The film was a hit initially, but it took a while for the real masses to catch on that this wasn't a "disco" film, but a real hardcore NYC drama. The disco backlash a few years later hurt the film's rep but it came back in a big way and is known now as one of the best films of the 70s.
actually by the end of its R rated theatrical run it made $110 million dollars on a 1.5 million dollar budget. The PG release brought in another $25 million
Totally agree, Steven. I get the disco backlash - I’m no disco fan - and yet I rewatch this movie every two years because of everything BUT the disco. This movie has a lot to say about these aimless, dead-end kids and their needs for escape. “I’m going nowhere... somebody help me...” the song goes. Damn straight they’re going nowhere, but Stephanie helps Tony see how directionless he is, and by the end of the film he wants more for himself. Great movie, disco be damned.
In the 1980s this film was a an embarrassment. I think it gained its respectability from the 1990s onwards and never looked back. That is the journey of art it as a different apperception through the ages. I think overall it is a brilliant social commentary of its time with a universal truths that appeal to all generations of young people seeking an identity etc...
It's funny how, despite his positive review, Gene's reaction t the movie is so underplayed. In the end, it turned to be one of his favorite films, if not his number one favorite film, of all time.
Yeah, he wasn't given enough time to talk about it either. He did have it at #5 on his Top 10 for the year. But he obviously grew to love it even more.
@@citygirl5705 So much he bought the white suit and personally asked Travolta to autograph it. He said it is his most prized possession before he passed away.
What I also love, besides the basic plot of a young man with an aimless life, who escapes to the disco, etc, is that the film deals with Manero's brother who has left the priesthood and the aftermath and also when Tony Manero's friend, who I want to say it's Bobby, who gets his girlfriend pregnant and is in a now-way-out situation, in that he is pretty much forced to marry her, by her, her parents, his parents and he doesn't want to. Bobby is such a tragic figure, as he pleads Tony to call him, but Tony doesn't and then, as most know, he falls off the Brooklyn Bridge to his death. There is also that other subplot involving Annette as well. Overall, a great film.
John Travolta once said S.N.F. did not ignite the Disco trend it "re-ignited" it. Disco started in Italy around 1973 someone had the idea of combining dance music with classical music. By 1975 it reached the U.S. club scene. In 1977 it was on it's way out as a music fad, but the film made it popular again in clubs & now it exploded into the mainstream & became part of our pop culture.
Yes disco was declining in New York in 1977. It peaked around 1975 2 years earlier.But the movie revitalized disco it became more popular than ever. The Chic song “ Le Freak” probably was inspired by this movie for that song was released after this movie and was a huge hit for Chic.
There needs to be more context considered here because "disco" had been a largely underground music scene for Blacks, Latinos, and Gays in big cities. This film helped propel disco more to the mainstream suburban America. With that popularity came a resurgence of interest for Blacks, Latinos, and Gays.
He got that suit so cheap, and made a huge profit years later. I couldn't believe how cheap it went for when he got it. I cant remember what he paid for it.. I'd have to Google it,, but I think it was like 10, or 11 thousand, but dont quote me on that. I knew that it was gonna be worth a lot eventually. Wish I could have bought it.
Especially the racist epithets the Italian guys use against black, Hispanics and gays and women. Those guido guys in Brooklyn really do say those things
I grew up assuming the movie was complete joke because disco was looked at so poorly for a long time and this was THE disco movie. I finally watched it, almost as a goof, and was blown away but amazing it actually was. Great writing, great acting, mesmerizing scenes. SNF really has to be one of the best movies of the 1970s
Years after it came out I inherited a bunch of VHS tapes from my grandfather's collection. Saturday Night Fever was one them. I saw it and enjoyed it. 70's NYC was a pretty rough place, though, every time I see footage from the movie that really hits me.
Agree. I was too young to see it when it came out, but finally saw it in my mid 20's, and I too was very impressed with it. It was made at the height of the disco era, but around 1979, they had a disco record burning event, and suddenly disco was officially dead. Punk, and new wave took over. I was 16 years old then, and it was the end of a great era of music.
I heard that story and watched this to see if he gave it a glowing review. Not really - you can see he really liked it but you never get the sense he loved it that much. It must have needed time to grow on him.
“Saturday Night Fever” was an important moment in American popular culture. The film launched the superstar status of an actor who would dominate the the film scene for decades, John Travolta. The film sent into the stratosphere the disco movement and gave birth to clubs like the famous Studio 54 in MYC. And it relaunched and established the superstar status of The Bee Gees. In so many ways, this movie was very significant. Roger and Gene giving it their treatment while just climbing the mountain of their own celebrity status as movie reviewers is fantastic and valuable part of American film history.
Saturday Night Fever & then later Grease launched Travolta to mega stardom!! But by the 80s Travolta was somewhat of a has been & was relegated to being in a movie with a talking baby!! If it wasn't for Quentin Tarantino, Travolta would still have no career to speak of.
It's amazing that when people think of this film, they think of this family friendly dance film, but at it's core it is a dark gritty movie about a subculture that many people didn't know much about, but that's what I love about it, and I also love Roger's comment comparing it to "Rocky" which came out the year before, and Travolta even has a poster from the film in his bedroom.
