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Definitely not a family favourite

There is something gruesome about "Saturday Night Fever," something unexpected and raw which, quite frankly, still plays on one's nerves so many years later. To say that the movie is without value is taking it a bit far, but one is troubled to find room for sincere praise. Apart from the ugliness it portrays, apart from the disdain, to some extent, that continued to be shown to women in the 1970s, the film has a hidden cultural reality which you almost have to make excuses for. It is as if the film itself never found the right voice.

Perhaps as a caricature of the times, the "fever" of an age rolling out of the rock of the 50s and 60s does affect us moderately, but this is no medium lightweight in terms of scenario and dialogue. No apology is being made here. Minorities, as much as women, have their backs to the wall, and we are left wondering if director John Badham intended us to see more, or feel more, as though we could just as well watch the film with our eyes closed. So while it is hard to recommend the film, it's also impossible to discount it completely. Just be aware that it is unlikely to become a "family favourite."

Electric!

There's just something about John Travolta in a white polyester suit and black shirt dancing at the pulsating music of the Bee Gees that has become part of American Pop Culture. But it is also a realistic look at the lives of troubled characters in the disco 70's. Heavy language and adult situations may offend some. John Travolta gives one of his best performances as Tony, the guy who works 6 days a week awaiting saturday night to let loose on the dance floor. Good drama and interesting characters. But the real star of the movie is the dances, the Bee Gees' music is electric and the dance numbers are very well staged. A movie that defined an era. From a scale of 1-10 I give this movie an 8!

Believe it or not, this film is timeless!

I hear so many young people saying that Saturday Night Fever is dated and it frustrates me. Sure, disco may have been a passing fancy, but the theme of this film is timeless. It's about a young man who feels his life in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is going nowhere. He's got a dead-end job, friends with no plans for the future and a very disfunctional family. The only thing that Tony Manero(Travolta) is good at, really good at, is dancing. His Dilema? How can you make a future out of dancing? When paramount released the PG version of this film, it cut exactly what "SNF", was all about. The harsh language, the sex, the drugs, this is the world Tony Manero lives in. Watch the R version.

ALWAYS WORTH REVISITING

For those of us who were part of the disco era, this film is a classic and always worth returning to. Read Roger Ebert's touching more recent review of the film for better insights into it.

Apparently a DVD is in the works and well worth wating for.

great film

what a movie and what a time period? this film has had a long and lasting impression on many including myself.the music fit perfectly with the story line.it took on issues such as class,sex,race,and a sense of belonging.the kind of film that spike lee would make.it still holds up after all these years.

Up your nose with a rubber hose!

For anyone old enough to remember the TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter", you may recall that John Travolta's acting career sprouted from very humble beginnings by playing the part of sweathog Vinnie Barbarino. Saturday Night Fever represents a giant leap for this young actor's popularity in the cinematic world. Of the two available video versions of this film, the R rated version may have situations and language unsuitable for juveniles; but it's better because of its more realistic depiction of life in the discos and streets of the mid-seventies.

The best one yet

Fever is one of my favorite and best movies I've seen. Although the movie is a year older than me, I still enjoy it. You really get to see what the whole disco and new york scene was like. This is a must for a video collection. If you're a bee gees fan like I am then you need to see this to hear all the great gibb brother music.

Saturday Night Fever is a disco phenomenon movie!

John Travolta is wonderful in his performance as a dancing Brooklyn instructor Tony Manero and the films soundtrack with the Bee Gees are highlights of what makes a great movie so entertaining to enjoy. And also of what the seventies were all about back then in a era to remember!

it was bomb cause he can dance his friends are cool.

it was the bomb cause he can dance his friends are groovin

Saturday Night Fever Is The Bomb!

I am telling this movie doesn't get it like no other!

John Travolta is senational in Saturday Night Fever!

It's powerful it's about one man dream and things that happen throught his life. If you want a little romance, comedy, and dancing boogey with Saturday Night Fever!

ok

IF YOU LIKE DANCING, you might like this movie...otherwise ...you might want to watch something a little more challenging.

A great movie

One of the greatist american films of all time,and john travolta's seconed best movie.It was gene Siskle's all time favorite movie to.A great soundtrack to listin to also.Saturday night fever is an american classic.

GREAT WHEN RELEASED IN 77 - EVEN BETTER NOW!

Johnny Fontaine to Vito Corleone in the movie "The Godfather" on an acting role he covets- "I wouldn't even have to act, just be myself".

