I really wish they would release this on DVD. You gotta love those late 70's early 80's movies about Rollerskating. If you liked Rollerboogie, you'll love this! It's not a work of art, but it's a lot of fun, especially if you grew up in that time period. If anything it's fun to laugh at and say, "I really liked this crap?" How can you beat the all star cast of Scott Baio, Maureen McCormick, and that blonde guy who "acted" with Scott Baio as the jerky jock in Zapped. If you loved the 70's and afterschool specials, I highly suggest (if they ever release this) to give it a viewing. You'll laugh, you'll cry (that your actually having fun watching it), and it just might become your favorite movie about late 70's Rollerdisco.
16 Reviews
Roll and Rock
bkoganbing10 May 2015
Skatetown USA along with Roller Boogie is a celebration of that brief time that roller disco was ruling the youth culture. Unless you like the music scene, rollerskating, or want to see this variety of current and former performers from television stroll on the screen and do their bit one better avoid the film.
But the music and the choreographed skating numbers are the thing here and the plot such as it is just gets in the way. Scott Baio from The Valley is manager of skating brother and sister Greg Bradford and Maureen McCormick and he's brought them to that Mecca of roller disco palaces Skatetown USA to take on the champ Patrick Swayze who has a large and menacing posse. In fact Swayze will do just about anything to win so Baio has to be on his toes.
Flip Wilson owns Skatetown USA along with Billy Barty and Flip has some scenes as his drag character Geraldine. A whole lot of other familiar TV faces make an appearance and hopefully their paychecks cleared the bank.
Greg Bradford was and remains the ultimate surfer boy. He and Swayze are both talented dancers and the competition is fierce. This was Swayze's film debut. His acting chops were displayed later in his career.
Unless you are nostalgic for the era, Skatetown USA is not your film.
But the music and the choreographed skating numbers are the thing here and the plot such as it is just gets in the way. Scott Baio from The Valley is manager of skating brother and sister Greg Bradford and Maureen McCormick and he's brought them to that Mecca of roller disco palaces Skatetown USA to take on the champ Patrick Swayze who has a large and menacing posse. In fact Swayze will do just about anything to win so Baio has to be on his toes.
Flip Wilson owns Skatetown USA along with Billy Barty and Flip has some scenes as his drag character Geraldine. A whole lot of other familiar TV faces make an appearance and hopefully their paychecks cleared the bank.
Greg Bradford was and remains the ultimate surfer boy. He and Swayze are both talented dancers and the competition is fierce. This was Swayze's film debut. His acting chops were displayed later in his career.
Unless you are nostalgic for the era, Skatetown USA is not your film.
Ehh.... it is what it is
xwaterskier19 November 2008
I found this movie on DVD at missed movies dot com, but it was clearly dubbed off a mid-grade VHS copy, so expect it to play like an episode of Chips your uncle recorded on his brand-new $800 VCR, back in 1981. If I were Patrick Swayze, I would've bought the rights to this movie years ago and buried it. One must be impressed with his skate/dancing prowess though. His "gang" looked like they could get beat up by the gang in the Michael Jackson Beat It video.
It's basically a long, disco rollerskating music video, with a few jokes from Flip Wilson and the Unknown comic thrown in the mix.
Besides seeing Horseshack and Marsha Brady, one of the pizza guys at the snack bar was the therapist in There's Something About Mary, although I can't seem to find his credit in either film.
It's basically a long, disco rollerskating music video, with a few jokes from Flip Wilson and the Unknown comic thrown in the mix.
Besides seeing Horseshack and Marsha Brady, one of the pizza guys at the snack bar was the therapist in There's Something About Mary, although I can't seem to find his credit in either film.
Another roller disco....
bigdinosaur27 July 2001
As with "Xanadu", "Roller Boogie", etc. you have to watch this one and decide for yourself. If you liked those other disco movies, you'll very probably like "Skatetown U.S.A."
The basic plot consists of clashing roller skate gangs and who's going to win the contest.
