| Shag | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Zelda Barron |
| Written by | Lanier Laney Terry Sweeney Robin Swicord |
| Produced by | Julia Chasman Stephen Woolley |
| Starring | Phoebe Cates Bridget Fonda Annabeth Gish Page Hannah |
| Cinematography | Peter MacDonald |
| Edited by | Laurence Méry-Clark |
| Distributed by | Hemdale Film Corporation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |  April 14, 1989 July 21, 1989 |
Running time | 98 mins. |
| Countries |  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 they meet boys. The trip is spurred by the upcoming marriage of one of the girls, Carson. Their story chronicles their last good-bye to girlhood, and entree into womanhood. While filmed primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a scene was filmed at the late Skyview Drive-In located in Florence, South Carolina. The film 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 Pressley wanna-be
- Carrie Hamilton as Nadine, a white-trash townie who is jealous of the girls
- Leilani Sarelle as Suette
Reception
The film was shot between July 9th and September 15th, 1987 but not released in the United States until July 21, 1989. It 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]
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]
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.
Some video versions feature different songs (VHS vs. DVD) on the soundtrack, or no music at all in some scenes compared to the original release, probably due to licensing problems.
Anachronisms
- The maroon Cadillac Coupe DeVille Convertible driven by Luanne in the film is a 1964 model. As the film takes place during the summer of 1963, 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.
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.