Question about the movie "54"

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know why in the movie "54" they did not use the original song "Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart or "If You Could Read My Mind" by Viola Wills? They used many original songs by original artists, except these two songs. I think the original versions were much better.

[Videoskooter]

Probably it's a question of copyrights. Sometimes the owners won't give permission to use a certain song/artist in a movie/ad.

You're right, if a movie is made about a certain period, then you must use the songs of that period and no re-recording or cover. I also found this a little disturbing but maybe the younger people who are not that familiar with the real disco-age don't mind.

I liked the movie though. It was much criticised but was not that bad.

I have to admit that I always watch him for the atmosphere/music and nostalgia and not for the story or the acting :oops:

[Studio74]

But the definite film about Disco is yet to be made...I wonder if we will we see it in our lifetime...

[DiscoMan]

It would be ahelluva story. To be true to it's soul the movie would absolutely have to capture the soul of the baby-boom generation. How and why did we make the '70s what they were. 8)

That would be the true essence of "DISCO"!
What title would you give it?

As for myself, and I've said it before; "Saturday Night Fever" is like looking into a mirror for me. It's not perfect but it captures the Northeast urban experience of '76. The Disco of late '77 through '80 was very different from what it was in the "early" days.

[Anonymous]

I think the reason for the two songs were not the "original" Ami Stewart and Viola Wills is because the need Knock on wood for a live performance in the movie, and If you could read my mind for a Current soundtrack version that would be more airplay/mtv friendly.

[Nano]

I think the Neil Bogart story would be perfect for a movie... Just look at the elements: "¡Donna Summer! ¡White powder! ¡King of the world! ¡Luxury! ¡Bankruptcy!"

The title, of course, would be: "Casa Blanca" (sic). "Blanca" being Spanish lingo for coke.

[Voyage]

I own 54 on DVD and watch it for the same reason as Videoskooter :)

I personally find the "Knock On Wood" cover okay but I can't stand a lot the cover of "If You Could Read My Mind"...depends on my mood, I generally prefer the original version.

I saw this movie when I was around 14-15 years old...

Voyage :P

[paul]

Probably it's a question of copyrights. Sometimes the owners won't give permission to use a certain song/artist in a movie/ad.

You're right, if a movie is made about a certain period, then you must use the songs of that period and no re-recording or cover. I also found this a little disturbing but maybe the younger people who are not that familiar with the real disco-age don't mind.

I liked the movie though. It was much criticised but was not that bad.

I have to admit that I always watch him for the atmosphere/music and nostalgia and not for the story or the acting :oops:

I generally agree with Johan. I actually like it better than SNF. The fact that 2 songs weren't original didn't bug me that much. The club itself looked in many ways like the super disco clubs that seemed to strewn every 50 miles of the east coast of the US.
As for a better disco movie, I like most of you will welcome that. One that for example has more blacks in it. Based on the the movies you would think hardly any blacks folks were major participants in the disco scene which is far from the truth. Also, I would like it done by someone who likes disco and has fond memories of it. Even though I liked 54 better,like SNF it also had a negative underlying moral tone to it.

[Videoskooter]

Even though I liked 54 better,like SNF it also had a negative underlying moral tone to it.

You're right Paul. Where disco was very uplifting the two major movies about that culture were a little bit "judging". They give the impression that the discopeople were much into fighting, alcohol and drugs and were a "lost" generation.

Now, considering your remarks about black people and also other member's remarks about the massive drug-use. Let us not forget that The 54 was a disco where drugs were prominently present. So, when you make a movie about the 54 you simply have to stress that fact. And maybe the movie is giving a wrong image about the amount of black people that were there. I don't know if that was really the case. Was the door-policy (who was very strict there) a little bit racist? Maybe other members can tell us that?

And movies that also give me disco-nostalgia are "Summer of Sam", "Carlito's way" and of course "Scarface".

All of you are right about the fact that the ultimate discomovie hasn't been made yet.

Maybe Bernie has Director-talents :lol:

Coming soon: "Discomusic.com" directed by Bernie, co-directed by Nicky and starring .....

"The story where the members of the famous site get into Professor Paul's timemachine and are beamed into the 70's!"

I'm serious! Would be a great idea!

In fact, I'm going to contact Coppola right now!