Actually it's not bad in some respects. Much better skating sequences than Xanadu for example. And the cast combined a lot of teen talent of the time; Baio, Swayze, etc. (In fact I believe this was Swayze's first film). The story is predictable and weak, but it's the music that makes this type of film. I also liked the wild-haired DJ!
I wish this film would be released on video. My copy is a 16mm print with mono sound. I'm sure a stereo track would enhance it quite a bit.
Skatetown U.S.A. has never been released on video and I've never heard of it being aired on TV so it might be tough to find a copy.
The basic plot consists of clashing roller skate gangs and who's going to win the contest.
Actually it's not bad in some respects. Much better skating sequences than Xanadu for example. And the cast combined a lot of teen talent of the time; Baio, Swayze, etc. (In fact I believe this was Swayze's first film). The story is predictable and weak, but it's the music that makes this type of film. I also liked the wild-haired DJ!
I wish this film would be released on video. My copy is a 16mm print with mono sound. I'm sure a stereo track would enhance it quite a bit.
Skatetown U.S.A. has never been released on video and I've never heard of it being aired on TV so it might be tough to find a copy.
ELO is here. Extra lousy opus.
mark.waltz5 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Roller Boogie" and "Xanadu" are the "42nd Street" and "An American in Paris" of roller skating disco musicals compared to this, the "Kissing Bandit" of the genre, one that makes "The Apple" look good. The issue here isn't the story. There barely is one. The issue is not the music. It's every disco song that was rereleased on a Ronco or K-Tel album available for TV commercial mail order. It's not the cast. Everybody here is well known in one form or another. that brings the reason for this being such a fiasco down to one simple reason. The execution.
The slight story, what it there is, comes down to a Jets and Sharks like rivalry over who will win the contest at the Skatetown USA. It's clean-cut Scott Baio and Greg Bradford gang vs. the sloppy Patrick Swayze and Ron Papillon gang. We're supposed to believe that Flip Wilson and Billy Barty are the brothers who are co-owners of the rink, maybe comical on paper but executed horribly. Swayze have later in "Dirty Dancing", and Palillo in a beard looks like a troll doll and lacks the sweetness of his TV role of Horshack.
Poor Maureen McCormick really seems to have no purpose in being there, and Flip Wilson as a Geraldine like character flops rather than flips. The snack bar cook is supposed to emulate Oliver Hardy but is not even worthy of a chuckle. Then there's Ruth Buzzi and Sandra Gould, the Miss Gulch and Chastity Pariah like characters who show up with the intention of closing the "den of iniquity" down. Appearances of several "Gong Show" regular comics offer a string of ridiculously idiotic jokes, making me feel like one of the audience members in "The Producers" with mouth agape at "Springtime For Hitler".
What bothered me about the musical numbers here is that seem to think that just by stuffing the roller rink with a bunch of skaters, it's going to make it look like they are well choreographed. Some of the musical numbers actually appear to be filmed in slow motion with your typical MTV choreography that makes them just odd. In the 40+ years since it's theatrical showing, has not had a commercial video, and I can see why.
The slight story, what it there is, comes down to a Jets and Sharks like rivalry over who will win the contest at the Skatetown USA. It's clean-cut Scott Baio and Greg Bradford gang vs. the sloppy Patrick Swayze and Ron Papillon gang. We're supposed to believe that Flip Wilson and Billy Barty are the brothers who are co-owners of the rink, maybe comical on paper but executed horribly. Swayze have later in "Dirty Dancing", and Palillo in a beard looks like a troll doll and lacks the sweetness of his TV role of Horshack.
Poor Maureen McCormick really seems to have no purpose in being there, and Flip Wilson as a Geraldine like character flops rather than flips. The snack bar cook is supposed to emulate Oliver Hardy but is not even worthy of a chuckle. Then there's Ruth Buzzi and Sandra Gould, the Miss Gulch and Chastity Pariah like characters who show up with the intention of closing the "den of iniquity" down. Appearances of several "Gong Show" regular comics offer a string of ridiculously idiotic jokes, making me feel like one of the audience members in "The Producers" with mouth agape at "Springtime For Hitler".
