54 (1998)

The famous 1970s New York City nightclub seen and told through the eyes of a young employee.

Director:

Mark Christopher

Writer:

Mark Christopher

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Neve Campbell

9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	Shane O'Shea
Salma Hayek	...	Anita Randazzo
Neve Campbell	...	Julie Black
Mike Myers	...	Steve Rubell
Sela Ward	...	Billie Auster
Breckin Meyer	...	Greg Randazzo
Sherry Stringfield	...	Viv
Ellen Albertini Dow	...	Disco Dottie
Cameron Mathison	...	Atlanta
Noam Jenkins	...	Romeo
Jay Goede	...	Buck
Patrick Taylor	...	Tarzan
Heather Matarazzo	...	Grace O'Shea
Skipp Sudduth	...	Harlan O'Shea
Aemilia Robinson	...	Kelly O'Shea

Storyline

An anthology film retelling the story of the famous Studio 54, a hot disco hangout for the social elite of New York. The movie follows several characters at once, some of whom are in desperate straits and on the verge of crashing.

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Plot Keywords:

disco | new york city | quaalude | angel dust the drug | reference to the village people | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to the Party

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, drug use and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Studio 54

Filming Locations:

Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,611,532, 30 August 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$16,574,731, 27 September 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dollface,FilmColony,Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 100 min (extended cut) 106 min (director's cut) 121 min (workprint)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Christopher turned in his original cut in early 1998. Studio reaction to this rough cut was very positive, but two preview screenings in Long Island, New York proved disastrous. Audiences complained that none of the characters were likable, and found much of the gay content uncomfortable. In particular, the kiss between Ryan Phillippe and Breckin Meyer yielded a negative reaction, with viewers complaining that neither actor seemed comfortable in the scene. Miramax head Harvey Weinstein ordered extensive re-shoots to alter the plot, removing most references to Phillipe's character's bisexuality, expanding Neve Campbell's role as a love interest, and adding a new ending. Ultimately, the film didn't fare better with critics or audiences, and Christopher's original cut became something of a legend among film enthusiasts. Bootleg copies of the Director's Cut circulated for years, before an official announcement in 2015 of an official release.

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Goofs

In one newspaper clipping towards the end, the word "survivor" is clearly misspelled as "surviver".

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Quotes

Steve Rubell: Is he gorgeous?
Viv: He's gorgeous. Look for yourself.
Shane O'Shea: [voiceover] I was warned that Steven didn't hire any dummies and I should be on my toes because he could ask some really tricky questions.
Steve Rubell: What's two plus two?
Shane O'Shea: Huh?
Steve Rubell: You'll be fine.

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Crazy Credits

As the credits roll, photographs are shown, first of visiting celebrities (e.g., Brooke Shields, George Burns, Arnold Schwarzenegger), then candid shots of unidentified customers.

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Connections

Referenced in Son of Sam (2008)

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Soundtracks

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
Performed by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Written by Randy Bachman
Courtesy of Mercury Records
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music

User Reviews

One Big Party Until You Come Down From The High

Studio 54 was a swift, colourful flick that showed us the true ins and outs of the seventies. The only difference is that the writers remembered the seventies .. thus, they obviously didn't really live the seventies atmosphere to its fullest. Mr Ryan Phillippe, in my opinion, took on an enormous task in performing this role ... I mean who else could you get to wear tight clothing, push pills, make drinks, take sexual harassment from a male employer, and still look pretty? Ms Campbell' purpose in this movie showed young girls that you can get somewhere with talent and not just looks. Basically, the script was compelling, the acting was sought as half way and ended up getting three quarters ... so overall I say that this isn't that bad of a flick if you are looking for something out of the everyday norm. I gave this movie a rating of a "9" because it is a personal favourite of mine, and the casting was one of the best combos, for my taste in movies. - David Wills christian 11/01/99