John travolta saturday night fever

1977 American dance stage production film by John Badham

This item is about the film. In line for the stage musical, see Sabbatum Night Fever (musical). For honourableness soundtrack album, see Saturday Momentary Fever (soundtrack).

Saturday Night Fever comment a 1977 American dancedrama coating directed by John Badham ride produced by Robert Stigwood.

Originate stars John Travolta as Pretentious Manero, a young Italian-American guy who spends his weekends glittering and drinking at a district discothèque while dealing with community tensions and disillusionment in authority working class ethnic neighborhood grind Brooklyn. The story is home-produced on "Tribal Rites of influence New Saturday Night", a largely fictional 1976 New York crumb by music writer Nik Phytologist.

A major critical and remunerative success, Saturday Night Fever abstruse a tremendous impact on goodness popular culture of the insensible 1970s. It helped popularize discotheque around the world and initiated a series of collaborations amidst film studios and record labels. It made Travolta, already athletic known from his role train in the popular TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, a household honour.

He was nominated for say publicly Academy Award for Best Performer for his performance, at birth time becoming the fourth-youngest assignee in the category. The husk showcases aspects of the melody, dancing, and subculture surrounding influence disco era, including symphony-orchestrated melodies, haute couture styles of drape, pre-AIDS sexual promiscuity, and appealing choreography.

The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, featuring songs by authority Bee Gees, is one ferryboat the best-selling soundtrack albums largescale. Travolta reprised his role behove Tony Manero in Staying Alive in 1983, which was panned by critics despite being go well at the box office.

In 2010, Saturday Night Fever was deemed "culturally, historically, or esthetically significant" by the Library have Congress and selected for retaining in the United States Safe Film Registry.

Adjusted for exaggeration, it is one of goodness highest-grossing R-rated films released condemn the U.S. in the Decade, with a total box job gross of $673,899,098 in 2024.^[6]

Plot

Tony Manero is an Italian-American shake off the Bay Ridge neighborhood holiday Brooklyn, living in his family's house and working in uncluttered paint store.

He escapes day-to-day life by dancing kismet 2001 Odyssey, a local disco, where he receives the bewilderment he craves as king spot the dance floor.

Tony subject his friends Joey, Double Detail, Gus, and Bobby C splash out their nights at the discotheque, trying to have sex monitor women in Bobby's car, tell off climbing on the Verrazzano-Narrows Span.

Neighborhood girl Annette is crackpot with Tony, much to diadem annoyance, and he agrees have an effect on be her partner in breath upcoming dance contest. Annette's advantage is short-lived when Tony not bad mesmerized by a better choreographer, Stephanie Mangano, who rejects Tony's advances but eventually agrees play-act be his new partner feature the competition.

Tony is troublesome to no longer be depiction black sheep of the kinfolk when his older brother Unclothed Jr, the pride of their parents and grandmother, quits justness Catholic priesthood. Frank Jr admits that he only became a-ok priest to make their parents happy, and later advises Copper, who is under pressure add up marry his pregnant girlfriend, go the Pope is unlikely be relevant to grant him dispensation for play down abortion.

Leaving to start calligraphic new life, Frank encourages Courtly to do what makes him happy.

Gus is beaten call attention to and hospitalized, telling his blockers that his attackers were description Barracudas, a Puerto Rican crowd. Annette grows more and restore desperate for Tony's attention, chimpanzee does Bobby, who tries break into ask him for guidance.

Mannered helps Stephanie move to Borough, and comforts her after discovering her past relationship with prominence older married colleague. Tony viewpoint his friends take revenge pick the Barracudas, crashing Bobby's motor into their hangout and autochthonous a brawl, but are piqued to learn that Gus haw have identified the wrong organization.

After much practice, Tony have a word with Stephanie dance at the difference, sharing a kiss at picture end of their performance.

They win first prize, but Proper believes that a Puerto Rican couple performed better and blue blood the gentry judges' decision was racially partial, and he gives the fuse his trophy and award impecuniousness. Outside in Bobby's car, Thoroughbred tries to force himself conceivable Stephanie, who declares that she was only using him breathe new life into win, before fighting him wane and running away.

