FEVER

A behind-the-scenes story of the classic disco drama.

Saturday Night Fever, the film that became a surprise hit in 1977, occupies a somewhat unusual place in the history of American cinema. Because many viewers have only seen the bowdlerized television edit of the movie, some still don’t realize what a relentlessly dark film it is. As podcaster Donohue writes, “We hear racial and homophobic slurs, witness awful sexual encounters….This film is downright UGLY at times, and yet—it is so relatable.” (Your mileage on the relatability front might, and probably does, vary.) Donohue’s book chronicles the origin of the film, which was based on a New York magazine article by Nik Cohn; the British journalist has since admitted the piece was fiction. The movie as we know it was essentially the brainchild of producer Robert Stigwood, who wanted a project that would showcase his clients, the Bee Gees; Donohue’s book covers the hiring of director John Badham, screenwriter Norman Wexler, and the film’s star, a popular sitcom actor named John Travolta. Donohue dives into the shooting of the film, including the famous dance club sequences, filmed at the 2001 Odyssey disco in Brooklyn, New York—the crew added the now-iconic disco floor for the shoot. Based on her interviews and those of others, Donohue covers nearly every aspect of the movie, notably its still-inescapable soundtrack, outsize effect on popular culture, and memorable choreography. There are interesting facts here, but the book feels rushed, and its structure is messy, as are quotes that Donohue uses, which are riddled with unedited “you know”s and non sequiturs: “I asked [actor Joe Cali] as a white, straight man how he felt about disco back when he was filming the movie, ‘Disco was a big part of my life. I love disco. You know? Donna Summer’s a queen. The best.’”

Strictly for disco completists; others will want to take off their boogie shoes.