Shag Information

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. 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." TV Guide also enjoyed the actors, who called them "uniformly attractive and energetic, and deliver performances that range from likable to delicious." The cast is fascinating for its family ties: Bridget Fonda is the daughter of Peter Fonda and niece of Jane 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.

Production notes

• The movie 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 North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a sequence was filmed at the late Skyview Drive-In located in Florence, South Carolina (which operated until it burned down in 2007).
• The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was not used in the film. A building in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach was dressed by the producers as a stand-in.
• The Atlantic Beach Pavilion, in North Myrtle Beach was used for the final dance contest. Not long after the movie was completed, it burned down.
• The interior set used for the Clatterbug's main home in Spartanburg is exactly the same set used for their house in Myrtle Beach. A few small changes were made to make it look different.
• 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

The initial VHS home video version (3 June 1997) contained the music of the theatrical release. However legal copyright infringements led to a second VHS release {13 January 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 of the film (22 May 2001) is in the theatrical 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the music in the film is the copyright compliant version. It is not available on Blu-ray.

Soundtrack

The original soundtrack album was released by Sire/Warner Bros Records on 2 August 1989. It was available on vinyl, cassette and CD.

Tracks on the original soundtrack album.

1. The Shag - Tommy Page
2. I'm In Love Again - Randy Newman
3. Our Day Will Come - k.d. lang and The Reclines
4. Ready To Go Steady - The Charmettes
5. Shaggin' On The Grand Strand - Hank Ballard
6. Oh What A Night - The Moonlighters
7. Saved - La Vern Baker
8. I'm Leaving It All Up to You - La Vern Baker, Ben E. King
9. Surrender - Louise Gaffin
10. Diddley Daddy - Chris Isaak

Songs in the film, not on the soundtrack

* Bob & Earl " Harlem Shuffle

* The Sensations " Let Me In

* The Essex " Easier Said Than Done

* Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs " Stay (performed in the film by "Big Dan & The Sand Dollars", played by the Voltage Brothers)

* The Skyliners " Since I Don't Have You

* The Showmen " 39-21-40 Shape

* The Charmettes " Ready to Go Steady

* Major Lance " Monkey Time

* Royal Doulton Band " Dixie

* The Drifters " Up on the Roof

* The Drifters " Under the Boardwalk

* Jakki O " Ooo Aaah

* Bent Fabric " Alley Cat

* The Moonliters " Oh What a Night

* Elvis Presley " Blue Hawaii

* The Hollywood Argyles " Alley Oop

* Jackie Wilson " Baby Workout

* The Duprees " You Belong to Me

* The Dominoes " Sixty Minute Man (performed in the film by "Big Dan & the Sand Dollars," played by the Voltage Brothers)

* The Showmen " It Will Stand

* Lloyd Price " Stagger Lee

* Andy Paley - Catfight

* Ehm's Law - Weekend Whirlwind

* Ben E. King - Everyday I Have To Cry

Songs in the original theatrically released film, (Not on the copyright compliant home video}

* The Shirelles " Mama Said

* Sam Cooke " Another Saturday Night

* The Chiffons " He's So Fine

* The Duprees " You Belong to Me

Songs added on the copyright-compliant home video (Not in the original film)

* The Tams " What Kind of Fool

* k.d. lang and The Reclines " Seven Lonely Days