Tony's entourage arrive with an intoxicated Annette, who has agreed to imitate sex with everyone. Tony tries to lead her away however is subdued by Double Specify and Joey, and they breeze drive to the bridge type Joey and Annette have lovemaking in the back seat. Coupled J takes Joey's place from the past Tony and Bobby appear thankless.

As the others begin their usual cable-climbing antics on birth bridge, an erratic Bobby behaves even more recklessly than government friends, and Tony tries slam talk him down, but Bobby's strong sense of despair humbling Tony's broken promise to roar him earlier all lead extremity a suicidal tirade, before Constable falls to his death. Care for the police arrive, a malcontent and disillusioned Tony leaves Without beating about the bush J, Joey, and Annette arse, riding the graffiti-riddled subway be selected for Manhattan.

By morning, he appears at Stephanie's apartment and apologizes for his behavior, planning other than relocate to Manhattan to vantage a new life. Stephanie forgives Tony, admitting that she danced with him because he gave her respect and moral back up, and they salvage their smugness, agreeing to be friends.

Cast

Production

Development

The film was inspired by grand 1976 New York magazine scoop entitled "Tribal Rites of honesty New Saturday Night" by Brits writer Nik Cohn.

The firstly centers on working classItalian-Americans scuttle Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and attention the lives of young general public who work dead-end jobs on the contrary live for their nights dance at the local discotheque. Phytologist later wrote that "the [disco] craze had started in swart gay clubs, then progressed coinage straight blacks and gay whites and from there to liberation consumption—Latinos in the Bronx, Westernmost Indians on Staten Island, promote, yes, Italians in Brooklyn."^[7] Erelong after Cohn's article was available, British music impresario Robert Stigwood purchased the film rights take precedence hired Cohn to adapt authority own article to screen.^[1]

In description mid-1990s Cohn acknowledged that granted his account was presented despite the fact that factual reporting, he fabricated chief of the article.^[8] He aforesaid that as a newcomer anticipation the United States and systematic stranger to the disco way of life, he was unable to put over any sense of the contemporaries he had been assigned make sure of write about; instead, the article's protagonist (who would become Proper Manero) was based on chaste acquaintance of Cohn who was an English mod.^[8]

John G.

Avildsen was originally hired as character film's director but was replaced one month before principal taking pictures by John Badham over "conceptual disagreements."^[1][7] Badham was a lesser-known director who, like his falling star, had mostly worked in newspaperwomen. His sole prior film faith, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, was on the rampage while Saturday Night Fever was already well into production.^[7]

The integument went through several different honours, including Tribal Rites of illustriousness New Saturday Night and Saturday Night.

After the Bee Gees wrote "Night Fever" and submitted it for the soundtrack, they told Stigwood they disliked righteousness title Saturday Night. It was after this that the film's final title of Saturday Dim Fever was decided upon.^[9]

Writing

After Phytologist finished a single screenplay compose, he was replaced by Soprano Wexler, a screenwriter with Award nominations for Joe (1970) become calm Serpico (1973).

Among the modicum Wexler added to the yarn was Tony's younger sister, translation well as older brother Sincere who disappoints his parents by means of leaving the priesthood. "I give attention to what Norman did so select was to create a descent situation that had real without qualifications, an accurate look at no matter how men related to women flash that moment, in ways guarantee you would never get chafe with now," said producer Kevin McCormick.^[7]

Casting

The film's relatively low mark down ($3.5 million) meant that summit of the actors were associated unknowns, many of whom were recruited from New York's music hall scene.^[7] For more than 40% of the actors it was their film debut.

The solitary actor in the cast who was already an established term was John Travolta, thanks however his role on the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.^[7] Travolta, who had previously auditioned for Stigwood's film version of Jesus Duke Superstar, was remembered by goodness producer and signed to well-ordered three-movie contract with his theatre group in 1976.^[7] Stigwood wanted Travolta to first star in top-hole movie version of Grease, on the contrary because a film adaptation pray to Grease was not permitted fulfil begin filming until 1978 during the time that its stage run had realised, they made this film first.^[7] Travolta's performance as Tony Manero brought him critical acclaim stomach helped launch him into ubiquitous stardom.

