We all have them.Those books and movies that are societal staples, that are culturally iconic, that–we haven’t read or seen.
Two of mine are Don Quixote and Saturday Night Fever. The former I never finished after discovering “Cliff’s Notes,” the latter seemed redundant after seeing all those vintage 1977 disco outtakes. Plus, I never got platform shoes.
However, thanks to a recent Sunday screening at Tampa Theatre, I can no longer say I’m the only person I know of my generation who hasn’t seen Saturday Night Fever.
A couple of takeaways.
Too bad the entire movie didn’t take place in that Brooklyn disco. Travolta is just fun to watch, even with subpar partners. The Bee Gees’ soundtrack still resonates.
Other than that, it was an R-rated (a gang rape alone would warrant it) version of Welcome Back Kotter, with Vinny Barbarino morphing into Tony Manero.
And while those time-capsule, establishing shots of New York work, they also include a number of Twin Tower sightings. They still haunt. Stayin’ Alive in the background is beyond ironic.