Travolta did some descent 80’s movies “ Blowout”, Look Whose talking and “ Perfect” with Jamie Lee Curtis. He has had longevity that many actors don’t accomplish
I was 13 years old when the movie came out. I remember a girl on our school bus talking about seeing to everyone. I remember being so jealous, and wanting to see it so bad. Travolta was already a big star on Welcome Back Kotter. I didnt get to see the film till I was about 26 years old after renting it on VHS. It was as good as everyone said it was. Ive watched it at least a dozen times since. Man Travolta could dance, and the soundtrack is Gold! Then in 1979 a group of people had a disco record burning event. Where dozens of people brought their disco records and threw them into a fire.. Suddenly disco was officially over. Punk, and new wave took over with MTV playing it. The end of a great era. I still listen to that music today. Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and countless other great dance songs. SNF will always be the quintessential disco movie to represent that time in history. Those were some great years growing up as a teenager.
Saturday Night Fever was originally supposed to be directed by John G. Avildsen, who had just won Best Director for 'Rocky', and would later direct the original 'Karate Kid'. However, he and Travolta clashed over the character of Tony Manero. Avildsen wanted the character to be an all-around good guy, who was willing to help anyone out. Travolta, on the other hand, wanted Tony to be considerably rougher around the edges, somewhat misogynistic towards women, and with no vision of the future, except for the disco on Saturday nights. Travolta won, and Avildsen was replaced by John Badham.
YEP, but he also was the reason there is a long lost demo of Stayin' Alive with a slow bridge. It is here on UA-cam. Kind of glad he was let go from the film, but at least hired long enough for us to find a rare gem like I just mentioned in a Bee Gees song
John Badham was from rural Texas and here he directs a movie on an opposite culture about Italian Americans in the outer Boroughs of New York City. He did an amazing directing job and was surprised he did not receive an Academy Award
Avildsen had already directed the Peter Boyle drama “Joe” written by the same writer as “Saturday Night Fever” about a bitter sexist bigot with a dead end job. He didn’t have a problem with dark material, though I could see him not wanting to repeat himself.
If I remember correctly, in the early years of Video Cassettes, there actually was a PG rated cut of Saturday Night Fever actually released by Paramount.
Yes, and I seem to remember that they would play alternate versions (R and PG) at different times on HBO in the 1980s. I think that is what happened...?
I did not know that. I was 13 then, and couldn't see it in the R rating. Man I wish I knew that back then. I wanted to see that movie so bad when it came out.
Siskel & Ebert reviewed "Saturday Night Fever", "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third" on the exact same episode. "Star Wars" was a holdover as the show was on summer hiatus when George Lucas' industry changing film came out.
I saw Saturday night Fever at a neighborhood as part of a double feature with FM in 1978 .I went for FM ,but found myself liking Saturday Night Fever as well . .
Omg...had no idea it had an R rating. Watched on HBO in like 1978 or 79, my sister and I would just watch it to learn the dance moves. I was like 8 or 9.🤭
There was a PG cut that edited the swears, the raunchy scenes in the bars, streets, cars, the abortion talk, and some of the violence with the Ricans. It came out later, when people wanted a disco movie more than a Brooklyn movie.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was the very first R-rated movie I ever saw. A warm, summer night at a drive-in in my boyhood home state of Connecticut. Me in the back-seat, and my mom and older sister in the front. We came from a long-line of NATIVE New Yorkers, so many of the characters in this movie spoke and acted like my relatives. But I never had a relative as handsome as young JOHN TRAVOLTA. My very first movie-star crush. WOOF!!
“You never hit me before,” says the father to his wife. “Never. Not in front of the kids.” A rare topic in a movie, addressed in a couple of lines. Perhaps not so rare in real life? A tiny percentage of men would ever admit it. An interesting subject to research.
He was referring to his wife hitting back. She immediately rebuts with “You’re the one that’s been doing the hitting.” Which was not uncommon in households in the 70s, especially ones where divorce was considered out of the question.
Gene's favourite movie 😁 I get it. Most of us have that one favourite that we know isn't a masterpiece of impeccable art, but it resonates with us on a personal level just the same and we enjoy watching it over and over as if it's the first time we saw it
A few years back I went to an event that had two screenings of it at a local arthouse theater in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. I was able to score free tickets. I thought it would probably get a few people if they were lucky. It's an old 70's film, it was big back then who cares now? When I got there it was a madhouse. Both screenings were sold out and patrons were trying to get in. It's interesting seeing it now with a different perspective, as a middle aged man. It is more nuanced than I remembered. And oh my god the female audience members lost their damn minds everytime Travolta appeared! I just saw server after server bringing these women rounds of drinks. It was hot then I can see why it is a timeless classic now!
On my list not only favorite movies also best movies ever made. I enjoy the music, energy & dancing more than acting & that's what makes the film special. Not only boosted his career also made him movie⭐ just like stallone in ROCKY & Eddie in 48 hrs. 👍✌👌⭐⭐⭐⭐
The "slice of life" movie praise can also be put on another "little" John movie that was amazing, Urban Cowboy. Urban Cowboy is completely different from SNF, but Exactly the same.
@@k.j.paasche6523 I have read comments from Texans that they loved Urban Cowboy for it exemplified the Houston club scene in the late 1970’s especially “ Gillies”. Although Travolta is from New Jersey he took a risk playing a rural Texas Kid who moves to Houston. I think people loved Urban Cowboy as well because Debra Winger as Sissy the love interest was captivating
It looks like you chopped up segments from the same episode. Many people have been looking for this full episode for years. How did you acquire it? Do you have the complete, unchopped episode?
Well done picture belongs it is all about a Brooklyn teen who lives an aimless life by working at a low paying Paint store, has no goals set for himself, hangs out with some deadbeat friends and dances his tail away at the disco club. Until his dance partner who is goal-oriented and has advanced herself to higher goals and lives in upscale Manhattan with a career on her own. She straightens him out to reach for higher goals beyond the dance floor.