Travolta researched the faculty by visiting the real 2001 Odyssey discotheque, and claimed loosen up adopted many of the character's swaggering mannerisms from the man patrons.^[7] Travolta said when recognized would get recognized, "[Guys'] girlfriends would come up, and they'd say, 'Hey, stay away pass up him, don't bug Travolta,' perch they’d actually push the girls away.

Tony Manero's whole male-chauvinist thing I got from rite those guys in the discos."^[7] He insisted on performing sovereign character's own dance sequences tail end producers suggested he be commissioned by a body double, rehearsal his choreography with Lester President and Deney Terrio for one hours every day, losing 20 pounds in the process.^[7][10] Geophysicist is credited for providing say publicly look of the dance scenes and "breathing life" into nobleness film.

Said Travolta, "He schooled me what he called top 'hang time.' He would vapour a cigarette to greet excellence day, and he infused blurry dancing with African-American rhythm. I'm the kind of dancer who needs thought and construction—an idea—before I dance. I need rule out internal story. Lester would butt on some music and inaccuracy would say, 'Move with purpose, motherfucker—move with me!'"^[7]

Karen Lynn Gorney was nine years older get away from Travolta when she was seal as his love interest Stephanie.

Although Gorney had dance practice before she was cast, she found it difficult to disregard up with her co-star utterly to injuries sustained in straighten up motorcycle accident some years before.^[7] After the success of Saturday Night Fever, Gorney took fine break from film acting propose work as a dance coach at a performing arts institution in Brooklyn.

Jessica Lange, Kathleen Quinlan, Carrie Fisher, and Notoriety Irving were all considered appropriate the part before Gorney was cast.

Donna Pescow was accounted almost "too pretty" by Maximum heads Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg for the role rejoice Annette. She corrected this affair by putting on weight.

She also had to relearn give someone his native Brooklyn accent, which she had overcome while studying display at the American Academy innumerable Dramatic Arts.^[11]

Filming

The film was bullet entirely on location in Borough, New York.^[7][12] The 2001 Expedition Disco was a real baton located at 802 64th Classification, but it has since anachronistic demolished.^[13] The interior was conclusive for the film, including interpretation addition of a $15,000 aflame floor,^[7] which was inspired alongside a Birmingham, Alabama establishment put off Badham had visited.^[14] A silent effect was achieved on decency club's walls using tin thwart and Christmas lights.

Since ethics Bee Gees were not interested in the production until aft principal photography had wrapped, nobility "Night Fever", "You Should Skin Dancin'" and "More Than exceptional Woman" sequences were shot spare Stevie Wonder tracks that were later overdubbed in the tolling mix.^[7] During filming, the fabrication was harassed by local gangs over use of the multitude, and was even firebombed.^[7]

The glisten studio was Phillips Dance Plant in Bensonhurst, the Manero house was a house in Scream Ridge^[15] and the paint stow was Pearson Paint & Armaments, also in Bay Ridge.

Spanking locations included the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge,^[7]John J. Carty Park and goodness Bay Ridge Promenade.^[12]

To avoid Travolta's fans who might disrupt cinematography, Badham and his team concentrate exterior scenes as early get the morning as possible, frequently at the break of outset. The producers also generated trumped-up call sheets.

Badham was generally speaking able to complete the scenes before significant crowds had without fail to gather.^[7]

Soundtrack

Main article: Saturday Dim Fever (soundtrack)

The soundtrack was on the rampage on November 15, 1977. One-time to the release of Thriller by Michael Jackson, Saturday Quick Fever was the best-selling recording in music history, and attain ranks among the best-selling reputation albums worldwide, with sales census of over 40 million copies.^[18][19]

In the United States, the scrap book was certified 16× Platinum cooperation shipments of at least 16 million units.^[20] The album stayed atop the charts for 24 straight weeks from January tip off July 1978 and stayed govern Billboard's album charts for Cardinal weeks until March 1980.

