Saturday Night Fever

Although technically not a musical (since none of the actors actually sing), Saturday Night Fever is so top-heavy with song and dance that it is generally classified as such. The story is a trifle: Tony Manero (John Travolta, in an Oscar-nominated performance), a teenager who works in a Brooklyn paint store, puts on his white suit every Saturday night and struts his stuff at "2001 Odyssey," a local disco, where he meets, and eventually pairs up with an aspiring dancer named Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney). Their relationship--set in conflict with Tony's former dance partner, Annette (Donna Pescow)--becomes the central focus of the film. Boasting one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time (second only to The Bodyguard), Saturday Night Fever resuscitated the career of the Bee Gees (who wrote "Night Fever" and "Stayin' Alive," among other hits for the film) and helped catapult the largely metropolitan-only disco phenomenon into the American heartland. Of course, what you really want to know is "how does the white suit look on DVD?" Not too bad, actually, in this occasionally dark but largely blemish-free transfer backed by a burn baby burn disco inferno Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The extras include director John Badham's engaging audio commentary, a new 30-minute VH1 "Behind the Music" documentary, and three deleted scenes. One for the time capsule, this occasionally trenchant look at '70s life, with good music and great dancing, is highly recommended (and was, incidentally, the late Gene Siskel's favorite film). (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Oct. 2, 2007—Paramount, 118 min., R, $19.99—Making its third appearance on DVD, 1977's Saturday Night Fever (30th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition) sports a nice transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. DVD extras include the same audio commentary by director John Badham from the 25th anniversary edition, five “Catching the Fever” featurettes—including “A 30-Year Legacy,” “Making Soundtrack History,” “Platforms & Polyester,” “Deejays & Discos,” and “Spotlight on Travolta” (53 min. total)—a 10-minute “Dance Like John Travolta” tutorial with choreographer John Cassese, a nine-minute “Back to Bay Ridge” location featurette, a “Fever Challenge!” DVD game, a “70s Discopedia” pop-up trivia track viewing option, and trailers. Bottom line: frankly, if you already own the 25th anniversary edition, there is no compelling reason to spring for this triple-dip edition.][Blu-ray Review—May 12, 2009—Paramount, 118 min., R, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1977's Saturday Night Fever (30th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition) features an excellent transfer and a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including audio commentary by director John Badham from the 25th anniversary edition, five “Catching the Fever” featurettes: “A 30-Year Legacy,” “Making Soundtrack History,” “Platforms & Polyester,” “Deejays & Discos,” and “Spotlight on Travolta” (53 min. total), a 10-minute “Dance Like John Travolta” tutorial with choreographer John Cassese, a nine-minute “Back to Bay Ridge” location featurette, three deleted scenes (4 min.), a “Fever Challenge!” game, a “70s Discopedia” pop-up trivia track viewing option, and trailers. Bottom line: the classic disco film makes an impressive debut in Blu.][Blu-ray Review—May 2, 2017—Paramount, 118 min., R, Blu-ray: $16.99—Making its latest appearance on Blu-ray, 1977's Saturday Night Fever features a great transfer and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. This release includes both the theatrical and “director's cut,” along with extras carried over from previous releases, including audio commentary by director John Badham from the 25th anniversary edition, the “Catching the Fever” behind-the-scenes featurettes “A 30-Year Legacy,” “Making Soundtrack History,” “Platforms & Polyester,” “Deejays & Discos,” and “Spotlight on Travolta” (53 min. total), a “Dance Like John Travolta” tutorial with choreographer John Cassese (10 min.), a “Back to Bay Ridge” location featurette (9 min.), a brief deleted scene, a “Fever Challenge!” game, a “70s Discopedia” pop-up trivia track viewing option, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent edition of this blockbuster disco classic.]