Travolta's characterization, given the script and directorial demands, is okay. It will please the already-committed; but it won't win him any new fans.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:37
Fresh:33
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.4/10
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Director John Badham's hit film propelled John Travolta to stardom, made white polyester suits an instant fashion craze, and garnered praise for its portrayal of blue-collar life. Nineteen-year-old... Director John Badham's hit film propelled John Travolta to stardom, made white polyester suits an instant fashion craze, and garnered praise for its portrayal of blue-collar life. Nineteen-year-old Brooklyn native Tony Manero (Travolta) lives for Saturday nights at the local disco, where he's king of the club, thanks to his stylish moves on the dance floor. But outside of the club, things don't look so rosy. At home, Tony fights constantly with his father and has to compete with his family's starry-eyed view of his older brother, a priest. Nor can he find satisfaction at his dead-end job at a paint store. However, things begin to change when he spies Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) in the disco and starts training with her for the club's dance competition. Stephanie dreams of the world beyond Brooklyn, and her plans to move to the big city just over the bridge soon change Tony's life forever. This portrait of young Brooklyn natives struggling to escape their sheltered lives for freedom and adventure in the big city of Manhattan defined a generation of disco dancers and 1970s youths rebelling against the more traditional expectations of their parents. Set to the popular dance music of the Bee Gees, this instant cinematic sensation revealed the fashions and aspirations of an underground culture to the world. [More]
Starring: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Donna Pescow, Barry Miller
Starring: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Donna Pescow, Barry Miller, Bruce Ornstein, Julie Bovasso, Sam Coppola, Denny Dillon
Director: John Badham
Director: John Badham
Producer: Robert Stigwood
Screenwriter: Norman Wexler
Composer: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, David Shire
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Reviews for Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever's heart is actually in the right place. It's ears, though? That's another story.
Most of the plot elements could have been eliminated in favor of more dance action.
Travolta's ad-libbing about his hair alone is enough to merit remembering SNF as a classic.
Travolta's breakthrough performance and John Badham's vibrant NYC locations make this a far more enlightening story of youth and rebellion than the mere kitsch of the film's contemporary reputation.
It holds up beautifully, mainly because it puts the characters and their flaws first and the disco nightlife second. Travolta remains an amazing, graceful presence on the dance floor.
Few films have managed to capture the spirit of their times as thoroughly and successfully as Saturday Night Fever.
John Badham's film (his best to date), a zeitgeist picture that captures the disco subculture of the 1970s like no other work, features a star-making performance from John Travolta who dominates every frame.
Mr. Travolta is deft and vibrant, and he never condescends to the character, not even in a scene that has Tony and Stephanie arguing about whose Romeo and Juliet it is, Zeffirelli's or Shakespeare's.
Latest News for Saturday Night Fever
August 09, 2006:
Critical Consensus: A Brave New "World," A "Step" Down, And No Screenings for "Pulse" and "Zoom"
This week at the movies, we've got Oliver Stone paying tribute to the heroes of 9/11 ("World Trade Center," starring Nicolas Cage); two youngsters trying to start a... More...
March 03, 2006:
Travolta & Latifah to Share "Hairspray"
John Travolta and Queen Latifah have signed on to star in New Line Cinema’s upcoming feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Hairspray," it was announced... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
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