My favorite scene, line - “He hits my hay-uh” - and song from this movie (More Than a Woman by Tavares - although Stayin’ Alive is, of course, the go-to for the rate at which to perform CPR!)
Yeah that was in 1989, I kept all those special episodes they taped...plus both picked Raging Bull as their #1 film of the 80s...as time went on up to his death, Gene had went on record saying Saturday Night Fever was his favourite film at the time in the 90s....
Thanks Flashback! Gene's "slice of life" movie praise can also be put on another "little" John movie that was amazing, Urban Cowboy. Urban Cowboy is completely different from SNF, but Exactly the same.
When they are doing the Tango Hustle and the camera is in tight and then floats effortlessly back to a full shot as they turn the corner is just immaculate... all these years later it still plays like almost a dream sequence, and I'm not a fan of dance
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv Do you have any other Siskel and Ebert episodes that aren't already on the internet? Wherever you got this seems to be a rare source as it has not been on the internet before. Thanks for posting it.
@@jesse1085 2 hours ago he commented above that he found the tape and will try to salvage what he can. The tape has a review of Star Wars on it also, although it's from 7 months after it came out.
it's really odd to see how muted Mr. Siskel is on this. he liked it, obviously, but I'd never know it'd go on to be his professed favorite movie of all time.
It was R Rated but does anyone remember that they released a PG version of the film in the theaters soon after the R version? Both versions played at the same time around the country. I don't think that was ever done before or after. It's because The soundtrack and album was so huge and they wanted 10 yr old kids like me to see it. Looking at the film now, it was barely an "R" anyway. At least by today's standards.
I got to see the R rated version at 7 years old. The language (especially the use of the "C" word), the attempted rape of Stephanie, and the nude scene at the bar in the disco definitely warranted the R rating.
@@oldschoolgnrfan6035 Not too mention the rape of Annette... anything with Rape and sex scenes in general will get a R rating especially to the graphic depiction as seen in SNF
I will have to see I if I still have the tape. I believe this is the episode where they also reviewed Star Wars. From memory, I think there was something wrong....either the tape was bad or some of it was cut. I will check.
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv Thanks so much for your response and your going the extra mile! Their review has never been on UA-cam (I've searched for it ever since UA-cam was created) and you'd be the first uploader to do so if you can get that review. Good luck!
@@AlanSmitheeman I don't think they actually reviewed the film on the show, since, acording to my research, they ended the 1976-1977 season in late May.
@@patrickshields5251 They did, but it was the second review of Star Wars. This episode was from around Christmas 1977. They explain on the show how Star Wars was released again in theaters around the holidays.
@@AlanSmitheeman Found the tape. It is in rough shape. Will see what is salvageable. They review Star Wars, but make a note that it is the second time doing so. Star Wars was released again during the holidays of 1977. This episode was from around Christmas 1977.
Do you know I was 40 years old before I saw the adult version..!!! I was much too young when it came out and only saw the edited version as a double bill with Grease. I saw it a lot and knew it very well. I was horrified to see exactly what goes on in it. Prior to seeing it as it was originally shown, I just thought it was a nice film about dancing and the worst thing that happened to Annette is that Tony wouldn’t dance with her 😱
@@maddymud Nightshift is one of the most underrated comedies of all time. I saw it in the theater and it got huge laughs and a huge applause at the end.
ach, fashions change, MUSIC _Definitely_ changes, tastes change . . . but a person dancing who can _really dance_ is as timeless as water and air. for some reason, even the pelvic thrusts [!] and corny moves simply work when the dancer's seriously working it. there's something inhuman about it; actual Grace. and I'm being deeply corny myself, I know, but this is what seeing something liberating can do. it's youth, but it's also deep belief in what you're doing. dancing like that is probably the most amazing thing a person can do onscreen. you can probably tell I've never actually SEEN _Saturday Night Fever._ that's the first time I've seen that scene.
Amazing under-expected movie. I had a similar feeling before watching From Here To Eternity. Wasn't interested in a romantic movie with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr canoodling on the beach but you give in and are thankful you didn't hold firm to stupid assumptions. FHTE is gritty and brutal and heartbreaking like SNF.
No, they disagreed several times. They just didn't have the vitriol that existed in the 1980's and beyond. Even their big disagreement over 1979's "Apocalypse Now" wasn't all that emotional, at least on-air.
Poo ! That the last clip they showed cut away before John did his famous knee to the floor step in his fabulous solo... The scene when him and Stephanie are practicing to Tavares version of " More then a Woman " is one of the best, I believe they cast relatively unknown (unless you were a All My Children fan) Karen Lynn Gorney as the love interest go to Tony was because he was prettier then her... Clearly, Donna Pescow (Annette) was much more attractive then Karen. Nothing against Karen, she just didn't spark like the others, good dancing though and she had the Brooklyn accent down pat. A top favorite of mine, thanks for the upload.
That’s what I like about Karen she was overly sexy and attractive. Tony I think was attracted because she was different than the typical women in his neighborhood and was more matu
I hardly think this was Travolta's best film or performance. Staying Alive was better than Saturday Night Fever and Urban Cowboy was better than all his other movies. His best performance was Pulp Fiction- he should've won the Oscar!
lol Staying Alive has a 0% critical consensus. This movie is a masterpiece and one of the best films of the decade. I know everyone has their own opinion but that's really pushing it.
