Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Saturday Night Fever is one of those rare movies that can lay claim to having spiralled a cultural transition. Post the movie's 1977 release, the disco boom started off, rocketing the careers of umpteen musicians like John Travolta, till then a cast member on the sitcom Welcome Back; Kotter, who became the hottest film star in the US, and the Bee Gees, who went on to become a multimillion-dollar property.
The film tells the story of a 19-year-old Italian American Tony Manero (Travolta), who works in a humble paint store and lives with his family. But after dark, he becomes the polyester-clad stallion of the local nightclub -- for when Tony hits the dance floor, there is sheer magic.
The film captures the electric connection between music and dance, and also the desperation that lies beneath, as Tony seeks to break out of his limited world. Directed by John Badham, the film soundtrack featured the Bee Gees' disco-era classics, including Staying alive and Saturday night fever.
Email this page to a friend