Forgotten Disco Movie Masterpiece?

[Tim Tam]

Hi,

I ran across this movie promo for "Disco Fever" over on Youtube. I've got admit it's not one I've heard of. I wonder if anyone here knows anything about it?

Looking at the promo it certainly appears to be a real "A" production with every cent of the apparently lavish budget on the screen. Starring such acting legends as Fabian, Pheobe Dorin, Susette Carrol, George Barris and Casey Kasem I would have thought it would have been more well known.



Just another masterpiece from the age of Disco that is sadly overlooked I guess.

Tim Tam

[drlove]

I agree that Disco Fever is far more forgotten than . . . say . . .the other "bad" disco flops: Roller Boogie, Skatetown USA and Can't Stop The Music. I've seen all of 'em except Disco Fever (for which I think I've only seen a poster). Anybody ever seen the actual film or even the soundtrack LP ???

[SandraDee]

It's got the look of a Jackie Collins story. Kinda like a US version of 'The World Is Full Of Married Men'.

[kdavid13]

Fabian Forte with a beard looks a lot like ABBA's Benny Anderson.

[Videoskooter]

Never seen it, but...the soundtrack apparently features "Disco Duck" and "Copacabana" and this is ze poster:

[drlove]

Good Fabian vs. Benny comparison :icon_cool: --- LOL.

[paul]

So it looks to me like I missed another crappy disco movie and for good reason. I was too busy living it :icon_biggrin:
By the way, I haven't seen it but given the stuff that came out at the time I wouldn't expect much.
The only disco movie and sorta disco feeling movie I like are "54" and "Summer Lovers".

By the way, you english lit guys. Does the period ending a sentence go inside the quotation mark or outside? Sorry, had to ask :icon_biggrin:

[drlove]

Lol -- Paul, I don't know if I'm an "english lit" type, but I seem to remember that the period goes outside the quotes unless the contents between the quotes forms its own sentence. Some of the never-to-be-forgotten HIT disco films obviously include Saturday Night Fever and Thank God It's Friday, but there's obviously more flops running around out there than the classics. Skatetown USA was an enormously bad film but DID feature a killer soundtrack LP. Track it down if you get a chance.

[Cory Ander]

Fabian Forte with a beard looks a lot like ABBA's Benny Anderson.

speaking of Abba, did you catch last weekend's "Abba in Concert" 1979 special on PBS? I was watching and was more than a bit surprised during one song where the 2 female singers both knelt down on either side of a guitarist while he was playing a solo and they appeared to be simulating...well, a certain sex act.....seemed a bit out of character for such a squeakly clean pop group.

[SandraDee]

while he was playing a solo and they appeared to be simulating...well, a certain sex act.....seemed a bit out of character for such a squeakly clean pop group.

Oh please, they're Scandinavian, it's what I'd expect from them!

[JussiK]

I saw this film at the horribly run down Rigoletto fleatpit cinema in Helsinki the night it opened, a year after it's original US premiere. These cheap SNF ripoffs were doing ok business in my neck of the woods so all sorts of more or less exciting attempts to cash in were flickering on our screens during that time, from Germany, Italy, Britain etc. I thought Disco Fever would be better than the previous one called Disco Fieber, starring Boney M and a cast of German sex comedy regulars. And yes, the film was bad but not boring enough to walk out of. Instead, I kept rocking back in my seat, the whole row being loose. There was someone nagging about it but in my semi-pissed off state I kept rocking. The film contained SNF-style gang movie "action" and some surprising violence that snapped me out of my stupor.
The beloved Rigoletto was turned into a sex dungeon during the early 90's, then into a popular dance club hostessed by a dj pal of mine Anna S who's spinning in Istanbul now. I'll have to walk by it to see what's going on at the address these days.

[Tim Tam]

Hi JussiK,

since you have actually seen this film you might be able to let me know if I have this right.

Leaving out the motor cycle chases, impassioned declarations of love and the odd groin kicking, the basic story of the film is that of a washed-up rock star who is signed to a record deal by an unscrupulous, predatory female. His contract gives her total control over him and he is being forced to perform Disco music. However he has too much "integrity" to go Disco and plays rock in spite of his contractual obligations. The Disco fans instantly see the error of their ways, give up Disco and totally embrace rock music. Happy ending.

If I am right, then the film is trying to have it both ways. Exploit the Disco mania of the time while promoting rock as the true music. No wonder it has been forgotten.

I wonder too about the Disco on the aircraft. Did it stay on the ground or was it supposed to fly around while the partying went on? If the latter it would have had a heck of a cover charge and made for some interesting dance moves when they hit turbulence. I'm also a bit worried about that carpeted dance floor.

Tim Tam

[paul]

Lol -- Paul, I don't know if I'm an "english lit" type, but I seem to remember that the period goes outside the quotes unless the contents between the quotes forms its own sentence.

Thanks drlove. :icon_biggrin:

[JussiK]

Hi JussiK,

I'm also a bit worried about that carpeted dance floor.

Tim Tam

You're obviously spot on - I think. Truth obliges me to admit i can't recall much of the plot apart from the gang members getting stomped on, and that there seemed to be dancing going on from time to time. Not good dancing but still, dancing. All I can remember with clarity is the row of seats I rocked.
If the film emerges on dvd I have to check out the carpeted floor, of course.
Oh, and I just walked by the building The Rigoletto used occupy, showing things like Disco Fever, The Killer Nun (starring Anita Ekberg) and Put Your Devil In My Hell. There's The Soho Nightclub now, presenting second hand Russian lapdancers.

[SandraDee]

presenting second hand Russian lapdancers.

Second-hand? I'm assuming they come with full service history!

[Disco Funk]

Casey Kasem LOL!

Man this looks like a bad porno movie without the sex. Perhaps some things are best left in the bins?

I haven't checked out the other disco movies beyond TGIF and Saturday Night Fever. I might be interested in checking out The Bitch because The Olympic Runners sing in that, maybe Nocturna because Moment of Truth are in there, although I don't think that qualifies as a disco movie, and Roller Boogie. I can live without Can't Stop The Music, although I am mildly curious about how bad it is.

Disco Funk

[Tim Tam]

Thanks for the reply JussiK.

All I can remember with clarity is the row of seats I rocked.

I'm guessing that's probably not the review they would use on the poster.:icon_biggrin:

Oh, and I just walked by the building The Rigoletto used occupy, showing things like Disco Fever, The Killer Nun (starring Anita Ekberg) and Put Your Devil In My Hell. There's The Soho Nightclub now, presenting second hand Russian lapdancers.

I imagine if you were to make a visit to the Rigoletto theatre nowadays the thing you most remember might not be rocking a row of seats.

I must look up "The Killer Nun". Sounds like fun.

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[JussiK]

Killer Nun / Suor Omicidi (1978) is happily available on dvd, and yes, it's big fun for the whole family. Get it.
Before the presumably current second hand lapdancers from Russia the Soho club showcased Japanese-style magnifying glass shows. For some reason these did not catch on too well - the immortal line in Michael Winner's "Dirty Weekend" comes to mind , maybe it was the warts up there or something?