This movie always kind of bothered me. I liked how they discussed racial issues in 1970s NYC I also liked how Travolta's character came of age, realized the folly in ways and he gave the award to the Puerto Rican couple. If they had stopped the movie there, I think we could have looked back on this film as one where a tough, racist kid from Brooklyn learned his lesson, became and adult and was headed down the right path But then he raped his girlfriend and that destroyed the character's evolution. It's as if they wasted the entire 2 hours showing how much better this kid could be, but then he actually gets worse.
I thought the ending was absolutely terrible and damn near ruined the movie. A needless rape angle that made no sense. The rest of the movie was a bona fide classic tho.
The Academy back then never took the risks, hell even today they overlook a lot of minority actors and their performances and keep the Oscars white washed. But for them to even nominate Travolta with a film this Vulgar, and yes Vulgar is the correct word because cinema was evolving like crazy and was no longer the Gene Kelly musicals about rain and love boats. Movies were becoming darker more of a reflection of what was going on in America. All of this changed from the Vietnam conflict. it had America so fucked up people were expressing it in many forms to get a release. You would be surprised how dark the human mind can get and the ways it can express its darkness through a script or teleplay.
Clearly you have no taste in low budget art house films. You probably think Transformers and Avengers are the best films ever. if it is so bad, why the fuck are you here talking about it? Movie is 44 years old and here we are in 2021 and people still talk about it.
I would respect your opinion about not liking SNF with other words, but don’t come with your nonsense bullshit about considering ‘Saturday Night Fever’ one of the worst!!! Its sequel, ‘Staying Alive’ sure is one of the worst films ever made!!! SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is a TRUE MASTERPIECE!!! 🕺 End of discussion.
The dinner table scene is phenomenal.
Love that scene. "I work hard on my hair, and ya hit it". Haha!
It's like how I grew up. And I'm black and English.
This was Gene's favorite film and what a classic it is.
He even purchased John's suit from what I recall.
@@commercialzone4141 yes that's true
The film was a hit initially, but it took a while for the real masses to catch on that this wasn't a "disco" film, but a real hardcore NYC drama. The disco backlash a few years later hurt the film's rep but it came back in a big way and is known now as one of the best films of the 70s.
actually by the end of its R rated theatrical run it made $110 million dollars on a 1.5 million dollar budget.
The PG release brought in another $25 million
Totally agree, Steven. I get the disco backlash - I’m no disco fan - and yet I rewatch this movie every two years because of everything BUT the disco. This movie has a lot to say about these aimless, dead-end kids and their needs for escape. “I’m going nowhere... somebody help me...” the song goes. Damn straight they’re going nowhere, but Stephanie helps Tony see how directionless he is, and by the end of the film he wants more for himself. Great movie, disco be damned.
In the 1980s this film was a an embarrassment. I think it gained its respectability from the 1990s onwards and never looked back. That is the journey of art it as a different apperception through the ages. I think overall it is a brilliant social commentary of its time with a universal truths that appeal to all generations of young people seeking an identity etc...
@@NoName-jq7tj I knew the film in the 1980s from John Badham re-using clips of it in Short Circuit and "parodying" the dancing in it with Johnny Five.
hardcore disco film lol
Gene loved this movie so much he later purchases Travolta’s dancing disco suit
It's funny how, despite his positive review, Gene's reaction t the movie is so underplayed. In the end, it turned to be one of his favorite films, if not his number one favorite film, of all time.
Yeah, he wasn't given enough time to talk about it either. He did have it at #5 on his Top 10 for the year. But he obviously grew to love it even more.
@@citygirl5705 So much he bought the white suit and personally asked Travolta to autograph it. He said it is his most prized possession before he passed away.
I think it's because they were still a PBS show then. They had to stay calm and unemotional just like when you listen to NPR today. LOL
@@jedijones good point. I do find PBS and NPR refreshing for this very thing.
He bought Travolta`s white suit from SNF...
What I also love, besides the basic plot of a young man with an aimless life, who escapes to the disco, etc, is that the film deals with Manero's brother who has left the priesthood and the aftermath and also when Tony Manero's friend, who I want to say it's Bobby, who gets his girlfriend pregnant and is in a now-way-out situation, in that he is pretty much forced to marry her, by her, her parents, his parents and he doesn't want to. Bobby is such a tragic figure, as he pleads Tony to call him, but Tony doesn't and then, as most know, he falls off the Brooklyn Bridge to his death. There is also that other subplot involving Annette as well. Overall, a great film.
John Travolta once said S.N.F. did not ignite the Disco trend it "re-ignited" it. Disco started in Italy around 1973 someone had the idea of combining dance music with classical music. By 1975 it reached the U.S. club scene. In 1977 it was on it's way out as a music fad, but the film made it popular again in clubs & now it exploded into the mainstream & became part of our pop culture.
Yes disco was declining in New York in 1977. It peaked around 1975 2 years earlier.But the movie revitalized disco it became more popular than ever. The Chic song “ Le Freak” probably was inspired by this movie for that song was released after this movie and was a huge hit for Chic.
There needs to be more context considered here because "disco" had been a largely underground music scene for Blacks, Latinos, and Gays in big cities. This film helped propel disco more to the mainstream suburban America. With that popularity came a resurgence of interest for Blacks, Latinos, and Gays.
interesting to think that one day Gene would buy and sell John Travolta's iconic white suit from the movie.
He got that suit so cheap, and made a huge profit years later. I couldn't believe how cheap it went for when he got it. I cant remember what he paid for it.. I'd have to Google it,, but I think it was like 10, or 11 thousand, but dont quote me on that. I knew that it was gonna be worth a lot eventually. Wish I could have bought it.