What bothered me about the musical numbers here is that seem to think that just by stuffing the roller rink with a bunch of skaters, it's going to make it look like they are well choreographed. Some of the musical numbers actually appear to be filmed in slow motion with your typical MTV choreography that makes them just odd. In the 40+ years since it's theatrical showing, has not had a commercial video, and I can see why.
Better off forgotten
sjohnsontx11 March 2002
This movie falls in with ALL of the disco movies....it is better off mothballed and forgotten. As most of the disco era movies go, they reflect a time that is ridiculed for the idiocy that goes hand in hand with Disco music.
Mindless fun...if you enjoy mindless fun
newslogger4413 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I usually avoid films of this genre because they're so obviously pretentious, slap-dashed together with dumb plots, goofy dialog, and stupid jokes spoken by unrealistic people whom I could never identify with. How many viewers could, anyway?
Nevertheless, I made an exception with Skatetown U. S. A. As I only wanted to see what role perky Maureen McCormick would play following her long stint in The Brady Bunch TV series (which, by the way, I never watched either). I expected another Sally Field type, I suppose.
In Skatetown U. S. A., McCormick plays Susan, the presumed roller-skating partner of her brother Stan, played by Greg Bradford.
I say "presumed" because, oddly enough, Susan never actually accompanies Stan in any of the scheduled skating competitions whatsoever! Instead, despite the fact she's dressed up as a hottie-cutie-pie, she is inexplicably presented as overly-flirty, superficial eye-candy who, even more inexplicably, in the plot ends up supporting and aligning herself with the competing skating team, here played by Patrick Swayze and his crew. And, as if that's not bad enough, it even looks and sounds as if she's stoned in a scene where's she's sitting in a stolen car next to one of Swayze's toadies who she has somehow "fallen for".
I haven't read McCormick's autobiography yet, so I'll have to find out what, if anything, she has to say about Skatetown U. S. A.
More about the plot, why was it even necessary for Swayze to bully and threaten everyone (often with his switchblade knife!) when he was clearly shown to be the most talented skater? In fact, neither Stan nor any of the other contestants in the movie were that memorable to begin with.
I could be wrong, but I even have my doubts that Greg Bradford himself did any actual skating in the contest. Since he wore a white eye-mask and was in the distance, it could very well have been a body double performing. Furthermore, it's entirely possible that McCormick herself had little to no roller-skating talent, which would explain why her scenes were so minimal.
With Susan having irresponsibly disappeared from sight at the critical moment when Stan was required to perform with her as his registered skating partner, he ended up partnering instead with Swayze's sister (!), of all people--a situation that logically would have disqualified Stan as a contestant to begin with!
I'm not sure that a PG rating would make it acceptable for children. Since other commenters have pointed out various features of Skatetown U. S. A. That make one groan, I'll leave it here.
Nevertheless, I made an exception with Skatetown U. S. A. As I only wanted to see what role perky Maureen McCormick would play following her long stint in The Brady Bunch TV series (which, by the way, I never watched either). I expected another Sally Field type, I suppose.
In Skatetown U. S. A., McCormick plays Susan, the presumed roller-skating partner of her brother Stan, played by Greg Bradford.
I say "presumed" because, oddly enough, Susan never actually accompanies Stan in any of the scheduled skating competitions whatsoever! Instead, despite the fact she's dressed up as a hottie-cutie-pie, she is inexplicably presented as overly-flirty, superficial eye-candy who, even more inexplicably, in the plot ends up supporting and aligning herself with the competing skating team, here played by Patrick Swayze and his crew. And, as if that's not bad enough, it even looks and sounds as if she's stoned in a scene where's she's sitting in a stolen car next to one of Swayze's toadies who she has somehow "fallen for".
I haven't read McCormick's autobiography yet, so I'll have to find out what, if anything, she has to say about Skatetown U. S. A.
More about the plot, why was it even necessary for Swayze to bully and threaten everyone (often with his switchblade knife!) when he was clearly shown to be the most talented skater? In fact, neither Stan nor any of the other contestants in the movie were that memorable to begin with.
