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Saturday Night Fever
(1977)
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Director:
John
Badham |
COUNTRY
United States |
GENRE
Drama/Music |
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Saturday
Night Fever |
RUNNING
TIME
119 minutes |
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Producer:
Roger
Stigwood |
Screenwriter
(based on an article by Nik Cohn):
Norman Wexler |
Review
The wonderful, glossy disco culture was
abruptly killed off by some bitter dissenters insecure of their own
manhood during the so-called "disco backlash" in the summer of 1979, but
luckily it lives on thanks to this profound and stylish film from John
Badham, starring a steamingly hot John Travolta and Bee Gees' immaculate
music. The script by Norman Wexler may well include one or two slight
cheesinesses (including the climax at the bridge), but the writing is
completely eclipsed by the atmosphere, style and testosterone captured
on camera here. Few films have captured an era better than Saturday
Night Fever, and Badham recognises and makes the most of the purity
and edge that is created at the intersection between 1970s youth
culture, Travolta's buoyant energy, and the pulsating disco music. Today
the film works as dual escapism, but it's no less relevant and no less
valid than it was back in 1977 because the essence it captures is
timeless – even if the wonderful music turned out to be ephemeral.
Re-reviewed:
Copyright © 12.9.2014 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
Original review: Copyright © 5.11.1996 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
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