Shag (1989)

Director:

Zelda Barron

Writers:

Lanier Laney (story) &
Terry Sweeney (story) ...

Release Date:

21 July 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

On a summer weekend in 1963, four girlfriends made memories that would last a lifetime.

Plot:

Summer of 1963. Carson is getting married to her boyfriend so her friends Melaina, Pudge and Luanne...

Plot Keywords:

Weekend | Beach | American South | Contest | Coming Of Age

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Phoebe Cates	...	Carson
Scott Coffey	...	Chip
Bridget Fonda	...	Melaina
Annabeth Gish	...	Pudge
Page Hannah	...	Luanne
Robert Rusler	...	Buzz
Tyrone Power Jr.	...	Harley
Jeff Yagher	...	Jimmy Valentine
Paul Lieber	...	The Manager
Donald Craig	...	Senator Clatterbuck
Shirley Anne Field	...	Mrs. Clatterbuck
Leilani Sarelle	...	Suette
Carrie Hamilton	...	Nadine
Jay Baker	...	Big Bob
Joe Seely	...	The Creep

Also Known As:

Shag: The Movie

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Florence, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Palace Pictures

Trivia:

The interior set used for the Clatterbug's main home is the exact same set used for their house in Myrtle Beach. A few small changes were made to make it look different.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Maroon Cadillac DeVille convertible that the girls drive to Myrtle Beach is a 1964 model and since new models traditionally did not appear until September of the year before (9/63 for a 1964 model) it should not appear in a movie set in June (right after HS graduation) 1963. You can tell it's a 1964 model by the maroon (body colored) band across the center of the grille.

Quotes:

Pudge: Stay on your diet dear, YUCK YUCK YUCK.

Movie Connections:

References "Rocky and His Friends" (1959)

Soundtrack:

Ready to Go Steady

The discovery and adventure of coming of age.

Starring Phoebe Cates (Mrs. Kevin Kline, who knew?), as in "what ever happened to", and Bridget Fonda just as her career took off, Shag is sweet, warm, funny, nostalgic, and above all, wild. I saw a trailer for this on another DVD and added to my list of "must haves." It was well worth it.

Cates is Carson McBride, about to marry stuffy Harley Ralston (Tyron Power, Jr.). Her best friends, played by Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah (yup, Darryl's sister) surprise her with a weekend in Myrtle Beach as a last fling. Cates is funny enough, but Bridget simply overpowers the other female leads with her boundless charisma.

They meet a couple of local boys who change their lives and have one heck of good time in the process. Speaking of "what ever happened to," Scott Coffey's Chip was the most enjoyable male character in the film, cute as a bug and delightfully innocent and whatever happened to him?

Too many films of this genre are souless, heartless and mindless. This one is the rare exception, and gives you a chance to remember the discovery and adventure of coming of age.