I could be wrong, but I even have my doubts that Greg Bradford himself did any actual skating in the contest. Since he wore a white eye-mask and was in the distance, it could very well have been a body double performing. Furthermore, it's entirely possible that McCormick herself had little to no roller-skating talent, which would explain why her scenes were so minimal.
With Susan having irresponsibly disappeared from sight at the critical moment when Stan was required to perform with her as his registered skating partner, he ended up partnering instead with Swayze's sister (!), of all people--a situation that logically would have disqualified Stan as a contestant to begin with!
I'm not sure that a PG rating would make it acceptable for children. Since other commenters have pointed out various features of Skatetown U. S. A. That make one groan, I'll leave it here.
Wretched
psionchronicles8 January 2023
"Let's film a skate contest at an impressive rink and find some way to work a movie around it." As a kid, I was big into disco but never got around to seeing this movie until today. After looking at the cast, my expectations weren't high, but... wow. The sole good point was that the soundtrack was better than "Roller Boogie", but why did they have to use "Boogie Wonderland" AGAIN in a roller disco movie? Dave Mason wasn't even a disco artist and somehow wound up in this movie.
The script is LAUGHABLY bad and the dialogue seems to be written by a 12-year-old, made somehow worse by all-around lousy acting and directing. The cast is comprised of TV comedy actors who couldn't get hired for anything else that year. Even Maureen McCormick's hotness was negated by the part they wrote for her. Most of the women spend their time giving flirty looks when they aren't behaving stupidly (like how an 8-year-old IMAGINES grown women act and speak in a club). As far as the "skater gang" idea: how tough can you really be in disco uniforms on roller skates? For a disco movie to work at all, you need at least one actor/actress with extreme sex appeal to take your mind off the fad saturation, and Swayze wasn't quite there yet.
It's not funny. It's not romantic. I'd have been better off watching somebody fart for an hour and a half. Kudos to Patrick Swayze's career for surviving this.
Ugh.
The script is LAUGHABLY bad and the dialogue seems to be written by a 12-year-old, made somehow worse by all-around lousy acting and directing. The cast is comprised of TV comedy actors who couldn't get hired for anything else that year. Even Maureen McCormick's hotness was negated by the part they wrote for her. Most of the women spend their time giving flirty looks when they aren't behaving stupidly (like how an 8-year-old IMAGINES grown women act and speak in a club). As far as the "skater gang" idea: how tough can you really be in disco uniforms on roller skates? For a disco movie to work at all, you need at least one actor/actress with extreme sex appeal to take your mind off the fad saturation, and Swayze wasn't quite there yet.
It's not funny. It's not romantic. I'd have been better off watching somebody fart for an hour and a half. Kudos to Patrick Swayze's career for surviving this.
Ugh.
Skatetown
BandSAboutMovies20 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
No less an authority than Jaclyn Smith described Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace as "Studio 54 on wheels." For the two years it was open (1979-1981), this West Hollywood spot to be was inside a golden-domed art deco building on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Cienega. It was the kind of place where The Go-Go's would play as the rich and famous skated, often semi-nude as the dress code was pretty much whatever you want to wear. Or not wear. Now, a modern version has been opened in New York (with more coming) by creator Ian "Flipper" Ross' daughter Liberty.
Skatetown, U. S. A. Was based on Flipper's but was instead shot at the Hollywood Palladium (and you can also see Lawrence Welk's bubble machine). Between all the athletic skating - Patrick Swayze was a competitive skater in his teenage years - there are plenty of wacky subplots, because for some reason, Hollywood bosses thought the kids wanted to see itching powder, Ruth Buzzi, Joe E. Ross, Billy Barty and Unknown Comic Murray Langston crack wise.
