54 (1998)

Director:

Mark Christopher

Writer (WGA):

Mark Christopher (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

Welcome to the Party

Plot:

Famous 70's NYC nightclub seen and told through the eyes of a young employee.

Plot Keywords:

Studio 54 | Disco | Nightclub | Hot Tub | Social Class

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Fifty-Four
Studio 54 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

93 min | USA:100 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36070) | Iceland:14 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Dollface

Trivia:

Ryan Phillippe's character is based on Tieg Thomas, who worked at the legendary Studio 54 from 1977 to 1982.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Shane is bringing Christmas presents to his father's on Christmas Day, the radio station in his car is giving the stock market report for the day. The Stock Exchange is closed on Christmas Day. There would be no market update.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Son of Sam (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Wishing On A Star

And did what corporations always do...

When "54" got released, many critics claimed that it was just another attempt to get into the '70s nostalgia that had swept the country. It's more than that. The movie shows New York's Studio 54, an unusual club where young people danced to disco and could meet celebrities, as seen through the eyes of employee Shane O'Shea (Ryan Phillippe). At the end, he talks about, how after the government closed the place down, a corporation took it over and did what corporations always do: make the place safe and sterile. Steve Rubell (Mike Myers) built it up into a most unique hangout, and the corporation drained the life out of it.

So don't trust the critics. This was a really good movie.