Documentary Movie Reviews
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Studio 54 (2018)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
4/26
4/26:
Like Saturday Night Fever, Studio 54 shows a time
that will never be replicated.
Knowing the history, I picked up the documentary to see what it was like. Some may have seen the film
54, but this is rather comprehensive. I wasn't aware that Roy Cohn played
a part in Studio 54's legal troubles at the end. The club became world-famous for allowing normal people, if
they were chosen by passing the eye test, to mingle with celebrities. What's not mentioned is somebody
tried to sneak in through the ventilation shaft, got stuck there for a long time, and died.
When the gay patrons were shown, I thought whether or not all of them had been deceased sometime during the
80's because of AIDS. One interviewee confirmed the answer was indeed at least half. Given the high amount
of hedonistic activities that went on inside Studio 54, it probably shut down at the right time. Turning
down so many people eventually led to its demise due to many broken laws because they got jealous for
failing to measure up in the popularity contest.
Some questions whirled in my mind while watching the documentary. Did the club open every night, or was
it just the weekend? [Answer: Tuesday to Saturday]. How many per night? [Answer: an average of 2,000]. How
much did it cost to enter? [Answer: $7 to $8 that would be increased on certain special nights and on
weekends, but annual membership could be bought for discounted tickets]. What time? [Answer: 10 PM to 4 AM].
The same celebrities that kept being photographed, how often did they go? Why couldn't the success of
Studio 54 be repeated after it was shut down and resurrected or in another club? What's the difference?
All in all, Studio 54 is compelling enough to make any viewer wish s/he could go back in time and
be inside to experience the atmosphere.