Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

Director:

William A. Levey

Writers:

Nick Castle (screenplay)
Nick Castle (story)

Release Date:

October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The Rock and Roller Disco Movie of the Year!

Plot Keywords:

Disco Music | Roller Skating | Period In Title | Disc Jockey | Country Name In Title

Cast

Scott Baio	...	Richie
Flip Wilson	...	Harvey Ross
Ron Palillo	...	Frankey
Maureen McCormick	...	Susan
Melissa Sue Anderson
Ruth Buzzi	...	Elvira
Greg Bradford	...	Stan
Patrick Swayze	...	Ace Johnson
Dave Mason	...	Himself
Billy Barty	...	Jimmy
Katherine Kelly Lang	...	Allison
David Landsberg	...	Irwin
Len Bari	...	Alphonse (as Lenny Bari)
Murray Langston	...	The Drunk
Bill Kirchenbauer	...	Skatetown Doctor

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Palladium - 6215 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

KBC

Trivia:

Patrick Swayze's debut.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in When Disco Ruled the World (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Boogie Wonderland

It's nowhere near the masterpiece Xanadu is, but it's still campy fun nevertheless.

I never did understand why most audiences didn't go for XANADU. That movie had a huge cult following upon its theatrical release; while being considered a box office dud, it had the sort of presence that granted it an instant cult classic among musicals. I know tons and tons of people who love both the movie and the soundtrack dearly, and I've noticed that they are all the same personality I am--namely, folks who are starry-eyed by nature, have a strong sense of poetic beauty and grew up with before-Eisner Walt Disney movies.

Story has it that SKATETOWN, U.S.A. was deliberately pushed back a couple of years or so the moment word got out that XANADU was in the works, for apparently the makers of this flick didn't want to chance XANADU's destroying it. They needn't have worried. This thing didn't have a chance to begin with. SKATETOWN is far, far, FAR inferior to the wonderful and delightful XANADU. It doesn't begin to even hold a candle to XANADU, which lives up to its title.

And yet, SKATETOWN, U.S.A. is campy fun in its own way, a time capsule from the disco era that brings back memories despite obvious flaws in direction, choppy editing that insists on slashing the footage of some genuinely spectacular skating stunts before you can fully enjoy them, and a story that is nonexistant at best.

The music makes this movie, hands down. It has a wonderful theme song and original songs as well as a whole slew of disco staples that are now truly timeless classics. And of course all the skating is a blast. And gotta love that goofball D.J. with his sparkle afro!

There's one thing that seriously ruins my enjoyment of this film though. An annoying overweight worker at the snack bar who has a thing for hot dogs. This guy is just... seriously, he's disgusting! He's so gross and lacking in personal hygiene and basic cleanliness that... well, would *YOU* buy food from this guy? I swear, I lose all appetite (especially for hot dogs) upon seeing this guy in action. I'll be sitting there enjoying a wonderful skate dance set to gorgeous music, only to have the camera suddenly cut away to this jerk's gross antics. Edit him OUT entirely and this film would be much, much better and more carefree.

Oh, and you haven't lived until you hear this flick's answer to the question "You saved my life... Why?"