Shag (1989)

Director:

Zelda Barron

Writers:

Lanier Laney (story) &
Terry Sweeney (story) ...

Release Date:

21 July 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

On a summer weekend in 1963, four girlfriends made memories that would last a lifetime.

Plot:

Summer of 1963. Carson is getting married to her boyfriend so her friends Melaina, Pudge and Luanne...

Plot Keywords:

Weekend | Beach | American South | Contest | Coming Of Age

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Phoebe Cates	...	Carson
Scott Coffey	...	Chip
Bridget Fonda	...	Melaina
Annabeth Gish	...	Pudge
Page Hannah	...	Luanne
Robert Rusler	...	Buzz
Tyrone Power Jr.	...	Harley
Jeff Yagher	...	Jimmy Valentine
Paul Lieber	...	The Manager
Donald Craig	...	Senator Clatterbuck
Shirley Anne Field	...	Mrs. Clatterbuck
Leilani Sarelle	...	Suette
Carrie Hamilton	...	Nadine
Jay Baker	...	Big Bob
Joe Seely	...	The Creep

Also Known As:

Shag: The Movie

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Florence, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Palace Pictures

Trivia:

The interior set used for the Clatterbug's main home is the exact same set used for their house in Myrtle Beach. A few small changes were made to make it look different.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the announcer introduces the judges, Senator and Mrs. Clatterbuck, Mrs. Clatterbuck's hair is parted down the middle and feathered under her pillbox hat. A minute later, in the same scene, she's wearing the same hat but her hair is just combed back with no part and is not feathered.

Quotes:

[while looking for Buzz]
Harley: Are you Fuzzy?
Maid: You shut your filthy mouth!

Movie Connections:

References Forever Amber (1947)

Soundtrack:

Easier Said Than Done

Where the boys are

I watched this movie only to get a look at Tyrone Power, Jr., and ended up enjoying it immensely. Set in 1963 before the assassination of JFK, four young southern women go to Myrtle Beach for a last hurrah before college and, in one way or another, their lives change. Phoebe Cates is a virginal brunette engaged to uptight Tyrone Power, Jr., but winds up falling for Robert Rusler; Bridget Fonda is a comely blond looking to win Miss Sun Queen; Annabeth Gish is everybody's pal who wants to be somebody's girlfriend; and Page Hannah is the plain daughter of a senator hoping to keep her daddy's liquor cabinet locked and his house clean so nobody knows she and her friends were there. The movie culminates with a shagging (some kind of dancing) contest.

I suspect that some of us old-timers might like this movie even more than the teens and twenty-somethings - it sure brings you back to a time when kids talked about getting to second base, going all the way, and asked questions like, Have you ever put your tongue in anyone's ear? Shag captures the atmosphere of fun and hilarity one only gets at an early age and away from one's parents. The sound track is fabulous. Highly recommended if you want to feel young again.