of birth

Maspeth, New York, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

20 titles

Emile Ardolino (May 9, 1943 – November 20, 1993) was an American film director, choreographer, and producer, best known for his films Dirty Dancing (1987) and Sister Act (1992).

Known for

Dirty Dancing poster
7.3

Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.

Dirty Dancing

1987

Sister Act poster
6.8

When lively lounge singer Deloris sees her mobster beau commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, she proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters.

Sister Act

1992

3 Men and a Little Lady poster
5.8

Sylvia's work increasingly takes her away from the three men who help bring up Mary, her daughter. When she decides to move to England and take Mary with her, the three men are heartbroken at losing the two most important women in their lives.

3 Men and a Little Lady

1990

Chances Are poster
6.6

Louie Jeffries is happily married to Corinne. On their first anniversary, Louie is killed crossing the road. Louie is reincarnated as Alex Finch, and twenty years later, fate brings Alex and Louie's daughter, Miranda, together. It's not until Alex is invited to Louie's home that he begins to remember his former life, wife and best friend. Of course, there's also the problem that he's attracted to Louie's/his own daughter.

Chances Are

1989

The Nutcracker poster
5.8

On Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie falls asleep and dreams herself into a fantastic world in which her toys become larger than life. She meets up with the Nutcracker Prince who takes her on a journey to his kingdom and defends her from the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker

1993

Alice at the Palace poster
6.2

Meryl Streep stars as Alice in this production of Elizabeth Swados' musical, which was adapted from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Based on the acclaimed New York Shakespeare Festival production by Joseph Papp, Alice at the Palace follows Alice's surreal adventures with The Mad Hatter, The March Hare, The Queen of Hearts, and The Cheshire Cat, among many others.

Alice at the Palace

1982

Film credits

Behind the camera

Dirty Dancing poster
7.3

Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.

Dirty Dancing

1987

Sister Act poster
6.8

When lively lounge singer Deloris sees her mobster beau commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, she proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters.

Sister Act

1992

3 Men and a Little Lady poster
5.8

Sylvia's work increasingly takes her away from the three men who help bring up Mary, her daughter. When she decides to move to England and take Mary with her, the three men are heartbroken at losing the two most important women in their lives.

3 Men and a Little Lady

1990

Chances Are poster
6.6

Louie Jeffries is happily married to Corinne. On their first anniversary, Louie is killed crossing the road. Louie is reincarnated as Alex Finch, and twenty years later, fate brings Alex and Louie's daughter, Miranda, together. It's not until Alex is invited to Louie's home that he begins to remember his former life, wife and best friend. Of course, there's also the problem that he's attracted to Louie's/his own daughter.

Chances Are

1989

The Nutcracker poster
5.8

On Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie falls asleep and dreams herself into a fantastic world in which her toys become larger than life. She meets up with the Nutcracker Prince who takes her on a journey to his kingdom and defends her from the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker

1993

Alice at the Palace poster
6.2

Meryl Streep stars as Alice in this production of Elizabeth Swados' musical, which was adapted from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Based on the acclaimed New York Shakespeare Festival production by Joseph Papp, Alice at the Palace follows Alice's surreal adventures with The Mad Hatter, The March Hare, The Queen of Hearts, and The Cheshire Cat, among many others.

Alice at the Palace

1982

Gypsy poster
6.2

Gypsy's mother Rose dreams of a life in show business for her daughters, but Louise becomes a huge burlesque star. Stage musical loosely based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee.

Gypsy

1994

Gypsy poster
6.2

Gypsy's mother Rose dreams of a life in show business for her daughters, but Louise becomes a huge burlesque star. Stage musical loosely based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee.

Gypsy

1994

Good Morning, Mr. Orwell poster
8.1

In his book "1984", George Orwell saw the television of the future as a control instrument in the hands of Big Brother. Right at the start of the much-anticipated Orwellian year, Paik and Co. were keen to demonstrate satellite TV's ability to serve positive ends-- Namely, the intercontinental exchange of culture, combining both highbrow and entertainment elements. A live broadcast shared between WNET TV in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, linked up with broadcasters in Germany and South Korea, reached a worldwide audience of over 10 or even 25 million (including the later repeat transmissions).

Good Morning, Mr. Orwell

1984

He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' poster
6.1

Why do over 1,000 New York City schoolchildren audition for a modern dance program that requires them to sacrifice free time and involvement in sports and music? For a chance to study with the charismatic Jacques d'Amboise at the National Dance Institute. His philosophy--that creativity exists within everyone and that trying one's best ensures success--forms the foundation of a unique dance program. This documentary chronicles one school-year-long program including initial auditions, rehearsals, and the creation of an exclusive "SWAT" team, and culminates in an amazing, year-end performance at New York's Felt Forum. D'Amboise's enthusiasm is infectious--children, parents, teachers, professional dancers and musicians, and even local law enforcement officers find themselves involved in his productions. This Academy Award-winning documentary details the inspiring story of how one talented dancer's vision flourished into a coveted New York City dance program.

He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'

1983

When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate poster
7.0

This lively, spirit-lifting musical celebrates the sheer joy -- and survival -- of black music, song and poetry since the days of America's Civil War. With utter grace and ease, the gifted eight-member singing ensemble glides from gospel to disco and from slave-quarter sermons to contemporary black poetry.

When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate

1979

When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate poster
7.0

This lively, spirit-lifting musical celebrates the sheer joy -- and survival -- of black music, song and poetry since the days of America's Civil War. With utter grace and ease, the gifted eight-member singing ensemble glides from gospel to disco and from slave-quarter sermons to contemporary black poetry.

When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate

1979

A Midsummer Night's Dream poster
6.5

Theseus has defeated Hippolyta in battle, and now claims her as his bride. But before the nuptials begin, a pair of young lovers flee into the forest to be married, pursued by a pair of not-lovers. There, in the forest, live the fairies whose lives are in turmoil, due to the heated lovers' quarrels between their rulers, Oberon and Titania. Between the fairies, an ass's head, the lovers, a troupe of unsuspecting would-be actors, and a magic flower that can make people fall in love at first sight, it's a merry night of chaos and comedy until everything is put to rights.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1985

Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to Nijinsky poster
NR

Petrushka, Le Spectre De La Rose, and L'Apres Midi D'une Faune performed by Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet as a tribute to the legacy of Vaslav Nijinsky.

Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to Nijinsky

1980

Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to Nijinsky poster
NR

Petrushka, Le Spectre De La Rose, and L'Apres Midi D'une Faune performed by Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet as a tribute to the legacy of Vaslav Nijinsky.

Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to Nijinsky

1980

The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket poster
NR

A young boy is ridiculed by his school mates for his eccentric behavior and assertions that he can fly. Little do they know..... All parts are performed by adults in a stage-play type setting.

The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket

1986

Leonard Bernstein's Mass poster
NR

Seen only once in 1981, this is a live national broadcast of the 10th anniversary production of MASS. Directed for the stage by Tom O’Horgan of “Hair” fame, the cameras were directed by Emile Ardolino. The work that opened the Kennedy Center is conducted by John Mauceri and produced for PBS by WQED, Pittsburgh.

Leonard Bernstein's Mass

1981

Rumpelstiltskin poster
5.9

Desperate to save her own life, a miller's daughter makes a bargain with a strange elf-like character. When she cannot cover her debt she is faced with a challenge.

Rumpelstiltskin

1982

Baryshnikov at the White House poster
7.7

Mikhail Baryshnikov and the New York City Ballet perform at the White House's East Room.

Baryshnikov at the White House

1979