Taglines: Let’s blow this joint into another space zone.
Thank God It’s Friday movie storyline. It’s Friday night in Los Angeles, and the place to be is the Zoo, a disco where The Commodores are performing for a dance contest. The Zoo is owned by the smooth talking Tony Di Marco, a Lothario who is not averse to using his position to pick up women, single or not. Bobby Speed, the DJ, is doing a live radio broadcast, which may be his last if The Commodores don’t show up in time ready to perform.
That may not happen as the disco’s missing-in-action roadie Malcolm Floyd is having one problem after another getting the band’s instruments to the Zoo. Bobby’s job may also be on the line if Nicole Sims, an aspiring singer, gets her way in hijacking the DJ booth to play her demo and/or sings live over the airwaves. Frannie, with her best friend Jeannie in tow, has come to win the contest to earn enough money to buy tickets for the upcoming KISS concert. Their problem is that they may not even be able to get into the disco being underage.
New to town Jennifer, who is at the Zoo with her know-it-all when it comes to picking up men friend Maddy, just wants to meet a nice guy. Ken, who is at the Zoo with his near-sighted overconfident friend Carl, just wants to meet a nice girl. The primary question in this situation becomes whether nice girl Jennifer and nice guy Ken will ever meet each other in the crowded disco. Straight-laced couple Dave and Sue have just had their fifth wedding anniversary dinner out on the town and are about to go home, when Sue suggests they extend the evening by going to the Zoo instead.
While Sue is somewhat ready to party, Dave tries to overcome his fish-out-of-water status to keep up with his wife. Gus and Shirley, who meet at the disco on a computer blind date, have to decide to call it a night or stick around to make the best of a bad situation. And Marv Gomez, who is at the Zoo every night, can’t get into the groove until he changes into his “Leather Man” persona and gets onto the dance floor.
Thank God It’s Friday is a 1978 American musical disco comedy film directed by Robert Klane and produced by Motown Productions and Casablanca FilmWorks for Columbia Pictures. Produced at the height of the disco craze, the film features The Commodores performing “Too Hot ta Trot”, and Donna Summer performing “Last Dance”, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1978. The film features an early performance by Jeff Goldblum and the first major screen appearance by Debra Winger. The film also features Terri Nunn, who would go on to fame in the 1980s new wave group Berlin.
Friday Night Characters
Thank God It’s Friday tells several intertwining stories of the patrons and staff of the fictional Los Angeles disco nightclub The Zoo over the course of a single Friday evening. These persons include:
Thank God It’s Friday (1978)
Directed by: Robert Klane
Starring: Donna Summer, Valerie Landsburg, Debra Winger, Terri Nunn, Ray Vitte, Chick Vennera, Mark Lonow, Jeff Goldblum, Hilary Beane, John Friedrich, Chuck Sacci, Marianne Bunch
Screenplay by: Armyan Bernstein
Production Design by: Tom H. John
Cinematography by: James Crabe
Film Editing by: Richard Halsey
Costume Design by: Betsy Jones
Set Decoration by: Jeff Haley
Music by: Giorgio Moroder
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: May 19, 1978
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