SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977) A Film Review by Ted Prigge Copyright 1997 Ted Prigge
Director: John Badham Writer: Norman Wexler (from a story by Nik Cohn) Starring: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Donna Pescow, Barry Miller, Martin Shakur, Fran Drescher
Anyone who knows me knows that I adore this movie almost as much as I adore, say, "Pulp Fiction." Ever since I finally saw this, I could recite the movie, call the dances (I can't actually do them, 'cause I look like Ed Grimley when I do), and even do the cool walk in the beginning. But even though some might call this a "guilty pleasure," this is actually a very well-made film that could have been a shallow dance movie starring that guy from "Welcome Back, Kotter," but turns out to be a very intelligent character study that just happens to have some of the coolest dance scenes ever made. I know Gene Siskel will back me up on this one.
John Travolta, fresh off of "Kotter" and "Carrie," in the role that made him a superstar (and also spawned a stupid sequel I have yet to see), plays Tony Manero, a kind of dim Brooklynite who works in a paint store during the week, and on Saturday nights, goes out with his friends to the local disco place, the nicely named "2001 Odyssey," where he's a superstar since he takes up the dance floor whenever a cool tune comes on (usually a Bee Gees tune, who wrote about six tunes in a week for this flick).
One night, he sees a woman there (Donna Gorney), who is a great dancer and catches his attention. After he meets her, she turns out to be kind of feisty and a little too intelligent for him, but he persits. Meanwhile, his other partner (Donna Pescow), who has a big crush on him and begs him for sex constantly, is dumped by him cruelly so he can pursue a hopefully more than kosher relationship with Gorney. Also, his brother, who was a priest and the pride of the family, has quit the parish, and is moving on, shaming the family, and making Tony feel better.
Like all dance flicks, there's a big dance competition, and Tony and Gorney want to go and win. But this film is too intelligent, and ends in a kind of mature and shocking manner. Throughout the film, Tony matures (he's only 19), not only in intellect, but in just an all-around kind of way. Like Renton in "Trainspotting," he grows out of his friends, who are self-destructive and totally immature. I mean, these guys go onto the Brooklyn Bridge, dance on the sides, and pretend to fall to their death. A big melodramatic thing occurs later on, but it actually feels moving and shocking, instead of stupid and shallow.
Of course, the big thing to admire in this is the dance scenes, which are totally awesome. I mean, I usually don't get into big dance sequences, but I mean, I'm just all into the ones in this one. And, you also get to see John Travolta in his first Oscar-nominated role. He's an incredible actor and is just incredible, even if he has a Brooklyn accent. He creates a character with many levels, who actually seems more human than he would in a lesser film. Also look for great performances from Gorney and Pescow.
Also, look for a cameo from Fran Drescher (she has weird hair) as a chick who goes up to him, says a memorable line, and even gets to grab his ass, which she revels in even these days.
"Saturday Night Fever" is one of the most memorable and entertaining (not to mention addictive) films I've ever seen. It's not the most brilliant film, but it's certainly one of the more intelligent dance films.
MY RATING (out of 4): ****
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