That describes Travolta's performance in "Saturday Night Fever". Full of piss and vinegar, fresh of his successful run on "Welcome Back Kotter", and at the age where the whole world is his oyster, Travolta uses every edge he's accumulated at his young age and catapults himself to stardom. When this movie was released, I was as anti-disco as they came. But years later after I discovered the dance club scene, I couldn't resist watching the movie that defined the disco era of the late 70s. But this movie is about much more than that, and that's why I enjoyed it, much less totally related to it. It's about that gang of guys we all know from whereever we come from- some 3-5 guys that work aimless jobs and spend their money at their local hot spot on the weekends. Their standing in their neighborhood and their prominence at their favorite hot spot is their identity, and that makes their mundane lives all worthwhile. That is until Tony Manero (Travolta) through his many mistakes, realizes the error of his ways and that he needs something more in his life. While the styles of the time - the music, the fashion, the jargon- is entertaining in itself, this story translates into any era. And Manero and his gang could be from any town in any decade. They're cliches on the way to nowhere until one of them realizes that there's so much more to grab for. Franz Dreschler utters the best line of her acting career in a bit role, and all the suporting cast members play great roles - though one wonders what the hell ever became of them. A thoroughly entertaining movie in every sense. Gen Xers and nearly aged types will get a real kick out of some of the cliched characters, as will those who actually knew people like that when they frequented such dance clubs. Can you say, cheesy?

Quite simply, a movie that perfectly captured the 1970's

There is no superlative that could do this movie justice. I'm not sure that I have ever seen a movie that achieved it's desired effect the way that this one did. Perfectly cast, directed and costumed, this movie lauched the career of the incomparable John Travolta. The music, the dancing and the zeitgeist of the 1970's in two hours. Pick up the movie, the soundtrack and the wardrobe. This is one movie you will not only want to see but you'll want to live.

This is real disco(the kind with soul)The Bee Gees rock!

I can't believe only one other person reviewed this!This is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen there is something in this movie for everyone.The soundtrack is even better because it never you never get tired of it,no matter how many times you put it on.I don't think I can say the same for this movie though,it's still a brilliant tribute to that music and most importantly,gave it massive popularity.

Ne York disco scene and dumb italian hoods a laugh riot

Maybe the best of the 70's for it's comic value alone and it's way groovy disco-era tunes, SNF its completely entertaining. Joey, Double-J, and the band of merry idiots are hysterical, and Travolta shakes it on the dance floor making all viewers pumped to deck out in polyester and hit the clubs. It's a riot!

A must have for anyone's video collection!!!

This movie is almost as old as I am and I still love it!!John Travolta is amazing.You can't help but want to get up and dance.Its a perfect depiction of the disco era, since this is the movie that epitamized it all!!!!!

Stayin' alive, stayin' alive...

A lot of people call this movie a classic and a period piece. And it should be. I watched this on a plane ride from Australia to Hongkong, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Sure, the movie's a bit old, but it's not sugar-coated and unapologetic of Brooklyn in the 70s. Even as early as back then, neighborhoods were fueled by the paradoxical dichotomy of family and gangs.

Enter 19-year-old Tony Manero, a disco-god on the dance floor on Saturday nights. He works at a paint store, hangs out with his gang of underachievers, and still lives with his parents. When one of his friends gets beaten up, they take revenge on a rival gang without verifying the facts. When Tony's brother decides to quit the priesthood, and their mother blames Tony he immediately lashes out at her saying "There! You happy? Now you have two losers for sons." But family is family, and he sobbingly apologizes. There's also the requisite love triangle between Tony, Annette and Stephanie. Annette's love for Tony is unrequited. Tony's crush on Stephanie is frustrated by the fact Stephanie wants to move up in the world, while Tony remains an unsophisticated boy destined to remain in his social caste. What brings them together? Dance. Disco-dancing to be more precise.

This film is probably what created the genre of dance movies like "Strictly Ballroom" and the Japanese "Shall We Dance." In all these films, the dance floor becomes a world of its own. A world far away and far different from the chaos that surrounds our protagonists' daily lives. On the dance floor, there is no social ladder to climb, no enemies to beat up, no worries to weigh them down. Yet at the same time, it isn't the real world. And it only exists between 5 minute intervals of song.

In the real world, people look up to Tony. But Tony is too full of himself to take an occasional glance down. Listening to Stephanie talk about important people at work, and what she's doing with her life has made Tony want to quantum leap out of his situation. That doesn't happen, and it takes the death of a friend to finally snap him out of his youthful pride and rage of "I'm better than all of you!" So he slowly learns to start over and make himself better.

Truly a gem of a movie. I highly recommend this film. If nothing else, you get to see what launched John Travolta's career.

The Pioneer of Disco.

This is a movie that is very much long over due. It's a stand alone classic that started it all. It changed the music industry that was going nowhere at that time. Travolta is amazing in this movie, he displays a dance talent that no one would have ever expected from him. I'm proud to say I own the VHS tape and the LP album. And for those who have made fun of this movie, the laugh is on you it's still Alive and very much a movie treasure worth owning.

What a CLASSIC!!

I'm so-o-o-o glad Saturday Night Fever is being released on DVD!!! Now I can toss the video!!! John Travolta is such a good dancer, I'm envious :) & the music is TOPS!