Saturday Night Fever – still Stayin Alive
June 27th 2007 00:47
What’s 30 years old, has a main character named after a Brazilian colloquialism for "cool’ and was one of the very first of its kind to utilize the Steadicam?
If you said anything other than the movie Saturday Night Fever – then, sorry – go to the back of the disco.
Graduating from minor TV celebrity (following his role as Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back Kotter) – the world’s second most famous Scientologist – went onto superstar status as Tony Manero (yes – apparently "maneiro" is Brazilian for ‘cool’) in what is generally regarded as the movie that started it all – Saturday Night Fever.
Featuring the trials and tribulations of a Brooklyn paint store assistant (and local disco king) John Travolta almost single handedly (along with a little help from the Bee Gees) re-invented popular culture in the mid to late 70’s – strutting his stuff amidst flashing lights and mirror balls to the hypnotic beat of what was to become the biggest selling soundtrack of all time.
The cultural impact of Saturday Night Fever both locally and in the US was tremendous, bringing the burgeoning disco scene into mainstream society.
The Bee Gees had already written and recorded five songs for the film, "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever" and "How Deep Is Your Love" (all performed by the Bee Gees), "More Than A Woman" (performed Tavares, and another by the Bee Gees), and "If I Can't Have You" (performed in the movie by Yvonne Elliman) as part of a regular album (but apparently had no idea at the time they would be making a soundtrack).
Two previously released Bee Gee songs, "Jive Talkin'" and "You Should Be Dancing", are also included.
Of course – there’s also the rumour, scandal and obligatory trivia such as John Travolta's sister appearing as the pizza lady, and his mother appearing as the women for whom he gets the paint or 'Connie' - the girl that asks Tony if he's "as good in bed as on the dance floor" was played by a then-unknown Fran Drescher, who later became famous on the TV comedy "The Nanny." Drescher later confessed later she was not wearing underwear when she did her scene with Tony just before his big solo dance – hmmmm
Or even that the white polyester suit worn by John Travolta in the movie sold at auction for $145,000.
Iconic though is probably as close a word as you’ll get to trying describe the film and its soundtrack. Forget the analytical summations, forget the puritans – it was simply a package for its time – one that has transcended (and will continue to transcend) the generations.
. . . Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk - I'm a woman's man: no time to talk.
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