The movie was great because of the dialogue and of course the music. It just felt real even though most people weren't familiar with their world.
Especially the racist epithets the Italian guys use against black, Hispanics and gays and women. Those guido guys in Brooklyn really do say those things
I grew up assuming the movie was complete joke because disco was looked at so poorly for a long time and this was THE disco movie. I finally watched it, almost as a goof, and was blown away but amazing it actually was. Great writing, great acting, mesmerizing scenes. SNF really has to be one of the best movies of the 1970s
Same exact reaction that I had 🕺🏻
This is probably the only time an iconic image from a film negatively impacts it's own legacy.
The only people 'looking down' on disco were insecure white boys who couldn't dance.
Years after it came out I inherited a bunch of VHS tapes from my grandfather's collection. Saturday Night Fever was one them. I saw it and enjoyed it. 70's NYC was a pretty rough place, though, every time I see footage from the movie that really hits me.
Agree. I was too young to see it when it came out, but finally saw it in my mid 20's, and I too was very impressed with it. It was made at the height of the disco era, but around 1979, they had a disco record burning event, and suddenly disco was officially dead. Punk, and new wave took over. I was 16 years old then, and it was the end of a great era of music.
I love these old reviews thanks for uploading this
One of Siskels favorite movies. In fact I read he had bought the famous Travolta White Suit
I believe it was his favorite movie ever actually and he did in fact buy the famous white suit John wore in the movie.
@@Keezie27 Btw, it was too small for him.
Yes he did
@@Keezie27 The film that ignited the Disco era
I heard that story and watched this to see if he gave it a glowing review. Not really - you can see he really liked it but you never get the sense he loved it that much. It must have needed time to grow on him.
“Saturday Night Fever” was an important moment in American popular culture. The film launched the superstar status of an actor who would dominate the the film scene for decades, John Travolta. The film sent into the stratosphere the disco movement and gave birth to clubs like the famous Studio 54 in MYC. And it relaunched and established the superstar status of The Bee Gees. In so many ways, this movie was very significant. Roger and Gene giving it their treatment while just climbing the mountain of their own celebrity status as movie reviewers is fantastic and valuable part of American film history.
Saturday Night Fever & then later Grease launched Travolta to mega stardom!! But by the 80s Travolta was somewhat of a has been & was relegated to being in a movie with a talking baby!! If it wasn't for Quentin Tarantino, Travolta would still have no career to speak of.
It's amazing that when people think of this film, they think of this family friendly dance film, but at it's core it is a dark gritty movie about a subculture that many people didn't know much about, but that's what I love about it, and I also love Roger's comment comparing it to "Rocky" which came out the year before, and Travolta even has a poster from the film in his bedroom.
Travolta did some descent 80’s movies “ Blowout”, Look Whose talking and “ Perfect” with Jamie Lee Curtis. He has had longevity that many actors don’t accomplish
Unbelievable that they actually both agreed on a film being good.
Say what you want about Travolta
Dude’s got moves on moves
In the Italian and many Latino/European communities around the world... he is a GOD!
Thanks for uploading this, just knowing that this was one of Gene's favorite films, makes it even more special
Siskel was such a huge fan of the movie he even bought Travolta's white disco suit worn in the film
"He hits my heyr" That's always been my favorite line in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.
I was 13 years old when the movie came out. I remember a girl on our school bus talking about seeing to everyone. I remember being so jealous, and wanting to see it so bad. Travolta was already a big star on Welcome Back Kotter. I didnt get to see the film till I was about 26 years old after renting it on VHS. It was as good as everyone said it was. Ive watched it at least a dozen times since. Man Travolta could dance, and the soundtrack is Gold! Then in 1979 a group of people had a disco record burning event. Where dozens of people brought their disco records and threw them into a fire.. Suddenly disco was officially over. Punk, and new wave took over with MTV playing it. The end of a great era. I still listen to that music today. Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and countless other great dance songs. SNF will always be the quintessential disco movie to represent that time in history.
Those were some great years growing up as a teenager.
Saturday Night Fever was originally supposed to be directed by John G. Avildsen, who had just won Best Director for 'Rocky', and would later direct the original 'Karate Kid'. However, he and Travolta clashed over the character of Tony Manero. Avildsen wanted the character to be an all-around good guy, who was willing to help anyone out. Travolta, on the other hand, wanted Tony to be considerably rougher around the edges, somewhat misogynistic towards women, and with no vision of the future, except for the disco on Saturday nights.
Travolta won, and Avildsen was replaced by John Badham.
YEP, but he also was the reason there is a long lost demo of Stayin' Alive with a slow bridge. It is here on UA-cam. Kind of glad he was let go from the film, but at least hired long enough for us to find a rare gem like I just mentioned in a Bee Gees song
John Badham was from rural Texas and here he directs a movie on an opposite culture about Italian Americans in the outer Boroughs of New York City. He did an amazing directing job and was surprised he did not receive an Academy Award
Avildsen had already directed the Peter Boyle drama “Joe” written by the same writer as “Saturday Night Fever” about a bitter sexist bigot with a dead end job. He didn’t have a problem with dark material, though I could see him not wanting to repeat himself.
If I remember correctly, in the early years of Video Cassettes, there actually was a PG rated cut of Saturday Night Fever actually released by Paramount.
Yes, and I seem to remember that they would play alternate versions (R and PG) at different times on HBO in the 1980s. I think that is what happened...?
Actually, when the movie was still in theaters, they released a PG version ( at the theaters) then, to help get more viewers to go see it.
@@mikestone7651 exactly, so the younger fans could get in to see it...
