SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

US, 1977, 119 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller.
Directed by John Badham.

Judging by young audiences, this film and John Travolta's Tony speak to them (in R-certificate language). The rhythms and Travolta's dancing skills, the right blend of flair and control, are fascinating and contagious. Yet the story is the old-fashioned one of family squabbles (cleverly portrayed and complicated by a son leaving the priesthood) and the ordinary paint-shop boy making good at something and seeing the possibilities of breaking out of the rut. It is West Side Story territory; Tony has a Rocky poster prominent in his room. Travolta captures well the preening and strutting of the vain male who underestimates his real self.

1. The popularity of the film in 1977-78? Capturing a mood? Reflecting the times? For whom was the film made? Reaction in America, around the world?

2. Why the appeal and the success?

2. The importance of the music? The Bee Gee's music? The other songs and the music for dancing? The disco atmosphere? The atmosphere of city, slums, the discos? The importance of colour, lighting? The real world and the artificial world? Imagination and fantasy?

3. The glimpse of New York? The visual presentation of the city? The focus on Brooklyn, the continual focus on the bridge and the part that the bridge played? A limited world with its self-contained interests, language?

4. The importance of the dancing? The importance of dance in itself, the disco style with its particular flare and skill? The dancing as a symbol? Enjoyment, achievement? The staging of the dances, both the individual and group dancing?

5. The contribution of John Travolta to the film? His impersonation of Tony Manero? The impact of his personality and the style, his acting ability, his dancing ability? How convincing as representing this type from Brooklyn?

6. The mood of the opening; the atmosphere of New York and its streets, focus on Tony's feet and the beat and the music? The introduction to Tony and Tony as a type? His return to the shop, seeing him at work, his treatment of the customers, the attitude to making some extra money etc.? His being praised by his employer? His future in the shop?

7. The contrast with his buying the shirt, trying, saying he trusted the salesman who didn't want to be trusted? The importance of the dressing sequence and the emphasis on the physical presence of Tony, sensuality? His preening himself, his pride in his appearance and dress? The importance of the interspersed flashbacks and flashforwards of dancing? Readying the audience for a transition in Tony's outlook on life? The mundane reality of the family and their shouting at each other. the meal, the serviette to preserve the clothes?

8. How enjoyable and accurate were the family sequences? The mutual nagging? mother, father and his arrogant way, the head of the family? Tony's sister? The grandparent? The violence and the physical hitting, peoples' reaction? The presence of Frank Jr. and his photo? Talk about him and expectations of the eldest child, the elder son and the down playing of Tony? Preparing the audience for the crisis with Fr. Frank Jr.?

9. How did the film develop the personality of Tony? The importance of his being with his friends? The world from which he came, education, work, opportunities? As persons? Gus and the various gangs and the bashings? The importance of the sequence of revenge and the irony that it was the wrong group? Joey, Jay Jay and their talk, sex in the back of cars? Drugs? The importance of the disco as a place where they could go, show off, girls? The contrast with Bobby and his sensitivity, the preoccupation about his girlfriend's pregnancy, asking the various people and his reactions to the various responses, eg. Fr. Frank's? Fighting, cars, work? The significance of their showing off and balancing on the Brooklyn bridge? The melodrama, symbolism?

10. The presentation of the girls at the dance? As partners for the boys? Pills, drugs? The importance of the plain girl with the crush on Tony, following him around, the devotion? Her presence at the bridge and her apprehension?

11. The contrast with Stephanie and seeing her dancing with Tony's eyes? Her standoffishness? Rehearsing, Tony's manoeuvres to encounter her? Her talk, snobbery? Tony being eloquent with his friends but being tongue-tied with Stephanie? The bond? Going out to meals? Helping her move, discovering the truth about her? Tony hurt by her reaction, trying to win her? Their talk about jumping her? At the end and their future? A true portrait of this type of girl?

12. The contrast with the ordinary work-day life. the importance of the raise and Tony's joy at it and the employer increasing it? Promising a future in a developing shop and comparing the other workers there? The employer's attitude towards Tony, sacking him, re-employing him and trying to Rake him face the future?

13. The contribution of the story of Fr. Frank? His place in the family, his telling them what happened? The reasons for his leaving the priesthood? Not celibacy but family expectations? The shock to Tony, their discussion at night, Frank going with him to the disco and admiring his brother and offering him hope, his leaving? How important was this in understanding Tony within the context of family love and expectations?

14. Tony and the effect that dancing had upon him, living for it? His learning to dance. coaching. Pete and his reaction to the girls? Rehearsing with Stephanie?

15. What did the dance do to him and for him? The build-up to the competition, the winning and his suspicions of it and giving back the trophy? Stephanie's reaction? What did this indicate about his own expectations in life?

16. The purpose of the final bridge sequence? Bobby and his desperation? His death? The ordinary scenes of the police interrogating them and their having to face reality?

17. The final significance of Tony's talk? His analysing his way of life. hope for some future?

18. How optimistic was the film? Was it true to life? A temporary optimism or hope for the future? How much insight into individuals, families, the way of life in the city? The needs of young people and their growth and change?