The real story is between Richie (Scott Baio) and Ace Johnson (Swayze) who are competing to win a thousand dollars and a moped. Yes, 1979 did not have big prizes. There are also roles for Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormick (who said "Like a disco, there was a lot of cocaine being done on the set. Many people were open about it," and by many people, she means her), Judy Landers, Horseshack from Welcome Back, Kotter, a pizza-eating Dorothy Stratton and David Landsberg, who would go on to be in the Cannon movies Detective School Dropouts and Dutch Treat. There's also a DJ named The Wizard (Denny Johnston) who shoots laser beams out of his hands. Well, one night, Niles Rogers literally roller skated to Flipper's to do a set. Top that, Wizard.
Director William A. Lavey also made Blackenstein, The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington and Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman. He also wrote the script with Landsberg's future comedy partner Lorin Dreyfuss and Nick Castle. Yes, a year after Halloween, Nick Castle was pounding the keys to write this roller skating movie.
Billed as "The Rock and Roller Disco Movie of the Year!" most people said, "Yeah, sure."
Skatetown, U. S. A. Was based on Flipper's but was instead shot at the Hollywood Palladium (and you can also see Lawrence Welk's bubble machine). Between all the athletic skating - Patrick Swayze was a competitive skater in his teenage years - there are plenty of wacky subplots, because for some reason, Hollywood bosses thought the kids wanted to see itching powder, Ruth Buzzi, Joe E. Ross, Billy Barty and Unknown Comic Murray Langston crack wise.
The real story is between Richie (Scott Baio) and Ace Johnson (Swayze) who are competing to win a thousand dollars and a moped. Yes, 1979 did not have big prizes. There are also roles for Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormick (who said "Like a disco, there was a lot of cocaine being done on the set. Many people were open about it," and by many people, she means her), Judy Landers, Horseshack from Welcome Back, Kotter, a pizza-eating Dorothy Stratton and David Landsberg, who would go on to be in the Cannon movies Detective School Dropouts and Dutch Treat. There's also a DJ named The Wizard (Denny Johnston) who shoots laser beams out of his hands. Well, one night, Niles Rogers literally roller skated to Flipper's to do a set. Top that, Wizard.
Director William A. Lavey also made Blackenstein, The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington and Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman. He also wrote the script with Landsberg's future comedy partner Lorin Dreyfuss and Nick Castle. Yes, a year after Halloween, Nick Castle was pounding the keys to write this roller skating movie.
Billed as "The Rock and Roller Disco Movie of the Year!" most people said, "Yeah, sure."
Reminds me of what it was like to be 7 years old in June
rowman222220 June 2006
Alright, Star Wars was the movie for every other 7-year old at the time, as it was for me. But seeing this film after more than twenty years instantly invaded my senses. I smelled the popcorn, felt the heat of summer, and the heard handful of change my friends and I would use to get into the double features playing at a theater that has long since been bulldozed for a mega Gap store. It has all of the elements of a perfect summer movie. Action, romance, Maureen McCormick in tight shorts, Billy Barty in a characteristic though cliché tuxedo, and music. Plus, it gave us Patrick Swayze in his first screen role.
Now the plot is as formulaic as they come. Basically a dumbed down Romeo and Juliet on roller skates with bad disco on the Jersey Pier. Greg Bradford, who did nothing before or after this movie, is a young and studley out of towner whose sister, Maureen McCormick, takes him to the local skate, disco, super-rally-roller-rink where he acts like an a pathetically nieve boy next door type; but with blonde hair and biceps. No surprises when he falls instantly in love with the pettiest, most aloof girl in the joint. This ballerina on rubber wheels just happens to be the kid sister of Ace Johnson. Aka Patrick Swayze. ACE, isn't that a great name for the leader of a tough talking, fast moving, skate gang.? So, no surprises, Ace isn't thrilled with his kid sister and the new guy. There's a lot of empty threats from the Ace and members of the tough talking skater boys and notable appearances by Scott Baio who, as a friend of Maureen McCormick, tries to defuse the situation.