And in 2017 a director's cut was released on 4K that's 3 minutes longer than the original.
I did not know that. I was 13 then, and couldn't see it in the R rating. Man I wish I knew that back then. I wanted to see that movie so bad when it came out.
Siskel & Ebert reviewed "Saturday Night Fever", "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third" on the exact same episode. "Star Wars" was a holdover as the show was on summer hiatus when George Lucas' industry changing film came out.
What a year. All Great movies.
When Travolta walks on the dance floor he commands the stage !
I saw Saturday night Fever at a neighborhood as part of a double feature with FM in 1978 .I went for FM ,but found myself liking Saturday Night Fever as well . .
That’s a great double feature.
FM was a good movie too.
Roger really picked up his energy and his game by this season -- watch the review of Taxi Driver, I thought he was going to fall asleep
They were trying not to over-excite aging PBS viewers.
Omg...had no idea it had an R rating. Watched on HBO in like 1978 or 79, my sister and I would just watch it to learn the dance moves. I was like 8 or 9.🤭
There was a PG cut that edited the swears, the raunchy scenes in the bars, streets, cars, the abortion talk, and some of the violence with the Ricans. It came out later, when people wanted a disco movie more than a Brooklyn movie.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was the very first R-rated movie I ever saw. A warm, summer night at a drive-in in my boyhood home state of Connecticut. Me in the back-seat, and my mom and older sister in the front. We came from a long-line of NATIVE New Yorkers, so many of the characters in this movie spoke and acted like my relatives. But I never had a relative as handsome as young JOHN TRAVOLTA. My very first movie-star crush. WOOF!!
That guy could really tear up a dance floor!
Thanks for the upload! This edition of the show was previously unavailable anywhere. "He hits my hair!" Great memories!
I wish the remainder 1976-1978 episodes are uploaded on UA-cam.
he hits my hair lolol
“You never hit me before,” says the father to his wife. “Never. Not in front of the kids.” A rare topic in a movie, addressed in a couple of lines. Perhaps not so rare in real life? A tiny percentage of men would ever admit it. An interesting subject to research.
brilliant observation.
This movie hit home on the realism of living in NYC in the 70's. Disco dancing clubs were one outlet of escapism.
That’s a great point...
He was referring to his wife hitting back. She immediately rebuts with “You’re the one that’s been doing the hitting.” Which was not uncommon in households in the 70s, especially ones where divorce was considered out of the question.
Gene's favourite movie 😁
I get it. Most of us have that one favourite that we know isn't a masterpiece of impeccable art, but it resonates with us on a personal level just the same and we enjoy watching it over and over as if it's the first time we saw it
Great review, great movie!👍😁
A few years back I went to an event that had two screenings of it at a local arthouse theater in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. I was able to score free tickets. I thought it would probably get a few people if they were lucky. It's an old 70's film, it was big back then who cares now? When I got there it was a madhouse. Both screenings were sold out and patrons were trying to get in. It's interesting seeing it now with a different perspective, as a middle aged man. It is more nuanced than I remembered. And oh my god the female audience members lost their damn minds everytime Travolta appeared! I just saw server after server bringing these women rounds of drinks. It was hot then I can see why it is a timeless classic now!
If you went home alone that night than you wasted those tickets
It was probably an atmosphere like “ Magic Mike” the male stripper movie
On my list not only favorite movies also best movies ever made. I enjoy the music, energy & dancing more than acting & that's what makes the film special. Not only boosted his career also made him movie⭐ just like stallone in ROCKY & Eddie in 48 hrs. 👍✌👌⭐⭐⭐⭐
The "slice of life" movie praise can also be put on another "little" John movie that was amazing, Urban Cowboy. Urban Cowboy is completely different from SNF, but Exactly the same.
@@k.j.paasche6523 I have read comments from Texans that they loved Urban Cowboy for it exemplified the Houston club scene in the late 1970’s especially “ Gillies”. Although Travolta is from New Jersey he took a risk playing a rural Texas Kid who moves to Houston. I think people loved Urban Cowboy as well because Debra Winger as Sissy the love interest was captivating
Oh, I LOVE this!
I always loved this movie I watched it over a million times through the years
Saturday night fever a classic
And I ll watch it a million times more
The dance sequence is from a different camera angle. At 3:50 this part gets cut in the original as well as the angle change. Interesting
Great movie, great soundtrack....!!
People that haven't seen assume it's only about disco dancing....how wrong they are. A dark and fun masterwork
It looks like you chopped up segments from the same episode. Many people have been looking for this full episode for years. How did you acquire it? Do you have the complete, unchopped episode?
Watched them on KPBS, San Diego!
Pork chops and spaghetti....gotta try that.
That is a typical Italian dinner on a Saturday
It's pretty common.
@@k.j.paasche6523 With a Mary Ann coconut cream pie for dessert.
Also, "Pork chips and applesauce ". In a Humphrey Bogart voice, haha.
Little did they know how big it would get
Well done picture belongs it is all about a Brooklyn teen who lives an aimless life by working at a low paying Paint store, has no goals set for himself, hangs out with some deadbeat friends and dances his tail away at the disco club. Until his dance partner who is goal-oriented and has advanced herself to higher goals and lives in upscale Manhattan with a career on her own. She straightens him out to reach for higher goals beyond the dance floor.
My favorite scene, line - “He hits my hay-uh” - and song from this movie (More Than a Woman by Tavares - although Stayin’ Alive is, of course, the go-to for the rate at which to perform CPR!)
