Shag (1989 film)
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| Shag | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Zelda Barron |
| Produced by | Julia Chasman Stephen Woolley |
| Written by | Lanier Laney Terry Sweeney Robin Swicord |
| Starring | Phoebe Cates Bridget Fonda Annabeth Gish Page Hannah |
| Cinematography | Peter MacDonald |
| Editing by | Laurence Méry-Clark |
| Distributed by | Hemdale Film Corporation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |  April 14, 1989 July 21, 1989 |
| Running time | 98 mins. |
| Country |  United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $6,957,975 (USA) |
Shag (also released as Shag: The Movie) is a 1989 comedy film starring Bridget Fonda, Phoebe Cates, Annabeth Gish, Page Hannah, Jeff Yagher and Scott Coffey. The film features Carolina shag dancing and was produced in cooperation with the North Carolina Film Commission. The soundtrack album was on Sire/Warner Bros. Records.
Plot
The film is a lighthearted story of four teenage girlfriends of various temperaments who escape from their parents for a few days in 1963 for an adventure in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where the big spring festival promises a dance contest, beer blasts and lots of cute boys. Phoebe Cates (Carson) is engaged to a rich but square young man, Bridget Fonda (Melaina) fancies herself as a Hollywood sexpot, Page Hannah (Luanne) wears glasses and is a prim and proper senator's daughter, and Annabeth Gish ("Pudge") has recently lost weight but has always been called "Pudge" and suffers from low self-esteem.
The trip is spurred by the upcoming marriage of Carson. During their busy weekend at Myrtle Beach, the four find romance, dance up a storm, and make serious life decisions. Their story chronicles their last good-bye to girlhood, and entree into womanhood and focuses on both the girls' moral quandaries and their budding sexualities.
Cast
- Phoebe Cates as Carson McBride, the beautiful socialite who is set to marry a tobacco executive's son
- Bridget Fonda as Melaina Buller, the promiscuous preacher's daughter with bigger dreams
- Annabeth Gish as Caroline "Pudge" Carmichael, the formerly overweight, hometown cutie
- Page Hannah as Luanne Clatterbuck, the uptight senator's daughter
- Robert Rusler as Buzz Ravenel, the townie boy whose come-ons snare Carson
- Scott Coffey as Chip Guillyard, a future service member and excellent shagger
- Tyrone Power, Jr. as Harley Ralston, a tobacco executive's son- as straight-laced as they come
- Jeff Yagher as Jimmy Valentine, a semi-famous Elvis Presley wanna-be
- Carrie Hamilton as Nadine, a white-trash townie who is jealous of the girls
- Leilani Sarelle as Suette
Reception
The film grossed approximately $6.9 million at the US Box Office. It was not a big hit when initially released, and commercially was considered a flop. Despite the film's box office failure, the film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that, out of 15 critics in total, 64% gave the film a positive review.[1] In recent years it has become something of a cult film to fans of beach music and the Carolina Shag, with a cult-like following.
Roger Ebert, who gave the film 3 stars, praised the actors of the film, calling them "best of the younger generation in Hollywood, and they treat their material with the humor and delicacy it deserves."[2]TV Guide also enjoyed the actors, who called them "uniformly attractive and energetic, and deliver performances that range from likable to delicious."[3] The cast is fascinating for its family ties: Bridget Fonda is the daughter of Peter Fonda; Page Hannah is the sister of Daryl Hannah; Tyrone Power Jr. is the son of Tyrone Power; Carrie Hamilton is the daughter of Carol Burnett; and Annabeth Gish is a descendant of silent film stars Dorothy Gish and Lillian Gish.
