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The World Beyond BetterMost => The Culture Tent => Topic started by: Jeff Wrangler on December 09, 2007, 08:02:17 pm

Title: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 09, 2007, 08:02:17 pm
I am way behind in reading my New Yorker magazines. A couple of weeks ago, the magazine came accompanied by a special supplement devoted to movies. Today I read an article in the supplement on the making of Saturday Night Fever, and what a huge hit the film was, and also its soundtrack.

I finished the article over supper this evening, and felt kinda kicked in the stomach when I realized that this past Friday, December 7, was the thirtieth anniversary of the film's release.

Thirty years. Thirty effen years. ...

I feel old. ...  :-\

And guess what else? After 30 effen years, I've never seen it!  :laugh:

Think maybe I ought to?!?!?  :laugh:
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: BelAir on December 10, 2007, 12:08:51 am
Yes!
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Brokeback_Dev on December 10, 2007, 12:14:41 am
Most definitely see Saturday Night Fever!   My God child get the dvd asap :o
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: brokeplex on December 10, 2007, 12:38:13 am
I am way behind in reading my New Yorker magazines. A couple of weeks ago, the magazine came accompanied by a special supplement devoted to movies. Today I read an article in the supplement on the making of Saturday Night Fever, and what a huge hit the film was, and also its soundtrack.

I finished the article over supper this evening, and felt kinda kicked in the stomach when I realized that this past Friday, December 7, was the thirtieth anniversary of the film's release.

Thirty years. Thirty effen years. ...

I feel old. ...  :-\

And guess what else? After 30 effen years, I've never seen it!  :laugh:

Think maybe I ought to?!?!?  :laugh:

Go see it, it will take you a long, long way back to a galaxy far,far away. Blowdried hair and platform shoes!  How did you manage to avoid seeing Saturday Night Fever for all of these years?
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Cameron on December 10, 2007, 12:42:39 am
I had to jump in here. That is scary, that it has been so long since it came out. Very scary. I saw it first at the end of that year, but I way too young for it really then.

But definitely see it right away.  Even after all this time, it is still among my absolute, all time favorite movies. It has some of the best shots of NY, especially Brooklyn, of any film ever. Also there is a lot more to it than just the dancing, the music, and John Travolta looking cute. A lot more.  
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 10, 2007, 10:36:23 am
I had to jump in here. That is scary, that it has been so long since it came out. Very scary. I saw it first at the end of that year, but I way too young for it really then.

But definitely see it right away.  Even after all this time, it is still among my absolute, all time favorite movies. It has some of the best shots of NY, especially Brooklyn, of any film ever. Also there is a lot more to it than just the dancing, the music, and John Travolta looking cute. A lot more.  

Right away? Oh, after 30 years, I think it'll keep.  ;D

How did I avoid seeing Saturday Night Fever? Probably because I've never particularly cared for Travolta. I don't hate him, he just leaves me, ehh. ...  :-\

Also, the mid- to late-1970s were my growing-up years, really growing up, becoming an adult. That was a rough time, and I don't really have good memories of that time. Also, looking back always depresses me.

But, God, I loved the music. I still have the double vinyl soundtrack album.  :D

I loved disco music. I can't dance, haven't got a smidgen of rhythm in me, but I loved the orchestration behind the singer. It wasn't just four guys with a couple of guitars, drums, and a keyboard. There were strings! And brass!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: brokeplex on December 12, 2007, 11:40:40 am


Also, the mid- to late-1970s were my growing-up years, really growing up, becoming an adult. That was a rough time, and I don't really have good memories of that time. Also, looking back always depresses me.

But, God, I loved the music. I still have the double vinyl soundtrack album.  :D

I loved disco music.

That is great Jeff, I kept many of my albums from that period as well. I really enjoyed being young in the late 70's. I am sorry that you did not enjoy the time. Hopefully you can catch some of the spirit of fun that we had by watching the movie. See "Last days of Disco" as well, it captures some of the inane funniness of the times too.

I'm putting on "Disco Duck" just for you right now!
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2007, 12:48:34 pm
I'm putting on "Disco Duck" just for you right now!

 :P  ;D  :laugh:

I remember that. All too well. ...  :laugh:

Thanks. ... 
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Shakesthecoffecan on December 12, 2007, 01:32:15 pm
I will never forget that girl pleading: "We can make it!"