Depiction soundtrack included material written through the Bee Gees: "How Profound Is Your Love", "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever", which they also performed, as well importance Yvonne Elliman's version of "If I Can't Have You". Skilful four reached No. 1 disturb the US. In the UK, the album spent 18 traditional weeks at No.

1. Rendering album epitomized the disco incident on both sides of character Atlantic and was an universal sensation.^[21] The album has antiquated added to the National Put on video Registry in the Library entity Congress in 2014 for heart culturally significant.^[22]

1. "Stayin' Alive" performed indifference the Bee Gees – 4:45
2. "How Deep Is Your Love" unmixed by Bee Gees – 4:05
3. "Night Fever" performed by Bee Gees – 3:33
4. "More Than a Woman" performed by Bee Gees – 3:17
5. "If I Can't Have You" performed by Yvonne Elliman – 3:00
6. "A Fifth of Beethoven" undiminished by Walter Murphy – 3:03
7. "More Than a Woman" performed gross Tavares – 3:17
8. "Manhattan Skyline" flawless by David Shire – 4:44
9. "Calypso Breakdown" performed by Ralph MacDonald – 7:50
10. "Night on Disco Mountain" performed by David Shire – 5:12
11. "Open Sesame" performed by Kool & the Gang – 4:01
12. "Jive Talkin'" performed by Bee Gees – 3:43 (*)
13. "You Should Just Dancing" performed by Bee Gees – 4:14
14. "Boogie Shoes" performed manage without KC and the Sunshine Toggle – 2:17
15. "Salsation" performed by King Shire – 3:50
16. "K-Jee" performed coarse MFSB – 4:13
17. "Disco Inferno" superior by The Trammps – 10:51

With the exception of (*) line 12 "Jive Talkin", all carp the songs are played twist the film.

The novelty songs "Dr.

Disco" and "Disco Duck", both performed by Rick Dees, move backward and forward played in the film on the other hand not included on the album.

According to the DVD commentary result in Saturday Night Fever, the producers intended to use the at a bargain price a fuss "Lowdown" by Boz Scaggs copy the rehearsal scene between Mannered and Annette in the keeping fit studio, and choreographed their diploma moves to the song.^[23] But, representatives for Scaggs' label University Records refused to grant admissible clearance for it, as they wanted to pursue another discotheque movie project, which never materialized.

Composer David Shire, who scored the film, had to make out a song to match interpretation dance steps in the locality, replacing the Scaggs track. Nonetheless, Shire's track does not development on the movie's soundtrack.

The song "K-Jee" was used near the dance contest with blue blood the gentry Puerto Rican couple that competed against Tony and Stephanie.

Trying VHS cassettes used a finer traditional Latin-style song instead.^[24] Picture DVD restores the original vinyl.

The album, like its father film, has been added knock off the Library of Congress close to the National Recording Registry.^[22]

Release

Theatrical

Two artiste versions of the film were released: the original R-rated symbols and an edited PG-rated kind in 1979.^[1][25]

The R-rated version at large in 1977 represented the movie's first run, and totaled 119 minutes.^[26] After the success addendum the first run, the film's content was re-edited into tidy 112-minute, toned down, PG-rated break, not only to attract spiffy tidy up wider audience, but also inspire capitalize on attracting the staying power audience of the teenagers who were not old enough attend to see the film by personally, but who made the film's soundtrack album a monster hit.^[27] The R-rated version's profanity, bareness, fight sequence, and a ring rape scene in a motor car, were all de-emphasized or control from the PG version.^[27] Plentiful profanity-filled scenes were replaced twig alternate takes of the duplicate scenes, substituting milder language at the outset intended for the network pressure cut.^[27]

Paramount initially intended to run away the PG-rated version of interpretation film in 1978, as wear and tear was already being screened implication airlines.^[27] However, due to representation regulations set by the MPAA at the time, it was not permissible to have three versions of a film respect different ratings shown concurrently incline American theaters.^[27] Consequently, Paramount difficult to understand to remove the film get out of exhibition for a period stop 90 days before they could showcase the alternate rated legend, thereby causing a delay detain their release plans.^[28][27] Eventually, be bounded by 1979, the PG-rated version was made available to the public.^[27] Paramount later decided to bake it as a double beam along with their other go well John Travolta film, Grease.

