Recently re-watched Saturday Night Fever (1977) and originally intended to post this in the movie reviews thread, but since this year is the film's 40th anniversary, I thought it deserved its own topic.
I give the film a 10/10.
It's so much more than its (love-it-or-hate-it) soundtrack, though I like the music, I remember even as a kid when this film was released that Disco was forced down the throats of the music-listening public--the backlash was inevitable.
It really does capture a time and place. Travolta either tapped into a type of desperate individual that existed in "real life" or he himself was emulated by others, thus becoming the template with his iconic performance, such was the impact of this film. The look of NYC, the sad lives these characters feel compelled to escape every weekend. People cherry picked the things from this film that ended up being either glorified or villified, but its social commentary is blatantly present.
Of all things, a "Justice League of America" comic eviscerated the Disco lifestyle in an issue published two years after SNF was released; I'm sure the sentiment was shared by many (especially during "Disco Demolition Night").
"Like lemmings, those who hunger for something special to spice lives of soul-deadening monotony seek out these temples to the god of transcience, claiming that each new find is the best, most spectacular of all...the truth sadly, is that they are all the same--caves of darkness where, for a time, a dancer can forget the mediocrity of his or her daily existence--and thus pretend, for a time, that he or she is a star! No matter that the moment is fleeting and ephemeral; no matter that those who stand in awe are as lost and lonely as the dancer himself…”
I love the working class home scenes--Val Biscoglio--Danny from QUINCY, M.E.-- is in this! How could I have forgotten that!
I was only 12 or 13 when this film came out in England, but my older sister was a HUGE fan (and of Grease and Travolta in general). I would hear the soundtrack LP belting out from her room most nights (even the David Shire tracks!!). It was an X certificate in the UK (18 these days) cos of the swearing and such, so I couldn't have seen it if I wanted to. Not that I did at the time I think they released a toned down version with some major cuts to give it an A cert (PG) and pull in some more dosh not long after. Anyway, when I finally caught it years later, I was surprised how gritty and 'downer' it was. More like a Scorsese crime-style drama with heels! Certainly a capsule of it's time, like you say. Like Goldsmith's Rambo story, Shire said (in Malaga recently) the money/royalties he made from this project maintained his lifestyle and allowed him to choose more risky/personal projects for some years after. I LOVED the live rendition of Manhattan Skyline that was performed that night. AL!! PACINO!!
Never seen it. Or Footloose, or Grease... I did see FAME on HBO. (which I liked)
I've never seen Footloose (or Dirty Dancing) but Fame, like SNF, has an urban grittiness that was all-too apparent. In fact, I was surprised at how "ugly" both films are in terms of the characters' lives outside of their dancing. However, with Fame, that school and the instructors were pretty gritty, too.
I still haven't seen it. The album, though, is another matter. It is indestructible.
You see, in the household in which I grew up, it was either that album, or Star Wars competing for turntable time.
Your household and most likely every other household in the United States, pal! Later, the damned Village People album and various countey and western albums also jockeyed for turntable dominance!
Kev, thanks for your post, because I was unsure as to Disco's popularity in the UK. I know Glam Rock was epic and HUGE over there circa 1973-74, but I thought Disco was mostly an American phenomenon.
As for Disco's oversaturation in the popular culture, it is sickening just how many non-Disco artists did Disco-themed albums.
Many people--mostly those who weren't there--think of the 1970s as a Disco-dominated decade, when it really only peaked around 1977-78; the rest of the decade, especially the 1970-75 period, is quite a different beast altogether.
I was a junior in high school when the film was released. This picture defined my generation: the film, the music, the clothes, the attitude etc. I always felt disco music fell apart as a result of "disco fatigue" more than the result of the "disco sucks" hysteria. I think it's a great movie although the nostalgia of an era gone by helps.
Never seen it. Or Footloose, or Grease... I did see FAME on HBO. (which I liked)
I've never seen Footloose (or Dirty Dancing) but Fame, like SNF, has an urban grittiness that was all-too apparent. In fact, I was surprised at how "ugly" both films are in terms of the characters' lives outside of their dancing. However, with Fame, that school and the instructors were pretty gritty, too.
