“Saturday Night Fever”: That disco film from the 1970s

I saw Saturday Night Fever yesterday

Saturday Night Fever is that charming disco film released in 1977 that created and dominated the world of disco dancing. It was produced by Robert Stigwood directed by John Badham and starred the great John Travolta as Tony Manero and Karen Lynn Gorney as his dancing companion. Travolta is that Brooklyn kid who is tired of his job in the paint store. He is sure that the only likelihood of his making big in life was to hit the disco dancing floor. Among his friends is Annette (Donna Pescow), a girl from his area who pines for a more lasting relationship with him. Tony accepts Annette’s invitation to be her partner in a dancing competition. Tony drops Annette and chooses Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) to be his partner instead. They end up winning the contest. Tony gives away his prize to a Puerto Rican couple who he feels should have been given the prize. There is a scuffle outside in the car later. Tony attempts to rape Stephanie and she runs away from him. Later Tony says sorry to Stephanie for his behaviour. He wants to come to Manhattan and be at least as friends with her.

The story of ‘Saturday Night Fever’ was taken from an article written for the New York magazine written in 1976 by Nick Cohn who admitted later after twenty years that the story was not true. But the film was a great commercial hit that lent a hand in establishing the disco all over the world. It built Travolta as a family man in every home even as he was a popular star on television. Its sound track presented the disco songs by the famous Bee Gees and is still holding the record as the top buying soundtrack till now. The film has had two versions and a sequel till now.

‘Saturday Night Fever’ got mainly positive reviews throughout from everywhere. It is still acknowledged as one of the finest movies released in 1977. The popular website “Rotten Tomatoes” gives it over a 90% rating on its statistics. The Review website “Meta**critic” has given the film a rating of 77 out of 100, which is considered good. One remembers the famous critic Gene Siskel saying “John Travolta on the dance floor is like a peacock on Amphetamines.” It was reported that Siskel even acquired from an auction the famous white suit that Travolta wore in the film.

A few trivial notes about the making of ‘Saturday Night Fever’...

When Donna Pescow was chosen to play Annette, they thought her to be too good looking. She had to work hard by adding over forty pounds to her weight. She changed her accent to sound ‘Brooklynish’ only to lose the extra weight after the shooting was over.

For long it was not noticed that Helen and Ann, mother and sister of Travolta played small roles in the film. His mother played the role of the woman to whom Travolta sells that can of paint in the beginning of the film. His sister is the one who gives him those pizza pieces.

Saturday Night Fever is a disco musical that works even today. One gets to listen to its “Staying Alive” in parties and receptions all over again and again.