Of course he can't keep things from degrading, which they do, first into a "skate off" which might as well have been filmed on ice for how choreographed as feminine it was. And then it degrades further into a skate death match. Now this is where the movie is really trying hard to be as formula as possible without looking like they are trying to be formula. Now in a regular testosterone-machismo film, this is where the two can't back down let alone think teenagers would match up in a car race towards a cliff before they ditch at the last second and send their muscle cars over a cliff making us all cry. There are no cliffs in Jersey and this is a roller skate movie. The testosterone is tainted with estrogen, the pants are too tight, the skates are laced even tighter, and they race each other down a pier towards the Atlantic ocean on rocket powered skates. I kid you not.
I don't want to give away anything else, but I will say that the most challenging thing about this film is obtaining a copy. They never produced in on VHS. It hasn't been shown in years and years in a theater. Never shown on TV to my knowledge. And no plans for a DVD release that I have heard of. I just happen to have a bootleg copy that I had to sell my soul for. Cheers
Now the plot is as formulaic as they come. Basically a dumbed down Romeo and Juliet on roller skates with bad disco on the Jersey Pier. Greg Bradford, who did nothing before or after this movie, is a young and studley out of towner whose sister, Maureen McCormick, takes him to the local skate, disco, super-rally-roller-rink where he acts like an a pathetically nieve boy next door type; but with blonde hair and biceps. No surprises when he falls instantly in love with the pettiest, most aloof girl in the joint. This ballerina on rubber wheels just happens to be the kid sister of Ace Johnson. Aka Patrick Swayze. ACE, isn't that a great name for the leader of a tough talking, fast moving, skate gang.? So, no surprises, Ace isn't thrilled with his kid sister and the new guy. There's a lot of empty threats from the Ace and members of the tough talking skater boys and notable appearances by Scott Baio who, as a friend of Maureen McCormick, tries to defuse the situation.
Of course he can't keep things from degrading, which they do, first into a "skate off" which might as well have been filmed on ice for how choreographed as feminine it was. And then it degrades further into a skate death match. Now this is where the movie is really trying hard to be as formula as possible without looking like they are trying to be formula. Now in a regular testosterone-machismo film, this is where the two can't back down let alone think teenagers would match up in a car race towards a cliff before they ditch at the last second and send their muscle cars over a cliff making us all cry. There are no cliffs in Jersey and this is a roller skate movie. The testosterone is tainted with estrogen, the pants are too tight, the skates are laced even tighter, and they race each other down a pier towards the Atlantic ocean on rocket powered skates. I kid you not.
I don't want to give away anything else, but I will say that the most challenging thing about this film is obtaining a copy. They never produced in on VHS. It hasn't been shown in years and years in a theater. Never shown on TV to my knowledge. And no plans for a DVD release that I have heard of. I just happen to have a bootleg copy that I had to sell my soul for. Cheers
Time Capsule from 1979, and DVD rights.
hank_das_tank885 February 2009
Well as a former U.S. Marine and roller-skater myself, this film has considerable interest for me. I saw it twice when it first came out. After that, it was about 28 years, until I got my 16mm transfer DVD. Quality isn't the greatest but its good enough to bring back those memories, at least until it comes out on DVD or Blu-Ray DVD. Colors on the transfer are rather muted but I'm sure a Blu-Ray transfer from the original masters will really make this movie sparkle.
Of course those of us who saw Skatetown remember how cheesy this flick was. I won't repeat most of what already has been written but will post a few of my own observations.
One of my favorite sequences was the performance by a skating group known as the "Jerry Nifta Skaters", probably due to the cool remix version of the Jackson's "Shake Your Body" used for their performance (which played quite a bit at the Roller City 2001 rink in Riverside CA back then). Great skating but I kept wondering about the really gorgeous blonde girl in the group. She looked great, mostly a nice figure and wore a rather revealing top. Problem is she had almost nothing to reveal leading me to wonder if she's a he, or is she a tall 11 year old girl? Regardless, they put on a good show.