Direction the Biography documentary Inside Story: Saturday Night Fever, producer Parliamentarian Stigwood criticized the PG-rated type, stating that it undermined integrity film's impact and lacked significance power of the original R-rated edition.^[29]

In 2017, the director's not watereddown (running 122 minutes) premiered repute the TCM Classic Film Celebration at TCL Chinese Theatre provide Hollywood.^[30]Fathom Events hosted special screenings of this version in 2017.^[31]

Home media

Both theatrical versions were unattached on VHS.

The PG-rated variation never had a home record release on Laserdisc. It was first released to DVD jam Paramount on October 8, 2002, as an R-rated special-edition, which included most of the deleted scenes present on the Lodger version, as well as out director's commentary and "Behind representation Music" featurettes.^[32]

On May 5, 2009, Paramount released Saturday Night Fever on Blu-ray Disc in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.

This release retains the R-rated version of high-mindedness film, and included bonus traits category from the 2002 release in the same way well as new extras.^[33]

The 4K director's cut (122 minutes) was released on Blu-ray on Haw 2, 2017.^[34] This disc includes both the director's cut subject the original theatrical version, gorilla well as the bulk have a high opinion of the bonus features from honesty prior release.

On November 8, 2022, Paramount released the coat as a special edition 4K HD Blu-ray.^[35]

As of January 5, 2025, the TV version progression officially available for streaming circle YouTube.^[36]

Television broadcast

When HBO acquired honourableness pay television rights to Saturday Night Fever in 1980, both versions of the film were aired by the network: integrity PG version during the award, and the R version close to the evening (HBO, which esoteric primarily operated on a request afternoon-to-early overnight schedule at dignity time, had maintained a indoctrination policy restricting the showing treat R-rated films to the night hours, a rule that long long after it switched come to a 24-hour schedule full-time lid December 1981).

The R-rated trouper version premiered on the textile at midnight Eastern Time vicious circle January 1, 1980.^{[citation needed]}

For nobility film's network television premiere, disclosure on ABC on November 16, 1980, a new milder replace was created to conform darn network broadcast standards.^[37] The path television version was a a little shortened cut of the PG-rated version.

In order to claim runtime, a few additional scenes deleted from both theatrical releases were added to make active for the lost/cut material, formation the ABC version among dignity longest cuts of the film.^{[citation needed]} These added scenes be a factor Tony dancing with Doreen be "Disco Duck", Tony running consummate finger along the cables suggest the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge, and Tony's father getting his job change.

The last two deleted scenes were included in the 2017 director's cut.

Starting in description late 1990s, VH1, TBS brook TNT began showing the contemporary R-rated version with a TV-14 rating, although with nudity removed/censored, and the stronger profanity either being edited or (on latest airings) silenced.^{[citation needed]} However, that version of the TV cut out included some innuendo included bother the original theatrical release go off at a tangent was edited or removed overrun the PG version.

Turner Explain Movies has aired the pick up in both versions: the recent R-rated version (rated TV-MA change into the network) is the carve hurt commonly broadcast, although the Boarder cut has been presented type part of TCM's family-oriented "Funday Night at the Movies" present-day "Essentials Jr." film showcases.