[MixMasterMax]

I agree with everyrthing being said here. Yes, the drugs were plentifull, the door man was selective (don't beleive racist) in the sense that he would let people in if they were dresses right and looked good also if you had connections. My thought is the opposite, would 54 or any other club have been as important in our mind without the drugs? If you remember the movies of the era, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankestein, Cheech & Chong, try watching these today and see if they have the same impact as when you watched it back in the day, maybe a little Lit. OK, I am making an assumption but I bet some of the folks here know what I am talking about :lol:

[Rab]

But the definite film about Disco is yet to be made...I wonder if we will we see it in our lifetime...

As I watched 54 I was having some exhilarating flashbacks of my experiences during the discoteque era. Unfortunately, this movie was tainted with overwhelming emphasis on drugs, and a seedy disco owner that coerced hot boys for sex--there should have been less of this, and more on the glamorous side, which in my opinion would have been more of the reality. The director should have focused a bit more on the freedom people felt going to discos to be themselves to shed their social morays/stereotypes. Instead we're just left with the impression that 54 was just a big drug hangout with bad consequences. The essence of 1979 as I remember it, was extremely exciting and definetly not developed enough in this movie. 54 definitely had the reputation as a high-class disco filled with celebrities. But there were many discos that had a similar cache, with less snob appeal---they were usually gay.

There is also the disturbing notion, that the only way some (gay) wealthy, powerful proprietor of such an establishment could get laid is to cut deals, or blackmail straight boys for sex. The impression as usual is always negative for a gay character; in this case, that there are no attractive college age young "gay" men anywhere to be found in NYC. That a man as powerful as Steve Rubell could only settle for highering straight boys hoping that he could eventually tempt them into sex for favors in return. But this is what straight audiences prefer to see if a gay character must exist in the story line at all.

I never imagined that Mike Meyers could look so homely and sinister as he did--what a troll. The real Steve Rubell was more attractive. But if you noticed any movie that has contrasting gay and straight male characters, the straight guys are usually the ones with the looks, the charm the charisma, and are masculine...that usually end up scoring, while the gay character goes down in flames one way or another. What a story this would have been if it was a coming out story for Shane, so many guys did go to clubs to feel a sense of freedom and did come out this way.

[DiscoMan]

The drugs were part and parcel with how totally free and open the '70s were.

Remember; all convention was ignored everything was a revolution. The sexual revolution, The Feminist revolution, The Porn Industry, complete personnal liberty, the evolution and blending of R&B, Funk and Soul music, drug use, racial integration, gay rights, the end of the War in Vietnam they all occurred together at that unique point in history and contributed to Disco.

The DISCO MOVIE must capture this essence. Movie makers would be well advised to have round table discussions with baby boomers who were part of all this and attempt to capture the attitudes and emotions involved for that is the true SOUL of Disco. They gotta pin the '70s down or we'll have just another "54". The key ages of the boomers are those born from 1948 to 1956. We were around before the beginning and we were there at the end.

What a fabulous time to be young. :D

[Rab]

I didn't say the drugs didn't exist, the movie was just skewed. It seemed clear this movie was not directed by someone who loved disco, or the era or perhaps even an adult during the time period. You don't see drugs in "SNF", "Thank God It's Friday", "Rollerboogie" or "Can't Stop the Music", which were made at the time. The scene where they're in the coffee shop and they all unload their drug paraphernalia was ridiculous.

Steve Rubell's character reaches its corrupted peak when the old lady dies from a drug overdose, and he's not even slightly concerned. He states, "Well, she just couldn't handle her drugs." At this point our attractive straight hero (Ryan Phillippe) is overwhelmed by her death, and is no longer even phased about having the honor of serving Grace Kelly. Read: the disco world was a jaded, cold-hearted underworld run by lascivious gay degenerates like Steve Rubell. The movie could have centered around the old lady, and her love of disco..this would be a good flick.

The interesting part of the movie is when Shane first arrives at 54, dazzled by all the important people, the cameras and limos. Then is shocked to find himself chosen to enter. At this point the story should have been more developed. Remember when Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz leaves Kansas and the movie dramatically turns to color. I've studied film, and there are various similar techniques used by directors to develop or emphasize a dramatic scene/mood change. As he enters it is very dark and he hears nothing, then all of a sudden you hear the Break by Katmandu swiftly being mixed into Keep On Dancing by Gary's Gang. When I first heard it, I thought it was a neat mix. I didn't realize the bpm's between the two songs were compatible, then I listened again, and actually the songs aren't mixed; Gary's Gang is simply overlaid from Katmandu, similar to the way today's "lazy" DJ's mix. The scene is never really developed, there should have been more dancing like in SNF...or something. What I would have given to have been the music coordinator of this movie. :P

[DiscoMan]

What I would have given to have been the music coordinator of this movie

Or the director!?
I could have done a lot with "54" myself. It really could have been a great drama the source material was certainly there.

