STUDIO 54
US, 2018, 98 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Matt Tyrnauer.
Studio 54 had fame and notoriety at the end of the 1970s, a disco nightclub in central New York City, becoming a venue for the rich and famous and for the wood-be rich and famous. Its popularity lasted only a short time but it became part of the consciousness of New York City and its lifestyle. A feature film, 54, was directed by Michael Christopher in the latter part of the 90s, somewhat truncated for release and a longer director's cut released a decade later.
Which means that cinemagoers do have some awareness of Studio 54 and of its flamboyant part-owner, Steve Rubell (played by Mike Myers in the film). The film focused on life in the club, the attraction for young men to work there, friends, celebrities, drugs, sex. At the end of the film, there was an indication of what would happen in terms of the IRS examining the files on the books and Steve Rubell going to prison. This documentary, while highlighting the high life, takes the story on after 1980.
Ian Schrager, the co-owner and manager of Studio 54, was not a character in the feature film. Here he is centre screen. After almost 40 years of reticence, he is prepared to look back to the past, his friendship with Steve Rubell and growing up with him, their venture in buying the CBS studio and redecorating it elaborate, a gala opening which attracted crowds and the media, the continued success, the notoriety, media response, the range of famous people and faces who visited (and these are prominent in the footage and photos of the period).
However, Ian Schrager preferred to work behind the scenes, enjoying the life of the club, caught up in the IRS difficulties, issues of liquor licenses, going to court with Steve Rubell, with the famous Roy Cohn, of the Mc Carthy era (and key character in Tony Kushner's Angels in America) as their defence. Substantial footage of Cohn appears in this film.
Steve Rubell was homosexual, contracted AIDS, died in 1989. Ian Schrager emerged from prison, the two men buying hotels and setting up boutique hotels, Schrager continuing over the succeeding decades and making a considerable name for himself – and, with the advice of the lawyer who prosecuted them, pardoned by President Obama in 2017.
A glittery story of rise and fall.
1. The reputation of Studio 54, in the 1970s, into the 1980s? Disco era, the atmosphere of the club, a landmark in New York City? Symbol of life in New York City? The film moving into the aftermath of its success?
2. The range of film footage from the period, incorporation into the film, the visuals, the range of photos? The musical score, songs in the era, score for this film?
3. This film as a memoir after 40 years, Ian Schrager and his looking back, telling the story? Assessment of his experience of the time and consequently? The range of interviewees, those involved with the management of Studio 54, those who worked there, bouncers (and the introduction of the Velvet Rope at the threshold), barmen, those who frequented the club, the wide range of people are represented? And the visuals of those who with their, especially the younger selves?
4. The focus on in Schrager, in 2017, the explanation of his background, his family, legal connections, the Jewish background, his growing up, at college, his friendship with Steve Rubell? His quiet personality, yet his partnership with Steve, their idea, the purchase of the club area, CBS Studios? The visuals of the transformation, the expense, the design and decoration, the invitation to the opening, the exuberance, the response of the media?
5. The cult of celebrity, celebrities visiting, the bouncer with the crowds, keeping people out, the range of those attending, young people, the photos and memories, opportunities for publicity and the media?
6. Steve Rubell, the film providing a portrait of him, background, studies, his failure with the restaurants, partnering with Ian, his extravagance, people-person, loving the celebrities, his providing drugs, homosexuality, his partner and the interviews? His mother keeping the books but not knowing about her son's personality and behaviour?
7. The background of drugs and drug taking it Studio 54? The later exposure with the White House official? Sexual behaviour? The promiscuity and freedom of the era? The background of gay bars? The providing of the roof? Behaviour?
8. Success, the comments from the media, television news?
9. The law, the issue of the license, having to work on it each day? The report to the authorities? The employment of Roy Cohn, his reputation from the Mc Carthy era, working with Steve and Ian? The interviews?
10. The comment that Studio 54 flourished between the development of the contraceptive pill and the emergence of AIDS?
11. Jealousies, the turning against Studio 54, its eccentricities, Steve is a braggart, going down?
12. Raids, the IRS, the records, the documents in the roof, the two committed for trial, the accountant who went to jail on their behalf (and his later interview)? The trials, the sentences, the media reports, the interviews outside the court? The final extravagant party, the music, dancing and the guests? The cold light of day and going to jail? The jail experience and the interviews at the time with Steve and Ian? His later retrospect? Cohn and his comment about losing the case with so many lawyers working against them?
13. Getting out of jail, the pair working on buying hotels, developing boutique hotels?
14. Steve Rubell, AIDS, his illness, death? The obituaries referring to hepatitis rather than AIDS?
15. Ian Schrager, continuing his life, business success, hotels, his willingness to be interviewed after 40 years, his personality, communicating himself, the experience of Studio
54, the consequences? The lawyer recommending his pardon, being pardoned by President Obama?
16. The world of celebrity, delirium, notoriety, a symbol of the freedoms of the 1970s? A story of rise and fall?
