Looking for Mr Goodbar is a good companion piece to Saturday Night Fever. Both films were released by Paramount in the same year.
Both movies feature characters from a strong religious background dominated by a patriarch.
Whereas Tony Manero could escape his humdrum life working in a hardware store by being the disco king at the weekend.
Theresa Dunn (Diane Keaton) is a teacher of deaf children by day who cruises slummy bars in the evenings looking for sexual hook ups.
Before long her drug taking is affecting her work and she is attracting dangerous men such as hustler Tony (Richard Gere) who breaks into her apartment and asks her for money menacingly.
Theresa has other suitors. At the beginning she is having a fling with her married college tutor. He uses it as a casual liaison.
Then there is welfare caseworker James (William Atherton) who shows a romantic interest in Theresa and wants a traditional relationship. Her parents like him but she rebuffs him, yet at the same time takes him to the sleazy clubs. In turn he plays games with her. Theresa fears James would end up being controlling just like her father.
The film is known for its tragic ending, Theresa's risky lifestyle takes it toll as she is murdered by one of her hook ups.
Writer and director Richard Brooks has made for its time a daring film. Adapted from a novel, it really does try to get an angle on its literary source. You get short fantasy sequences from Theresa. A look into her childhood as she suffered from spinal issues.
I got the feeling that Theresa did have some kind of personality disorder, her pushing James away was like waving away someone who was nice, normal and a square. Theresa wanted danger even though she knew it was living life on the edge and for today.
Apart from Saturday Night Fever, there was another movie it has similarities to when Theresa visits a gay club. Cruising starring Al Pacino which was released in 1980. This explored a much darker side of club culture.
Both movies feature characters from a strong religious background dominated by a patriarch.
Whereas Tony Manero could escape his humdrum life working in a hardware store by being the disco king at the weekend.
Theresa Dunn (Diane Keaton) is a teacher of deaf children by day who cruises slummy bars in the evenings looking for sexual hook ups.
Before long her drug taking is affecting her work and she is attracting dangerous men such as hustler Tony (Richard Gere) who breaks into her apartment and asks her for money menacingly.
Theresa has other suitors. At the beginning she is having a fling with her married college tutor. He uses it as a casual liaison.
Then there is welfare caseworker James (William Atherton) who shows a romantic interest in Theresa and wants a traditional relationship. Her parents like him but she rebuffs him, yet at the same time takes him to the sleazy clubs. In turn he plays games with her. Theresa fears James would end up being controlling just like her father.
The film is known for its tragic ending, Theresa's risky lifestyle takes it toll as she is murdered by one of her hook ups.
Writer and director Richard Brooks has made for its time a daring film. Adapted from a novel, it really does try to get an angle on its literary source. You get short fantasy sequences from Theresa. A look into her childhood as she suffered from spinal issues.
I got the feeling that Theresa did have some kind of personality disorder, her pushing James away was like waving away someone who was nice, normal and a square. Theresa wanted danger even though she knew it was living life on the edge and for today.
Apart from Saturday Night Fever, there was another movie it has similarities to when Theresa visits a gay club. Cruising starring Al Pacino which was released in 1980. This explored a much darker side of club culture.