[Videoskooter]

I could have done a lot with "54" myself. It really could have been a great drama the source material was certainly there.

That's it! The set was phenomal. The chosen tracks were excellent (the mixes weren't) and the actors were pretty good.

They got all the right ingredients but they failed to make a great dish of them.

BTW, "Boogie Nights" was a pretty good discomovie: the atmosphere, (most of the) music, the decadence. Not bad at all!

[DiscoMan]

"Boogie Nights"

And the producers NAILED the look of '70's porn!
Check out any "Johnny Wadd" (with John Holmes) movie or Andrea True movie. Titles like "A Coming of Angels", "Cry for Cindy", "Dixie", "Eruption", "Autobiography of a Flea" etc. etc.

Today's Porn sucks big time.

[Voyage]

Grace Kelly didn't even go to 54! lol

I love the music and the 70s atmosphere but yet some stuff is not really very accurate.

I have the DVD and was surprised to see some scenes I didn't see on the cinema when I saw the movie...when Shane is walking on the balcony on the beginning, Shane and his socialite party nights...and Shane and Anita (2 times).

Voyage :P

[paul]

Hey Voyage. What things in the movie did you notice that were not accurate?
I only remember Shane and Anita having intercourse once. That was when Steve ruined the moment when Shane and Anita were going at it in the bathroom. Was there another time?

[paul]

Let me add some things other than the music and Salma :P :P I also loved. They may be seemingly minor but they stick out to me.
First, When Shane get's his first true taste of disco. Knock On Wood was being sung and initially he did the rock crowd thing by hollering. After a nasty look from one of the babes, he let the music flow through him, got a little rhythm and realized this music isn't about you making a spectacle of yourself in a rock bar sense. :lol: I sensed his epiphany at the moment.
Secondly, and ya know Salma has to do with this :lol: (sorry Bernie this dog can't stay down forever :lol: ). Salma is in the kitchen showing that sexy ass Shane and I are drooling at. She makes a comment about this to him, turns to look at him, then as she turns away from him she pauses and says aye in that certain sexy latina style that works, bigtime :D :D Ooh I love it.
Little scenes but I liked them and I just wanted to say more positive stuff than bitch about the negatives.

[paul]

Oh, rereading my post above, I said I was going to say something positive other than Salma. I lied :D :lol: :lol:

[Videoskooter]

Salma is in the kitchen showing that sexy ass Shane and I are drooling at. She makes a comment about this to him, turns to look at him, then as she turns away from him she pauses and says aye in that certain sexy latina style that works, bigtime :D :D Ooh I love it.
.

Paul, you got it bad my friend. Just admit it: You're madly in love with miss Hayek.

Just say the magic words of Wayne:" She will be mine!" and everything's gonna be allright.

I can't remember the name of the woman with the cowboy-hat who seduces Shane in the "54" but she is Dynamiteee-eeee

[paul]

Paul, you got it bad my friend. Just admit it: You're madly in love with miss Hayek.

Just say the magic words of Wayne:" She will be mine!" and everything's gonna be allright.

I can't remember the name of the woman with the cowboy-hat who seduces Shane in the "54" but she is Dynamiteee-eeee

You're right my friend. In fact I'm chanting she will be mine right now

Hmm Johan, was the babe with the cowboy hat the one he boned while Let's Start The Dance was being played. She had on red easy access pants I think!

[Videoskooter]

I think so. She takes him to a store where she is buying clothes for him and she takes him to bed and has one of the fastest orgasms ever seen on the silver screen.

[paul]

Ohhh, you are talking about Sela Ward. She is hot too. I think her name in the movie was Billie. I'll check the dvd.
Yeah, she did ride him like a dime store pony. Too bad we couldn't have gotten a view of her from the front :P :D

[Voyage]

The cowboy girl in the movie is called Patty. And yeah in the DVD I have of 54 the Billie Austen/Shane act lasts like 2 minutes. They play Silvia's "Pillow Talk" and then Billie at the end goes unconsicous or soemthing.

Anita and Shane also do it in the kitchen at the moment u talk about Paul.

Inaccurate: well Princess Grace never went to 54 I think. 54 closed on late 1980 or so, I have a mag with pics from the last night at 54 in which u can see Stallone and Gunter Sachs, it's from Oct. 1980. So it really didn't "close" on Jan. 31, 1979.

Overall it's a very good movie in what concerns sexy females lol

Voyage :P