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfcwYWivb3w[/youtube]

And man he could move! Still, I like Travolta better with a little meat on his bones.  ;)
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: serious crayons on December 12, 2007, 01:56:18 pm
I like Travolta better with a little meat on his bones.  ;)

Then you must have really loved him in "Hairspray"!  :laugh:


(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:kUi6Oo5x3LV4tM:http://i.imdb.com/)



BTW, I'm so old I remember when John Travolta was Vinnie Barbarino on "Welcome Back, Kotter"!

Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2007, 02:32:40 pm
BTW, I'm so old I remember when John Travolta was Vinnie Barbarino on "Welcome Back, Kotter"!

HA! I can do better than that! I saw him as a chorus boy on Broadway even before that!

It was a school trip to a matinee. All the girls in my class noticed him and went ga-ga.

Tell you what, though I've never sat through all of Saturday Night Fever, somehow I have seen the shot of him in those black bikini briefs. ...
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Shakesthecoffecan on December 12, 2007, 02:53:31 pm
Then you must have really loved him in "Hairspray"!  :laugh:


(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:kUi6Oo5x3LV4tM:http://i.imdb.com/)



BTW, I'm so old I remember when John Travolta was Vinnie Barbarino on "Welcome Back, Kotter"!



Oh yeah I did! I thought he was great, convincing too.
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: southendmd on December 12, 2007, 03:51:21 pm
Then there was the ill-advised sequel "Staying Alive":

(http://www.castrotheatre.com/calendar/2007/oct-dec/stayingalive_l.jpg)
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Shakesthecoffecan on December 12, 2007, 03:54:24 pm
I went with a group to see that one, we all we disapointed.  :-\
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Meryl on December 12, 2007, 04:04:10 pm
Gawd, thirty years!  :o

I loved "Saturday Night Fever" to bits.  The music is the best thing, but the characters really stuck with me afterward, too.  I must have seen it a number of times, because even now when actors from that film pop up, I instantly associate them with it.  Earlier this year I was blown away when I recognized Karen Lynn Gorney (his dance contest partner) at a Weight Watchers meeting!  She looks pretty much the same (not really overweight), just a little longer in the tooth.  ;)
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2007, 04:28:36 pm
I recognized Karen Lynn Gorney (his dance contest partner) at a Weight Watchers meeting!

 :o

Quote
She looks pretty much the same ... , just a little longer in the tooth.  ;)

Arent' we all?  :-\  ;D

No, we don't want to hear from anyone who wasn't even born when the movie came out!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: MaineWriter on December 12, 2007, 04:37:24 pm
Gene Siskel bought John Travolta's white suit at auction, paid something like $4000 for it. He had a special "John" mannequin made for it (in the iconic pose) and had it on display in his living room. I believe John Travolta even signed it on the lapel. I wonder where it is now?

And we all think buying BBM memorabilia is a new concept! LOL

L
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2007, 04:49:42 pm
Gene Siskel bought John Travolta's white suit at auction, paid something like $4000 for it. He had a special "John" mannequin made for it (in the iconic pose) and had it on display in his living room. I believe John Travolta even signed it on the lapel. I wonder where it is now?

And we all think buying BBM memorabilia is a new concept! LOL

L

It's in the Smithsonian. That bit of information was in the New Yorker supplement article that provoked me to start this thread. He outbid Jane Fonda for it. ...
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Scott6373 on December 12, 2007, 04:52:00 pm
It's in the Smithsonian. That bit of information was in the New Yorker supplement article that provoked me to start this thread. He outbid Jane Fonda for it. ...

What the suit or Gene Siskel?
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2007, 05:11:50 pm
What the suit or Gene Siskel?

She asked about the suit, Smarty.  >:(  ;D  :-*
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: MaineWriter on December 12, 2007, 05:12:03 pm
It's in the Smithsonian. That bit of information was in the New Yorker supplement article that provoked me to start this thread. He outbid Jane Fonda for it. ...

Ah...and I dredged all that information from memory. Did I get it all right? I remember it so specifically because he bought it when we were living in Chicago (Gene lived in Chicago and was the movie critic for the Tribune) and there were lots of stories in the paper. It was a really big deal. People couldn't believe he paid that much for that suit!

L
Title: Re: Saturday Night Fever
Post by: Meryl on December 12, 2007, 05:56:09 pm
I was so hoping that Travolta's dance at the end of "Hairspray" would include his iconic pose in the famous white suit:

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/merylmarie/john-travolta-saturday-night-fever.jpg)

Alas, I didn't see it, but I think I did catch some moves that he did in "Pulp Fiction."  ;D