Movie Music: You Should Be Dancin'

Can you believe it has been 30 years since Saturday Night Fever? The movie launched the career of John Travolta, ignited the disco craze and spawned one of the best-selling soundtrack albums of all time.

Most people remember the Bee Gees songs ("Staying Alive", "Night Fever", "More Than a Woman", et al), but the film and album also boast such platform shoe-era classics as The Trammps' "Disco Inferno", Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" and Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You".

What may not be readily apparent is how well certain songs comment on the onscreen action in the tradition of the best movie musicals. Maybe that is why the stage musical failed, since all subtlety is lost when the characters themselves belt out such lyrics as "how deep is your love".

In celebration of the film's anniversary, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' "Monday Nights with Oscar" program will have a special screening of Saturday Night Fever in their New York theater this Monday. Following the movie there will be an onstage discussion with the film's leading ladies, Karen Lynn Gorney and Donna Pescow, so be sure to put on your-your-your boogie shoes.

Click here to purchase the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack albumor DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com, Ibdb.com and Oscars.org.