We've heard this was Gene's favourite film. But in 1989 he said that Raging Bull was his pick of films since he started the show with Roger.
He actually bought the suit Travolta wear.
Yeah that was in 1989, I kept all those special episodes they taped...plus both picked Raging Bull as their #1 film of the 80s...as time went on up to his death, Gene had went on record saying Saturday Night Fever was his favourite film at the time in the 90s....
@@hevyonez97 He may have distinguished between favorite film and best film.
Thanks Flashback!
Gene's "slice of life" movie praise can also be put on another "little" John movie that was amazing, Urban Cowboy.
Urban Cowboy is completely different from SNF, but Exactly the same.
When they are doing the Tango Hustle and the camera is in tight and then floats effortlessly back to a full shot as they turn the corner is just immaculate... all these years later it still plays like almost a dream sequence, and I'm not a fan of dance
The story was all done much earlier in the British film 'Saturday Night - Sunday Morning' starring Albert Finney, just without the dancing.
awesome
Best movie all time
ty!!!
No slapping at the dinner table- that's the rule.
YEAH RIGHT... Italians make a lot of rules and promises they WILL NOT keep.
Sister more than liked SNF, he bought Travoltas White disco suit. This movie is iconic.
RIP to the kings of movie critics gene and roger
Thank you for posting this rarity. Do you happen to have the rest of the episode?
I will check
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv Thanks
Hi, any updates?
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv Do you have any other Siskel and Ebert episodes that aren't already on the internet? Wherever you got this seems to be a rare source as it has not been on the internet before. Thanks for posting it.
@@jesse1085 2 hours ago he commented above that he found the tape and will try to salvage what he can. The tape has a review of Star Wars on it also, although it's from 7 months after it came out.
I revisited Mean Streets, and I thought SNF had similar elements , it's almost a sequel,
it's really odd to see how muted Mr. Siskel is on this. he liked it, obviously, but I'd never know it'd go on to be his professed favorite movie of all time.
I liked to watch Gene and Roger’s show more than most of the movies they reviewed. Never understood their attraction to Woody Allen or Roger Moore....
I thought Siskel didn't like Moore. Woody Allen was extremely popular with a lot of people through the '60s to the '90s.
I checked and Siskel liked 3 of Moore's Bond movies, disliked 3 and doesn't appear to have reviewed the 7th one.
The disco floor sells at auction once in a great while with provenance.
The You should be dancing scene is the original one shot master.
It was R Rated but does anyone remember that they released a PG version of the film in the theaters soon after the R version? Both versions played at the same time around the country. I don't think that was ever done before or after. It's because The soundtrack and album was so huge and they wanted 10 yr old kids like me to see it. Looking at the film now, it was barely an "R" anyway. At least by today's standards.
Wikipedia says they had to take the R one out of theaters first before putting in the PG one because of MPAA rules. The PG one debuted in 1979.
I got to see the R rated version at 7 years old. The language (especially the use of the "C" word), the attempted rape of Stephanie, and the nude scene at the bar in the disco definitely warranted the R rating.
@@jedijones I don't know how to fight wikipedia but I am 100% that both versions (for a time) were playing at the same time.
@@oldschoolgnrfan6035 Not too mention the rape of Annette... anything with Rape and sex scenes in general will get a R rating especially to the graphic depiction as seen in SNF
I was 10 and lucky enough to see the R rated in the theaters. The PG doesn’t do it justice
You should upload more Siskel and Ebert reviews if you have more. BTW, it's Gene Siskel, not John.
Thanks!
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv You're welcome.
I would love to see SNEAK PREVIEWS for STAR WARS. I've never seen it so if you have that vintage 1977 clip, please upload it!
I will have to see I if I still have the tape. I believe this is the episode where they also reviewed Star Wars. From memory, I think there was something wrong....either the tape was bad or some of it was cut. I will check.
@@ssVHSFlashback-ei2xv Thanks so much for your response and your going the extra mile! Their review has never been on UA-cam (I've searched for it ever since UA-cam was created) and you'd be the first uploader to do so if you can get that review. Good luck!
@@AlanSmitheeman I don't think they actually reviewed the film on the show, since, acording to my research, they ended the 1976-1977 season in late May.
@@patrickshields5251 They did, but it was the second review of Star Wars. This episode was from around Christmas 1977. They explain on the show how Star Wars was released again in theaters around the holidays.
@@AlanSmitheeman Found the tape. It is in rough shape. Will see what is salvageable. They review Star Wars, but make a note that it is the second time doing so. Star Wars was released again during the holidays of 1977. This episode was from around Christmas 1977.
Who’s the artists on that version of “More Than A Woman”?
Tavares
1:32...ONE PORK CHOP...ONE!!!..5:09..GENE CORRECTLY POINTS OUT THAT IT IS AN R RATED MOVIE...THERE WAS STILL A PROPRIETARY CONCERN FOR TEENAGERS...
I was 13 then, and so mad I couldn't go see it.
Do you know I was 40 years old before I saw the adult version..!!! I was much too young when it came out and only saw the edited version as a double bill with Grease. I saw it a lot and knew it very well. I was horrified to see exactly what goes on in it. Prior to seeing it as it was originally shown, I just thought it was a nice film about dancing and the worst thing that happened to Annette is that Tony wouldn’t dance with her 😱
Good movie
What was the "breakout" Hanry Winkler movie he referenced? I remember all of his post Happy Days stuff as forgetable.
Heroes
@@tojo4 YES...HEROES (1977)...WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE ONE AND ONLY (1978)...I SAW THEM BOTH...FINE MATINEE FARE!!!
