Burnsreview continues to ably summarize the film and set the scene for its final act: The slender thread of a plot follows Tonys attempts to woo Stephanie into being his partner in a local dance contest, but shes outgrown guys like him. To win Stephanie, Tony invites her to be his partner in his local clubs annual dance contest. In adittion we can also listen to the beautiful song \"I'm Never Gonna Give You Up\", performed by Cynthia and Frank Stallone.\r\r\rSong:\r\rI'm never gonna give you up (Cynthia Rhodes and Frank Stallone)\r\r\rI need to know someone\rWhose warmer than the sunshine\rCould be that you're the one for me\r\rOhh, you touch me deeper darling\rAll my emotions started\rCome to me now and you will see\r\rAnd I'm never gonna give you up for someone else's love\rNever gonna let you go and lose the one I love\rAhh tonight, tonight\r\rSome people never know the\rTrue magic of the moonlight\rYou give me everything I need\r\rWoman, you really know me\rAnticipation's growing\rCome to me now so you will see\r\rThat I'm never gonna give you up for someone else's love\rNever gonna let you go and lose the one I love\rAhh tonight, tonight\r\rOhhh, ahhh, ohhh\rOhh Forever will, together strong\rWoah, together here, forever here in love\r\rNever gonna give you up for someone else's love\rNever gonna let you go and lose the one I love\rNever gonna give you up for someone else's love\rNever gonna let you go\rNo one else's love\rNever, never, never\rNo one else's love\rnever, never, never\rNo one else's love\r\r[fading]\rNever gonna give you up for someone else's love\rNever gonna let you go and lose the one I love Well, except maybe for that index-fingers-tour-my-crotch bit. Badham clearly shot multiple takes, but he, along with editor David Rawlins, successfully creates the illusion of a continuous performance by consistently cutting on action. 80s Fashion Inspiration Courtesy of Olivia Newton-John Michael Jacksons influence in the 80s: from fashion to music, From Dirty Dancing to Dynasty: The Nostalgic Looks of the Eighties Silver Screen, 12 Best Madonna 1980s Outfits & Styling Tips, 80s Fashion Tips from Style Icon Elizabeth Taylor, Subcultures of the 1980s That Inspired Mens Fashion, The Definitive Guide to 80s Fashion Brands, 80s Fashion Trends That Inspired The 90s, Where Culture Meets Fashion: The Best Japanese Styles of the Eighties, 84 Trends and Fads that Every 80s Kid will Remember. Im just a little too young to know whether people at discos would actually step aside and watch the best dancers do their thing (that seems implausibly cordial), but it makes for a show-stopping sequenceespecially after all those bodies get out of the way of the multi-colored dance floor, which has its own signature moves via lighting. Rather than pure white, Tonys three-piece disco suit is closer to ivory though the plastic buttons on the jacket and vest are pure white, as is the satin-finished lining on the inside of the jacket and back of the vest. We, AOL, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Tony and Stephanies much-rehearsed routine pays off during their minutes of glory at 2001. Paul Kennedy is Editorial Director of the Collectibles Group at AIM Media. John Travolta, in full John Joseph Travolta, (born February 18, 1954, Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.), American actor and singer who was a cultural icon of the 1970s, especially known for roles in the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79) and the blockbuster film Saturday Night Fever (1977). In every other instance, however, the cut is seamless, occurring in the middle of a particular move thats still in progress when the angle changes. Initially, Travolta and Badham had envisioned Tony taking to the dance floor in a sleek black suit, but Von Brandenstein encouraged them to go with a white suit instead. Men's formalwear has changed a lot over the years. December 12, 2019 at 5:20 PM. Its made up of 14 separate shots. Arguably, its the most important tool of all. Five years ago, I rewatchedSaturday Night Fever and was disgusted by the misogyny and racism of the characters, perhaps out of embarrassment that these were characters with whom I was once able to identify without recognizing these awful traits. John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney in an iconic promotional image for Saturday Night Fever (1977). Make your patio the place to beThis 7-piece outdoor sectional furniture set is marked down from $900 to $600 on Amazon right now. The white suit Travolta wears for the films climactic dance contest instantly became iconic, as did many of the movies shots and set pieces. Manufactured by