(Cheesy) Movies That I Love...Part 3

Staying Alive

Starring:  John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, and Finola Hughes

In 1983, this was the sequel to the blockbuster hit Saturday Night Fever.  But this time, Travolta's Tony Manero wasn’t winning Odyssey 2001 dance contests or chasing a cougar, he was auditioning for Broadway. 

So here’s the plot. Tony was dating Jackie (played Cynthia Rhodes), who was a fellow professional dancer and also sung in a nightclub with Carl (played by Frank Stallone) aka Sylvester Stallone's brother.  And speaking of Sylvester, he directed this movie....go figure.

Anyway, Tony wasn't a commitment kind of guy, so poor Jackie kind of got the shaft when Tony met another dancer named Laura (played by Finola Hughes).  She was beautiful, British, filthy rich, and a stuck up bitch.  She treated Tony like crap.  But apparently he enjoyed it, because he continued to pursue her, even when she was constantly dissing him.  And then he dumped on Jackie in the process.  Tony certainly hadn't gained any common sense or brain cells from his disco dancing days in Brooklyn.  Although he gained one hell of a body!  Yes that was shallow but seriously, Travolta never looked better (except for maybe Grease).

Back to the story...Laura was hired as the lead dancer in a Broadway show called "Satan's Alley" which I thought was a cool name.  She encouraged Tony to audition but since she was already banging the show's director, it was a given she'd get Tony hired. Though he was just a back-up dancer. Jackie also earned a spot, but she too was relegated to the back because no one would dare upstage the bitch Laura.  And though Laura was a good dancer, I thought Jackie was better.

So after auditions, Tony and Laura went sight seeing around Central Park. And then they ended up at her swanky penthouse, for some afternoon delight. But when Laura was through with him, she kicked him out. On his way home, the louse called Jackie, checking to see if she was alone. Tony had some serious cojones, being that he just left Laura's bed.  Shady much?

Jackie eventually figured out Tony was screwing around with Laura and told him she was DONE being his doormat.  Hallelujah she grew a backbone.

A great scene in the movie was when Tony told Jackie that Laura's (British) accent sounded so smart.  To which a highly agitated and hurt Jackie replied, that if having an accent made someone smart, then Tony would be Einstein. HAH!

Moving along...the show's rehearsals were in full swing, but the lead male dancer was royally stinking up the joint with his lackluster performance.  Cue Tony.  (Did anyone seriously think he wasn't going to end up dancing that lead?)

But before Tony spoke up about wanting it, he had the gall to ask Jackie for help.  He wanted her to practice the routine with him.  Because by that point, Laura had dumped Tony.  But Jackie still had a soft spot for him, so she agreed to help.  The dance between the two was beautifully done and just further proved that Jackie was the right girl for him.  The song they danced to was "Never Gonna Give You Up" and it was sung by Rhodes and Frank Stallone.

Later that night, after Tony walked Jackie home, he professed his love for her.  Personally, I would have made him beg a little more but it was a sweet moment.  The next day, Tony told the director that he wanted to give the lead a shot.  Much to bitchy Laura's chagrin. But Tony's first attempt was god awful, prompting him to bail.  He just needed a minute to cool off and soon returned, determined more than ever to prove he could do it.  So now the stage was set and after weeks of practicing, the show made it's Broadway debut.  The music in Satan's Alley was called "(We Dance) So Close to the Fire" by Tommy Faragher and it fit perfectly. The show was flowing beautifully, until at the end of the first sequence.  Stupid Tony kissed Laura.  Needless to say, she was pissed and dug her nails into the side of his face (around the eye area).  And of course Jackie witnessed this interaction. Tony offered up some lame excuse and Jackie quickly forgave him.  But before the big finale, Laura apologized to Tony and suggested they hook-up after the show.  Tony shockingly declined. Well, you know Laura wasn't used to being turned down, so with her oversized ego bruised, she hit Tony where it hurt.  She told him that he "didn't have what it took" to be a great dancer.  That was all the ammunition he needed to kick some major ass on the dance stage.  He tossed Laura aside (literally) and performed a solo dance (which wasn't a part of the show).  He chose to include her at the end but it was crystal clear that he WAS the show, not her.  OUCH!

Happy ending! Tony was vindicated and had Jackie at his side.  But the only thing Tony really wanted to do was....STRUT.  And of course one cannot strut in New York City without the backing of the Bee Gees.  Yup, another movie with the musical stylings of the Brothers Gibb.  Their signature "Staying Alive" which was the main song in Saturday Night Fever, was used once again. And smartly so.

The Bee Gees contributed a couple more songs on the soundtrack, "The Woman in You" and "Someone Belonging to Someone." Both good songs. But the huge hit off the soundtrack was Frank Stallone's "Far From Over" (see first You Tube video in post).  I have the soundtrack on CD and in my iTunes collection.  In fact, the song was playing as I was typing this. And of course, I own the DVD as well.

Director Sylvester Stallone had a brief cameo, in a scene where Tony was walking down the street, they bumped shoulders.

The infamous white suit from Saturday Night Fever made a special appearance. However, Tony jazzed it up with a blue t-shirt instead of the black.  Which kind of looked like he raided Miami Vice's Sonny Crockett's closet.

  

And last but not least, there was a scene where Tony and Laura argued after one of the show rehearsals. She shouted “Everybody uses everybody…don’t they?”  Her tone was pure bitch and the reason I mention this is because one of my best peeps, Melissa and I used to repeat that line constantly, British accent and all.  Ah the memories!  

Decent acting, good music, great dancing and Travolta dancing around in nothing but a small loincloth, yeah its a must-see!