54
The Directors cut: US, 2015, 105 minutes, Colour.
Original: US, 1998, 89 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Philippe, Mike Myers, Salma Hayek, Neve Campbell, Sela Ward, Daniel Lapaine, with guests Cheryl Crowe, Donald Trump, Art Garfunkel, Peter Bogdanovich, Lauren Hutton, Michael York, Lorna Luft, Thelma Houston.
Directed by Mark Christopher.
54 was released in 1998 but failed in its test screenings which were held in suburban walls rather than in New York City where the film is set. The responses were rather negative, especially with some homophobia about the club and about the central character. While it is not accurate to say that his character was cleaned up, a lot of the ambiguity about his bisexual behaviour was eliminated. aspects of the gay sub-culture were also eliminated.
It is said that about 25 minutes of film were re-shocked, again changing the central character, Shane, especially in his relationship with Greg and Anita, this becoming more explicit, and in quite a dramatic change, the responsibility for stealing the money from Steve rebel was change from Shane to Greg. In the director’s cut, it is Shane who robs the money and who later returned some of it to Steve.
There was also quite a change to the ending of the film, Shane becoming somewhat disillusioned, going away to study, and being united with Steve and others after he was released from jail. The restored ending is much starker, and not necessarily and ending with great hope for Shane and his future.
While the film is not a masterpiece, the restored version instantly gain something of cult status, something of a gay icon film, and a nostalgia for a period which was one of self-indulgence and some dissolute decadence.
A review of the original release:
54 is a brief re-creation of the famous nightclub in 54th Street in New York City, called 54. In the late 70s and early 80s it was a celebrated place for celebrities to frequent. It was also a centre for drug dealing. The glitz and glamour, the music - and the available sex also contributed to its reputation. It was presided over by Steve Rubell, a drug addict, homosexual master of ceremonies who also had a rather iron grip and control on the way that his club was run.
Steve Rubell is played very effectively by Mike Myers, rather unlike his Austin Powers performances. It indicates his capacity for more dramatic roles. The focus of the film is on a young man from New Jersey, played by Ryan Philippe. His dream is to go to New York City and all his fantasies are fulfilled as he his picked out by Steve Rubell, is promoted within the club, becomes a kind of centrefold and is available to all comers. This contrasts with the ordinariness of his family life back in New Jersey. He makes friends with a couple, played by Breckin Meyer and Salma Hayak, falls out with them, is able to reconcile, discovers some truth about himself, especially as the girl of his dreams, played by Neve Campbell, turns out to have feet of clay. When Steve Rubell is arrested by the IRS, the club loses its spirit and the central character goes off to study. He is able to look back then on the glitz, glamour, the liberty and licentiousness of Club 54.
The film is also peopled by guest appearances of celebrities who used to frequent the club.
1. Originally, a film of the 1990s, remembering the 1970s and 1980? Disco, clubs, music, drugs, the clientele, celebrities, the elderly, the cruisers? The staff, Steve Rubell? In New York story?
2. The original version, cut by the producers, re-worked? The additions for this film, the change of the ending? 21st century perspective?
3. The cast, their status, the careers since this film?
4. Shane, his friends in New Jersey, together, flirting with the local girls, bored? The working-class father, his racial prejudices, Shane’s sisters and home interaction? The girl from Montclair in the car and her rejection of him? Shane and his good looks, but slow?
5. Shane and his friend, the newspapers and 54? Going to New York, the glamour, the local actress, Julie, photographed? At the door, Steve and his choosing who to let in, his assistant? Shane let in, his friend not? No shirt, entering into a Wonderland (or Through the Looking Glass)? Light and dark, the crowds, the sexual atmosphere, nudity? People cruising, men and women? Upstairs, the overview, the singer? His being entranced?
6. The job, Greg and Anita, the friendship, sharing the accommodation? The boys in the bar, the training, the money, promotions and Steve’s choices? His eye on Shane? Billie Auster and her grooming him, the relationship? Sex and availability? Watching the sunrise nude? The clients, of both sexes?
7. Greg, the drugs, money, his marrying Anita, her work in the cloakroom? Shane and his advances, Greg and his protectiveness, antagonism towards Shane and his approaches? Shane, wanting to make money with the drugs, stealing from the cache of money in the roof? Steve’s reaction, firing his accountant of 10 years, the reaction? His seeing Shane as an asset – and Shane paying him back?
8. The work in the bar, the drugs?
9. Dottie, being called Mona, age, the high life, in the shop, helping Shane with the drugs, her exuberant dancing, playing to the gallery, the pathos of her death, her being carried out?
10. Anita, the opportunity to sing, the fanfare, her performance, cut short by the death?
11. The range of celebrities in the club, American celebrities, the British ambassador? Shane and his posing for the cover of the magazine? The invitation to dinner, dressing up, going with Anita, the group making fun of him, his not knowing Errol Flynn? Being called a troglodyte? The repercussions?
12. His status as Shane 54? going home, with his sister, his father not communicating, leaving? His throwing the drugs out the window?
13. Greg, his anger, the compromise? Sexual availability to Steve? Shane and the promotion?
14. The celebrities, Andy Warhol, the basement, the Arab prince, the feting of Truman Capote? Grace Kelly? His being asked to look after her?
15. Meeting Julie at the resort, talking, the possibility of a relationship, her driving away, his disillusionment with her?
16. The raid, Steve arrested, the bags of money, the Internal Revenue agents? Shane and Steve’s affection for him, ousted, wearing the garbage bag, Anita and Greg, walking together? What future?
17. Glimpses of another life, self-indulgent, decadent? A symbol of the times?