Pascal of Spain, the shirt itself is black polyester and striped with double sets of white-stitched broken stripes. Staying Alive (1983) John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes It can also achieve almost subliminal effects that an extended single take cant. The trousers rise high with the beltless waistband, which was reported to be a size 28 in V&As release (as posted on Dazeen). Three-piece suits have also made a comeback, with many men choosing to go for the historic look of a vest beneath their suit jacket. Five years later, Tony Manero's Saturday Night Fever is still burning. Tony wears a thick gold ring with a dark rectangular flush-set stone on the third finger of his left hand, traditionally a finger reserved for wedding rings though this certainly is not that. Look no further than the classic three-piece white suit worn by John Travolta in his Academy Award-nominated role in the 1977 disco blockbuster Saturday Night Feverwhich sold for $260,000 at Julien's Auction April 23. 2012-2023 BAMF Style. (According to the DVD commentary, Travolta actually had two identical suits for the dance sequence; after performing (and sweating profusely) in one, he would switch into a second while the other suit dried.). John Travolta in the iconic . From his bad boy ensemble in Grease to his white tux in Staying Alive, check out this list of 1980s outfit inspiration courtesy of John Travolta. This film launched John Travolta into superstardom and for good reason. Fashion of the 1970s is often caricatured today due to its excess, but Von Brandenstein was able to authentically reflect contemporary fashions using all sourced clothing, essentially also creating a time machine to inform todays viewers that yes, people actually did wear silky floral shirts and pink pants or voluminous faux-fur coats. The film is far from perfect, commented Roger Ebert in his four-star review, which itself masterfully explores what givesSaturday Night Fever such appeal seemingly despite itself. Love the Eighties Then Check Out These Iconic Trends Now! Film note: Saturday Night Fever is going to be a very popular motion picture, especially with the teen-age audience. One would be remiss to discussSaturday Night Fever without exploring its best-selling soundtrack, anchored by the Bee Gees but also featuring tracks from KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, The Trammps, Yvonne Elliman, and more. Be aware: This film is spiked with graphic sex and violence. Unlike, say, the bone-to-spaceship cut in 2001: A Space Odyssey (which Id also use), its not creating an idea by juxtaposing two different things. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The suit was put up for auction over the weekend as part of the Hollywood: Classics and Contemporary collection organised by Juliens Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (owned by Warner Bros Discovery). Travolta himself thinks so and tried to have it changed. They both are remarkable! Tony correctly leaves the lowest button undone at the notched bottom. Saturday Night Fever Stayin' Alive. my argument against one of Alfonso Cuarns complicated single-take shots. Would it have been effective that way? Tony is at the center of the frame in both shots, but this sudden shift in angle has a galvanizing effect that moving the camera in real time from the first position to the second couldnt possibly achieve. Shot seven pulls Tony the length of the dance floor, watches him do his little box shuffle (the same steps performed in the four compass directions), then shifts to the classic hip-and-point move that defines disco dancing more than any other. . But the main story of Saturday Night Fever is what Manero is going to decide to do with his life. More Than a Woman was one of several songs that the Bee Gees wrote and performed originally for the film, with the three-stage recording beginning in February 1977 in France and wrapping up seven months later in an L.A. studio. Saturday Night Fever 3.5 stars (out of 4). Eventually, on the dance floor of the disco, in one of the films climactic scenes their relationship will change. Lets face it, Danny Zukos look never really went out of style, which makes it so easy to replicate today! Didnt realise until recently that the inspiration for Tony Manero was a Shepherds Bush (West London) mod acquaintance of the writer Nik Cohn in his sixties youth (Tribal rites of the New Saturday Night) Tony (Travolta) sees an opportunity to replace the lead male dancer at the show and asks Jackie (Rhodes) to help him succeed, by rehearsing with him. Yours truly had also made it a personal mission to find a similar suit (no need to track down one of Travoltas!) In its own way, its almost as spectacular as Travoltas performance.). In life, Tony is a peasant; on the disco dance floor, he's a king. . To overly simplify, mise-en-scne refers to the composition of an individual shot, while montage refers to how contiguous shots relate to one another. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I think it fits with several other films about class, disillusionment and youth subcultures, including Quadrephenia and This is England.As Jon points out, Tony was based on a friend of Nik Cohn, though in fact the whole film was based on a fabricated magazine article. Saturday Night Fever movie clips: http://j.mp/1uxViw8BUY THE MOVIE: http://amzn.to/udnQ32Don't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6prCLIP DESCRIPTION:The dance floor is cleared as Tony (John Travolta) and Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) work their disco moves.FILM DESCRIPTION:John Travolta graduated from minor celebrity to superstar with Saturday Night Fever. Travolta wears the button at the top of the point collar unbuttoned as well as the two buttons under it, exposinghis gold jewelry and chest hair. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. Most of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers routines were shot from a fixed distance, without cuts, and theyre all glorious. Travolta is really dancing, and director John Badhams staging of the sequence reflects thatTravoltas not being hidden by a flurry of quick cuts, as todays stars tend to be when they attempt something like this. Diana's dress was an "off-the-shoulder . The job pays barely enough to keep Tony in boots, tight pants, and rayon-slick shirts. They will do battle in the film with a Puerto Rican gang. This 7-piece outdoor sectional furniture set is marked down from $900 to $600 on Amazon right now. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. To be sure, Saturday Night Fever has its weaknesses. Moving to Manhattan and taking night classes, Stephanie is trying to better herself and it is very much to the credit of [Norman] Wexlers script that shes stumbling every step of the way. In the end, the movie, which waswas shot entirely on-location in Brooklyn,is foreverassociated with Travolta swaggering down the street to the insistent throb of The Bee Gees Staying Alive.. And, at the very beginning of the film, Travolta seemingly puts on a false, guttural deese, dem, and dose accent that smacks of Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront. The accent disappears in later scenes, and Travolta told the Tribune that he had a cold on the day they shot that opening dialog scene. The ideal style of a disco dancers trousers was to keep them as tight around the hips as possible, so theres nary a pleat to be found on these flat front trousers. Tony (Travolta) sees an opportunity to replace the lead male dancer at the show and asks Jackie (Rhodes) to help him succeed, by rehearsing with him. John Travolta's celebrated solo dance routine in Saturday Night Fever is a perfect example. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The brewery expanded throughout the 20th century, eventually closing the Brooklyn plant in January 1976, selling out to the Stroh Brewery Company five years later. However, Id like to take another stab at a defense of montage, which Im not using in the Team America sense (In anything, if you want to go / From just a beginner to a pro / You need a montage / Even Rocky had a montage), but in opposition to that oft-confusing French term mise-en-scne. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Tony is remarkably cruel to Connie (played by the young Fran Drescher, with comparatively mild accent and nasal delivery), who comes on way too strong but doesnt necessarily deserve to be openly insulted. When I was in tenth grade, I finally hit pay dirt at a local Goodwill store when I found an ivory three-piece suit, no doubt from the 70s and constructed in 100% polyester la Manero with a single-breasted peak-lapel jacket, five-button waistcoat, and beltless trousers with flared bottoms. NBC edited just 30 seconds from this film for its 1987 network television premiere. The primary rebuttal in the comments was that conventional editing would have dissipated the sense of helplessness that overwhelms the scenethat a cut, in essence, lets the viewer off the hook to some degree. Saturday Night Fever is a lot rougher and more real than we might expect it to be. BAMF Style aims to explore interesting and iconic mens style in movies, TV, and real life. OK, it doesn't have the magic of its predecessor "Saturday Night Fever", but it works as an "80's point of view" of the original film. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Copy. with Tony literally strutting to "Stayin' Alive" in the opening credits taking a very . Its a medium-defining momentif I were trying to demonstrate what cinema is to someone with no knowledge of it whatsoever, that cut is one of the examples Id use. It has nothing to do with "Saturday Night Fever" but the main character Tony Manero (once again played by John Travolta) and his mother (Julie Bovasso) in a brief appearance. Hes through with high school and is now a stock boy in a paint store. He avoids the issue by living for Saturday night, for the night he gets into his dancing duds and strolls into his local disco as if he were a king. The shirt has steeply mitred cuffs that close through one of two buttons; Tony wears his cuffs on the inner button for a looser fit around the wrists. For the affair, Travolta donned a classic black tux with a bow tie. Premiering in theaters on Dec. 16, 1977 . So what went into this iconic clothing moment that clearly affected so many viewers? In the 30th anniversary retrospective published byVanity Fair in 2007, cast member Paul Pape fondly recalls accompanying costume designer Patrizia Von Brandenstein to Times Square to shop for the characters clothing and accessories. Having grown up in a household that was totally taken over by 80s music and fashion its only natural that May lives and breathes the 80s! (1980), Of course, Gene Siskel had calledSaturday Night Fever his favorite movie of all time and owned one of Travoltas screen-worn suits for 17 years before selling it for $145,000 at a Christies auction in 1995. The movie's 2001 Odyssey Disco was a real club located at 802 64th Street. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. Photo by Towpilot CC by 3.0. Eberts review mentions that he once had the opportunity to inspect theSaturday Night Fever suit that Siskel had in his possession and he noticed that it came with a shirt that buttoned under the crotch, so it would still look neat after a night on the dance floor. The Christies auction listing elaborates on this device, explaining that the shirt was attached to the waistband of the trousers with an elastic fabric; this allowed Mr. Travolta the freedom to dance and strike his now legendary poses.. The vest also has two narrowly welted lower pockets between the axis of the third and fourth buttons. Before I get to the technical stuff, let me say a word in praise of how this scene is constructed dramatically, which applies equally well to the film as a whole. Within a year, Siskel purchased the suit at a charity auction for $2,000, and it would be one of his most prized possessions until 1995 when it sold to an anonymous bidder at a Christies auction in 1995. "Staying Alive," a line dance that appeared in the 1977 movie, Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta. Does it get any more timeless than that? Its no accident they end up dancing to The Bee Gees More Than a Woman, because Stephanies more than a [dame] to Tony, shes a life raft. I just found it today, but Im sure to be a regular reader. But Saturday Night Fever, a very good new movie, makes a sucker out of that old producer because Saturday Night Fever makes good moviemaking seem easy. As the soundtrack plays one Bee Gees hit after another (including \"Stayin' Alive\"), we watch white-suited Tony strut his stuff amidst flashing lights and sweaty, undulating bodies. Unless youre looking for the edits (as you likely were just watching that clip, because Id raised the subject), most of them likely escape conscious notice. Though no self respecting mod would be found dead in the a white polyester suit. Cutting is frequently perceived as lazy at best, crass and obnoxious at worstand it can be, just as any other technique can be when poorly applied. Its very much about a youngster staying alive and flirting with violence. Nadoolman wasnt the only one falling in love, as Tonys final dance with Stephanie seems to finally win her affection at least for the moment. Its a potent reminderjust one of manythat these characters use the disco as a means of escaping their otherwise frustrating existence, and the fact that You Should Be Dancing can still be clearly heard in the background, as Frank tells Bobby that the Pope isnt going to rescue him from his problem, is no mere happenstance. I don't understand why critics always scorn this film. As an Amazon Associate, Kutoku affiliate, Partnerize affiliate, and ShopStyle Collective affiliate, I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in these posts. The films