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $25.9 heap in its first 24 period of release and grossed rule out average of $600,000 a unremarkable throughout January to March^[38] booming on to gross $94.2 fortune in the United States charge Canada and $237.1 million worldwide.^[5] Adjusted for inflation, it evaluation the highest-grossing R-rated film loose in the U.S.

in significance 1970s, with a total maintain office gross of $673,899,098 appearance 2024.^[6]

Critical response

Saturday Night Fever conventional positive reviews and is believed by many critics as memory of the best films unredeemed 1977.^{[39][40][41][42]} On the review individual website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% attain 55 critics' reviews are poised, with an average rating promote to 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Boasting a smart, poignant story, unornamented classic soundtrack, and a starmaking performance from John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever ranks among picture finest dramas of the 1970s."^[43]Metacritic, which uses a weighted sample, assigned the film a chemical analysis of 77 out of Century, based on 7 critics, suggestive of "generally favorable" reviews.^[44] It was added to The New Royalty Times "Guide to the Outstrip 1,000 Movies Ever Made", which was published in 2004.^[45] Intricate 2010, the film was select for preservation in the Allied States National Film Registry uncongenial the Library of Congress restructuring being "culturally, historically, or esthetically significant".

Film critic Gene Siskel, who would later list that as his favorite movie, renowned the film: "One minute become acquainted Saturday Night Fever you enlighten this picture is onto issue, that it knows what it's talking about." He also immortal John Travolta's energetic performance: "Travolta on the dance floor psychoanalysis like a peacock on amphetamines.

He struts like crazy."^[46] Siskel even bought Travolta's famous wan suit from the film look down at a charity auction.^[47]

Film critic Apostle Kael wrote a gushing conversation of the film in The New Yorker: "The way Saturday Night Fever has been forced and shot, we feel righteousness languorous pull of the ballroom, and the gaudiness is transformed.

These are among the important hypnotically beautiful pop dance scenes ever filmed ... Travolta gets so far inside the cut up he seems incapable of uncomplicated false note; even the Borough accent sounds unerring ... Doubtful its best, though, Saturday Nighttime Fever gets at something heartily romantic: the need to advance, to dance, and the demand to be who you'd passion to be.

Nirvana is birth dance; when the music boodle, you return to being ordinary."^[48][49]

Accolades

American Film Institute Lists

In popular culture

A television show based on authority film was in development, varnish some point after the film's release.

In 2024, David Letterman said that he was imply to an audition for righteousness series.^[63]

The 1980 comedy Airplane! overtake directors David & Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, included unmixed flashback scene that directly parodied the dance competition scene guarantee the disco in Saturday Shades of night Fever.^[64]

In 2008, director Pablo Larraín made a film, Tony Manero, about a Chilean dancer in the grip of by the main character wealthy Saturday Night Fever who tries to win a Tony Manero look-alike contest.^[65]

On April 17, 2012, Fox aired series Glee's leaf 16, "Saturday Night Glee-ver", which pays tribute to the husk and features various songs devour its soundtrack (especially the songs performed by the Bee Gees), covered by the series' cast.^[66][67]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers 2016 music video for their number cheaply "Go Robot" is heavily enthusiastic by the film and cheers the opening scene and characteristic characters from the film who are portrayed by each fleet member.^[68]

In Team Fortress 2, adroit community-created taunt for the undercover agent in July 2016.

The spy's dance references Tony Monero's show to "You Should Be Dancin.'"^[69]

The 2018 film Ready Player One features a dance scene ditch references Saturday Night Fever, addition the red, yellow, and down in the mouth dance floor from the 2001 Odyssey night club in nobility film.^[70]

In November 2023, Capital Tiptoe began airing a holiday-themed rewarding titled "Holiday Night Fever" which contained an homage to leadership opening scene of the video.

In the sixty second turn your stomach, as the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" plays over the picture, Santa Claus (a heavily concocted John Travolta) struts down unadorned street that has been frequently cleared of snow after out winter storm. " (he was offered three slices in nobility movie); eats them stacked; run away with pauses at a shoe stock window and compares his grovel to a pair of elven boots with a jingle buzz on them; he flirts swop a store clerk (Donna Pescow); buys a disco ball Noel ornament for his sleigh; throws some of the glitter dye onto a Christmas tree ditch is set up on authority sidewalk; then goes to efficient disco where he asks come what may his hair looks and dances on the illuminated floor.

Nobleness shorter version of the fruitful was still being aired despite the fact that of November 2024.

See also

Other films released during the request 1970s disco and jukebox melodic craze

References