He was great in Night Shift with Shelly Long and this Michael Keaton fella
Heroes
@@maddymud Nightshift is one of the most underrated comedies of all time. I saw it in the theater and it got huge laughs and a huge applause at the end.
ach, fashions change, MUSIC _Definitely_ changes, tastes change . . . but a person dancing who can _really dance_ is as timeless as water and air. for some reason, even the pelvic thrusts [!] and corny moves simply work when the dancer's seriously working it. there's something inhuman about it; actual Grace. and I'm being deeply corny myself, I know, but this is what seeing something liberating can do.
it's youth, but it's also deep belief in what you're doing. dancing like that is probably the most amazing thing a person can do onscreen.
you can probably tell I've never actually SEEN _Saturday Night Fever._ that's the first time I've seen that scene.
Amazing under-expected movie. I had a similar feeling before watching From Here To Eternity. Wasn't interested in a romantic movie with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr canoodling on the beach but you give in and are thankful you didn't hold firm to stupid assumptions. FHTE is gritty and brutal and heartbreaking like SNF.
The never disagreed in the early years.
No, they disagreed several times. They just didn't have the vitriol that existed in the 1980's and beyond. Even their big disagreement over 1979's "Apocalypse Now" wasn't all that emotional, at least on-air.
🤗
One porkchop! 🥩
That couple does not fall in love. He's in lust, she's in friend zone.
I’ll never forget when Grease came out a year later and they put it on a double feature with Saturday Night Fever. People lost their shit.
Then Urban Cowboy comes out in 1980 that was the Texas Cowboy version of SNF
The best thing about the movie is the scene in Airplane! that it inspired.
That was hilarious.
Poo ! That the last clip they showed cut away before John did his famous knee to the floor step in his fabulous solo...
The scene when him and Stephanie are practicing to Tavares version of " More then a Woman " is one of the best, I believe they cast relatively unknown (unless you were a All My Children fan) Karen Lynn Gorney as the love interest go to Tony
was because he was prettier then her...
Clearly, Donna Pescow (Annette) was much more attractive then Karen.
Nothing against Karen, she just didn't spark like the others, good dancing though and she had the Brooklyn accent down pat.
A top favorite of mine, thanks for the upload.
That’s what I like about Karen she was overly sexy and attractive. Tony I think was attracted because she was different than the typical women in his neighborhood and was more matu
I hardly think this was Travolta's best film or performance. Staying Alive was better than Saturday Night Fever and Urban Cowboy was better than all his other movies. His best performance was Pulp Fiction- he should've won the Oscar!
lol Staying Alive has a 0% critical consensus. This movie is a masterpiece and one of the best films of the decade. I know everyone has their own opinion but that's really pushing it.
‘Staying Alive’ is fucking awful!!! ‘Saturday Night Fever’ should have never had a sequel!!!
PBS
This movie always kind of bothered me. I liked how they discussed racial issues in 1970s NYC I also liked how Travolta's character came of age, realized the folly in ways and he gave the award to the Puerto Rican couple. If they had stopped the movie there, I think we could have looked back on this film as one where a tough, racist kid from Brooklyn learned his lesson, became and adult and was headed down the right path
But then he raped his girlfriend and that destroyed the character's evolution. It's as if they wasted the entire 2 hours showing how much better this kid could be, but then he actually gets worse.
L Ron Hubbard gave it 5 sodas
The ending was not good in any way. Badham was a TV director & it showed. Many scenes look like scenes from late 70s TV shows.
They spend too much time showing footage instead of talking about it, that's always been a pet peeve of mine.
I thought the ending was absolutely terrible and damn near ruined the movie. A needless rape angle that made no sense. The rest of the movie was a bona fide classic tho.
the movie had no real direction sub plots that made no sense best part of the movie was dont hit my hair scene
The dinner table scene is very offensive to Italian-Americans, like myself.
Just because these Italian families exists doesn't mean it's your family, stop being so sensitive and don't take things too personal
I liked it. So did my late father.
They should be acting more like the Corleones
Ok, Joe Biden voter!
Ah, forget about it.
Can you believe Richard Dryfuss wins best actor this year for that lame performance over Travolta?
The Academy back then never took the risks, hell even today they overlook a lot of minority actors and their performances and keep the Oscars white washed.
But for them to even nominate Travolta with a film this Vulgar, and yes Vulgar is the correct word because cinema was evolving like crazy and was no longer the Gene Kelly musicals about rain and love boats. Movies were becoming darker more of a reflection of what was going on in America. All of this changed from the Vietnam conflict. it had America so fucked up people were expressing it in many forms to get a release.
You would be surprised how dark the human mind can get and the ways it can express its darkness through a script or teleplay.
Was that for Close Encounters?
I HATED THIS MOVIE. They didn't show the parts about the promiscuity; and the talks about ABORTION, AND ALL THE OTHER GARBAGE THAT'S IN THIS FILM.
SNF was an awful film
You’re fucking kidding right?! If you could change SNF to SA, that would make much more sense
This is one of the worst films ever made. This clip proves it.
Clearly you have no taste in low budget art house films.
You probably think Transformers and Avengers are the best films ever.
if it is so bad, why the fuck are you here talking about it? Movie is 44 years old and here we are in 2021 and people still talk about it.
I would respect your opinion about not liking SNF with other words, but don’t come with your nonsense bullshit about considering ‘Saturday Night Fever’ one of the worst!!! Its sequel, ‘Staying Alive’ sure is one of the worst films ever made!!!
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is a TRUE MASTERPIECE!!! 🕺
End of discussion.