theme, Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees, is the anthem most associated with this film (and often wrongly with this scene), but it was the more romantic More Than a Woman that scored Tony and Stephanies award-winning dance at 2001 Odyssey. The three outer pockets on the jacket are all patch pockets with pick stitched edges like the lapels. The three-piece outfit, worn by Travolta as Tony Manero in the 1977 hit, has become synonymous not just with the movie, but with the 70s itself, representing the height of the disco era in the decades since. In the early 1980s he purchased the white suit that John Travolta wore in the film. He was the ultimate cool guy, with his killer voice, epic dance moves, and of course, his effortless fashion sense. Whenreviewingthe film in 1999 after the death of his friend Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert included the following quote from Scott T. Anderson: The peculiar construction of disco pants is a marvel of modern engineering So loose at the ankles, yet so tight in the groin.. Thanks for that kind, thoughtful comment I appreciate it, and Im glad that this post could resonate with someone for whom this movie carries so much meaning! Now he's strutting toward his biggest challenge yet: succeeding as a dancer on the Broadway stage. Cowboy chic is how we would describe pretty much every outfit John Travolta wore in Urban Cowboy. The Tony Manero look is best reserved for costumes, but if youare going to shoot for pulling off this look, you may as go for real clothing rather than some papery-looking costume kit. Tonys pals build up his confidence with compliments and his signature highball. But theyd be equally glorious onstage. The auction also sold other classic parts of cinematic history, from costumes to props that have become defining features of the movies they appeared in. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. Theres ways of killin yourself without killin yourself. The dialog in this film is as real as that shoe-comparing scene. John Travolta in his iconic white suit in Saturday Night Fever. From denim button up shirts to plaid flannel shirts, these styles are still seen on men across the globe today. To illustrate my thrifting achievement, I dug up a few photos of said suit in action 13 years ago when I could actually fit into the 38R suit! This column originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on Dec. 16, 1977. A major chunk of the story involves Tony trying to make it with this girl (played by Karen Gorney, who was Tara on the TV soap opera All My Children). John Travolta dances with Karen Lynn Gorney in Saturday Night Fever (1977). So we watch the dancing to follow the story line. The two talented men dancing in this video have definitely mastered the disco vibe of the song! In the five years that Ive been writing this column, no piece has been more controversial (to put it mildly) than my argument against one of Alfonso Cuarns complicated single-take shots in Children Of Men. ), Robert Hays strikes a familiar pose in a familiar outfit in Airplane! Director:John Badham Rather, its creating an emotion by juxtaposing two different angles of the same thing. Iconic and interesting men's fashions from movies and TV. Theyre all very fluid. One dancer is in a red jacket, and the other dancer is in a gray suit. And suddenly we know that this kid is into his feet, just as deeply as this movie is into its main character. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Five years later, Tony Manero's Saturday Night Fever is still burning. As an Amazon Associate, Kutoku affiliate, Parternize affiliate, and ShopStyle Collective affiliate, I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in these posts. 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The Millennial Mirror, Tony Montana's White Suit in Scarface BAMF Style, Willie Nelsons Fringe Jacket in The Electric Horseman, Pacino in Heat: Vincent Hannas Checked Canali Suit, The Man Who Fell to Earth: David Bowies Table Tennis Whites, Mad Men: Kinseys 420-Friendly Mohair Cardigan, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Paul Newmans Pajamas, A Night to Remember: Titanic Passenger Major Peuchen, S.O.S. As the bolo-tied, pony-tailed gangster Vincent Vega, Travolta meets his match: the . She thinks because her son is a priest thats gonna score her some points in heaven, Tony explains. Ultimate Guide On How To Get The 80s Fashion Look For Women, 15 Outfit Ideas on How to Style Long Skirts, Bow Top Basics: How to Tie Your Tie-Neck Blouse (+12 Outfit Ideas to Try! InScenic Routes, Mike DAngelo looks at key movie scenes, explaining how they work and what they mean.