Shag's East coast beach music was the cause of its cult following.[original research?]
| Song | Performed by | Composed by |
|---|---|---|
| "The Shag" | Tommy Page | Tommy Page & Andy Paley |
| "Oooo Ahhh" | Jacki O | Barry White, Jackie Milligan, & Fleming Williams[4] |
| "Harlem Shuffle" | Bob and Earl | Earl Nelson & Bob Relf |
| "Saved" | La Vern Baker | Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller |
| "Let Me In" | The Sensations | Baker, McDaniel, Rodgers |
| "Easier Said Than Done" | The Essex | Huff Linton |
| "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" | The Tams | Whitley |
| "Stay" | The Voltage Brothers | Williams |
| "Since I Don't Have You" | The Skyliners | Beaumont, Vogel, Versharen, Lester, Taylor, Rock |
| "Diddly Daddy" | Chris Isaak | Bo Diddley & Harvey Fuqua |
| "Seven Lonely Days" | k.d. lang and The Reclines | Earl Shuman & Marshall Brown |
| "39-21-40 Shape" | The Showmen | Johnson |
| "Unknown Waltz" | W. Warren | |
| "Catfight" | Andy Paley | Andy Paley |
| "Ready to Go Steady" | The Charmettes | Jonzun & Paley |
| "Shaggin' on the Grand Strand" | Hank Ballard | Hank Ballard & Andy Paley |
| "Monkey Time" | Major Lance | Curtis Mayfield |
| "Dixie" | The Royal Doulton Band | Gardner |
| "Up on the Roof" | The Drifters | Gerry Goffin (as Goffin) |
| "Weekend Whirlwind" | Ehm's Law | Robert Howard Jones & Leslie Ehm |
| "Under the Boardwalk" | The Drifters | Arthur Resnick & Kenny Young |
| "Alley Cat Song" | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre | Harlen Bjorn |
| "Oh, What a Night" | Nick Kamen | Marvin Junior & Johnny Funches |
| "Every Day I Have to Cry" | Ben E. King | Arthur Alexander |
| "I'm in Love Again" | Randy Newman | Fats Domino & David Bartholomew |
| "Alley Oop" | The Hollywood Argyles | Dallas Frazier |
| "I'm Leaving It All Up to You" | La Vern Baker & Ben E. King | Harris & Terry |
| "Sixty Minute Man" | The Voltage Brothers | Billy Ward |
| "It Will Stand" | The Showmen | Johnson |
| "Stagger Lee" | Lloyd Price | Lloyd Price & Harold Logan |
| "Surrender" | Louise Goffin | Louise Goffin & Domonic King |
| "Our Day Will Come" | k.d. lang and The Reclines | Bob Hilliard & Mort Garson |
| "Blue Hawaii" | Leo Robin & Ralph Rainger | |
| "Baby Work Out" | Jackie Wilson | Alonzo Tucker & Jackie Wilson |
Production notes
It was filmed between July 9 and September 15, 1987 and released initially in Europe in April 1989. It was not released in the United States until July 21, 1989.
While filmed primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a sequence was filmed at the late Skyview Drive-In located in Florence, South Carolina.
Anachronisms
The maroon Cadillac DeVille Convertible driven by Luanne in the film is a 1964 model. As the film takes place during the summer of 1963 shortly after the girls graduated from high school (the Sun Fun Festival takes place in June), the vehicle was not available for sale until September 1963. A modern Coke vending machine is visible at one of the motels on Ocean Boulevard that the girls drive by after arriving in Myrtle Beach.
Home video releases
The initial VHS home video version (June 3, 1997) contained the music of the theatrical release. However legal copyright infringements led to a second VHS release {January 13, 1998) that features different songs, or no music at all in some scenes compared to the original theatrical release. The 1997 home video version has a box cover almost identical to the theatrical poster; the modified copyright-compliant version has different cover artwork. The DVD release is the copyright compliant version.
References
- ^ Shag on Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (July 21, 1989). "Shag". The Chicago Sun Times. rogerebert.com. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ^ "Shag: Review". TV Guide. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ^ "Soundtracks for Storytelling (2001) - Ooh Ahh". IMDB. Retrieved March 17, 2013. ""Ooh.... Aah" Performed by Jakki O Written by Barry White, Fleming Williams, Jackie Milligan Published by Seven Songs and Me-Benish Music Administered by Schroeder International LLC Used by Permission, International Copyright Secured Courtesy of Original Sound Record Co., Inc. by Arrangement with Celebrity Licensing, Inc."
