Saturday Night Fever
1977 Directed by John Badham
Synopsis
Catch it.
Nineteen-year-old Tony Manero lives for Saturday nights at the local disco, where he's king of the dance floor. But outside of the club, things don't look so rosy. At home, he fights constantly with his father and has to compete with his family's starry-eyed view of his older brother, a priest. Then, he meets Stephanie at the disco and they agree to dance together in a competition. Stephanie resists Tony's attempts to romance her, as she aspires to greater things; she is moving across the river to Manhattan. Gradually, Tony also becomes disillusioned with the life he is leading and he and Stephanie decide to help one another to start afresh
Cast
Popular reviews
More-
Future viewings will determine if the slight reservations I have with this are actually just reservations with the disco aesthetic itself. Either way, this is a pretty masterful, harrowing character study that somehow sneaked its way into the pop culture fabric in a way that few harrowing character studies do (this is like the disco Taxi Driver!). Good movie, wish I'd first watched it years ago.
-
There is a disco-shaped hole in the world, and it is our duty to cram disco in it. Now pass me that tiny spoon necklace.
-
Took advantage of a local big-screen showing of this in a nice digital version tonight. It's a much different film than I expected, having associated it too closely all these years with the teenybopper phenomenon of its hugely successful soundtrack in the late 1970s. The narrative is, well, quite frankly dark, in its exploration of Brooklyn masculinity and the decadent escapes in which the borough's young men of the period lose themselves each weekend. Travolta's character is essentially an anti-hero for much of the narrative, and only slightly less morally corrupt than his circle of friends. While the somber turn the film takes in the third act is not for all tastes, the dance sequences hold up amazingly well. (This…
-
I was pretty happy to learn that this was the first movie I ever saw in the cinema. My mother told me that story, I was thinking the dates didnt match well, but then the other day she tells me " Well I was pregnant with you when Your father and I went to see that." I'm like why do you have to ruin my happy memory! Whatever! I always loved this movie, but with watching the commentary I gained another appreciation for it. I feel like being born in the tail end of the 70s embued me with a bit of 70s magic and love for 70s stuff. Atleast thats something to hold on to. I still don't know which is better How Deep is Your Love or More than a woman. Its a bit funny I use to call this Saturday Night Live as a kid lol.
-
Completely not the movie I thought it was going to be. I wouldn't have thought it was as crass as it turned out to be. I thought is was pretty good aside from a few things here and there.
It's a movie about friendship when you get right down to it. You begin to see how Tony surrounds himself with empty people and then he realizes he has no "real" friends when the tables are turned on him by Stephanie. It's a good coming of age story as well, showing how he really does have talent but needs to learn to apply it better.
I enjoyed Saturday Night Fever so much more than I would've imagined. But I am glad Disco died.
-
For better or worse Saturday Night Fever best defines the "groovy" music and fashion era of the 70s. It's also a great coming of age film with Travolta excellent dancing in some ridiculous clothing makes for a good time.
Saturday Night Fever is about a Brooklyn youth who feels his only chance to get somewhere in life is as the king of the disco floor. The movie does have it share of embarrassing moments. One including Travolta and his gang waiting for one of their pal to finish his "shag" (70s slang for sex). Another embarrassing moment involves Travolta having dinner with his family and he gets into an argument with his dad because "He hits my hair". The movie…
Recent reviews
More-
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this film, but this wasn't it. It was good, but I didn't really feel like I could identify with any of the characters. Plus, disco must just not be my thing. There were some pretty funny moments especially with the family. And I dug the Bee Gees. Overall, I would rather watch Patrick Swayze dance.
-
A very enjoyable movie, with outstanding dance choreography and cinematography, in addition to an outstanding soundtrack. Travolta gives a very good performance as Tony, even if the rest of the cast does not reach his heights. There are good characters and it carries a great deal of meaning.
-
Completely not the movie I thought it was going to be. I wouldn't have thought it was as crass as it turned out to be. I thought is was pretty good aside from a few things here and there.
It's a movie about friendship when you get right down to it. You begin to see how Tony surrounds himself with empty people and then he realizes he has no "real" friends when the tables are turned on him by Stephanie. It's a good coming of age story as well, showing how he really does have talent but needs to learn to apply it better.
I enjoyed Saturday Night Fever so much more than I would've imagined. But I am glad Disco died.
-
John Travoltas breakout hit and cashing in on the times, he is great here and shows how to be a movie star.
-
Equal portions kitschy unabashed fun and dreary 1970's gloom. I had never seen it before today and what I gained from cultural osmosis failed to inform me of how heavy and authentic the working class depictions would be.
-
Good cheesy and gritty fun. Still a great drama.
-
Surprisingly dark and gritty with a brilliant soundtrack and a mesmerizing performance by John Travolta.
John Badhams direction and the editing could have been more exact. There are certain parts that are simply dragging the movie down. -
Future viewings will determine if the slight reservations I have with this are actually just reservations with the disco aesthetic itself. Either way, this is a pretty masterful, harrowing character study that somehow sneaked its way into the pop culture fabric in a way that few harrowing character studies do (this is like the disco Taxi Driver!). Good movie, wish I'd first watched it years ago.
-
That is definitely the first time Fran Drescher has shown up in this