Dirty Dancing! I knew I forgot one. Didn't see that either. Yeah FAME was rather "shocking", it had everything. Violent kids, gays, interracial sex, guy pimping young girls into the porn industry, and a young Hans Zimmer.
I've always liked Saturday Night Fever, though I haven't seen it in a long time. Like the songs too. I always thought it more "dark" than some of the others mentioned here, especially Dirty Dancing and Grease. Though if I remember the original story for Grease was a bit grittier. Since we're at it, I also haven't seen Flashdance
I've never seen Staying Alive though, wasn't it a sequel of sorts?
I've always liked Saturday Night Fever, though I haven't seen it in a long time. Like the songs too. I always thought it more "dark" than some of the others mentioned here, especially Dirty Dancing and Grease. Though if I remember the original story for Grease was a bit grittier. Since we're at it, I also haven't seen Flashdance
I've never seen Staying Alive though, wasn't it a sequel of sorts?
Count me as not having seen either Flashdance or Stayin' Alive, aside from flipping by them decades ago when they were shown on cable.
Grease has some profanity in the song "Greased Lightning", but iirc the stage show was even more potty mouthed.
What's a Saturday Night Fever thread without a little disco?
What? No other 1970s film culture historian types around here to add their comments and memories? Oh well, the mirror ball spins on without you...thanks to those who have contributed positive thoughts.
I support Jim’s assessment. It is a 10 out of 10 movie. I loved all of the social implications and themes, and how the lyrics in the songs often contributed to scenes and to the social commentary.
“Ain’t going nowhere; somebody help me.” That’s Tony who has a dead end job and can only find escape in his dancing. He finally meets “more than a woman” in Stephanie, but he doesn’t know how to breakout from his family and friends. I love how he looked lovingly at that bridge that if crossed lead to Manhattan and the possibility of a better life.
It thought the movie portrayed a realistic Italian Catholic family.
Overall, most of the acting was superb. Travolta was magnificent, and I also admired the tragic Annette played by Donna Pescow. I thought the one weak actor was Karen Gorney who played Stephanie. I found her acting very feeble. I did enjoy her faux sophisticated act. How I cringed when she tried to impress Tony with her so called new identity and knowledge. Great irony when Tony seemed to know Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet while she attributed the play to Zeffirelli.
While it may have featured the Disco Generation, I find its themes of the search for identity, dreams, the need to grow, change, and escape all relevant for every generation. Timeless themes.
Giant thumbs up for me.
P.S. The sequel was called Staying Alive and once again Travolta played Tony Manero trying to succeed as a dancer in Manhattan. Sad to say it was a very poor movie.
As a kid, I saw this film in the theatre with my older brother, at the time of the film's release. I remember liking it although not understanding everything. I think I've seen it once as an adult, but I really don't remember too much about it.
It always felt like this film was simultaneously the culmination of disco as a cultural force, and the beginning of the end. Disco started morphing into other forms sometime around 1978.
I have not yet noticed a mention herein of the contribution of one David Shire to the soundscape of SNF, namely a catchy disco-style instrumental entitled "Manhattan Skyline." I had been out of film music collecting for a few years at that time and had never heard of David Shire, although I did know who Talia Shire was, from her stand-out performances in the GODFATHER films and ROCKY. Well, I figured, this Shire guy must have gotten the gig because he was married to Talia, presumably, and so "knew somebody." Obviously, an incredible underestimation of his talents! Anyway, it's a nice little piece even if it was overshadowed by the Bee Gees and the rest of the contributors to a memorable film and soundtrack.
As OnyaBirri mentioned above, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER proved to be the beginning of the end for disco, the grand blowout before it faded away into kitschdom, the Woodstock of the disco phenomenon. There was certainly nothing bigger than the combination of Travolta, the Bee Gees and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at the time.