Of course Patrick Swayze does miracles for any film he's in, even this one in the role which can best be described as a cross between a tough gang leader and a totally gay male ice skater (no prejudice against gays here, just describing the point). But as a lot of us would say, c'mon now, a skating gang?? I see a lot of us Skatetown "fans" are wondering about the rink itself and did this rink really exist. I've seen comments that the rink was actually a specially constructed studio set and doesn't really exist. But some folks have stated that some scenes were filmed in a actual rink, including one claiming to be a extra and stating that a rink in Sherman Oaks, CA was used. Another stated that the Hollywood Palladium was used and from the interior shots I've been able to find, this makes sense. Hopefully if it ever comes out on DVD, the DVD will have some extras to tell us more about where this was filmed (unlike "Thank God Its Friday" DVD which had NO extras).
As for musical rights maybe holding up any DVD release, I'm not sure what to believe. Makes some sense but then again, "Saturday Night Fever" and "Thank God Its Friday" both had a lot of hit songs on their soundtracks and would have the same problem with musical rights. Yet both are out on DVD, albeit TGIF took a while.
When this movie first came out, no one knew that disco was only a few months (if not weeks) away from heading over the cultural cliff into total cultural disrepute. I'm sure the movie makers were disappointed that the accompanying roller disco "craze" was so brief and their movie didn't do so well at the box office.
To sum up, this movie is a definite 1979 time capsule with everything from disco music, to sparking white-afro'd DJs, feathered hairstyles of the day, girls in outfits that would have them barred from the rinks that I frequented in my youth, even in 1979 (I'd swear that a couple of those outfits were predecessors to Victoria's Secret skimpy 1-piece swimsuits), and a overabundance of pink and purple but that might be the muted colors on the DVD transfer.
Fair to say, Skatetown USA is becoming a true "cult classic", much like "Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Night of the Comet" which leads to hope that it will eventually be out on DVD/Blu-Ray.
Of course those of us who saw Skatetown remember how cheesy this flick was. I won't repeat most of what already has been written but will post a few of my own observations.
One of my favorite sequences was the performance by a skating group known as the "Jerry Nifta Skaters", probably due to the cool remix version of the Jackson's "Shake Your Body" used for their performance (which played quite a bit at the Roller City 2001 rink in Riverside CA back then). Great skating but I kept wondering about the really gorgeous blonde girl in the group. She looked great, mostly a nice figure and wore a rather revealing top. Problem is she had almost nothing to reveal leading me to wonder if she's a he, or is she a tall 11 year old girl? Regardless, they put on a good show.
Of course Patrick Swayze does miracles for any film he's in, even this one in the role which can best be described as a cross between a tough gang leader and a totally gay male ice skater (no prejudice against gays here, just describing the point). But as a lot of us would say, c'mon now, a skating gang?? I see a lot of us Skatetown "fans" are wondering about the rink itself and did this rink really exist. I've seen comments that the rink was actually a specially constructed studio set and doesn't really exist. But some folks have stated that some scenes were filmed in a actual rink, including one claiming to be a extra and stating that a rink in Sherman Oaks, CA was used. Another stated that the Hollywood Palladium was used and from the interior shots I've been able to find, this makes sense. Hopefully if it ever comes out on DVD, the DVD will have some extras to tell us more about where this was filmed (unlike "Thank God Its Friday" DVD which had NO extras).
As for musical rights maybe holding up any DVD release, I'm not sure what to believe. Makes some sense but then again, "Saturday Night Fever" and "Thank God Its Friday" both had a lot of hit songs on their soundtracks and would have the same problem with musical rights. Yet both are out on DVD, albeit TGIF took a while.
When this movie first came out, no one knew that disco was only a few months (if not weeks) away from heading over the cultural cliff into total cultural disrepute. I'm sure the movie makers were disappointed that the accompanying roller disco "craze" was so brief and their movie didn't do so well at the box office.
To sum up, this movie is a definite 1979 time capsule with everything from disco music, to sparking white-afro'd DJs, feathered hairstyles of the day, girls in outfits that would have them barred from the rinks that I frequented in my youth, even in 1979 (I'd swear that a couple of those outfits were predecessors to Victoria's Secret skimpy 1-piece swimsuits), and a overabundance of pink and purple but that might be the muted colors on the DVD transfer.
Fair to say, Skatetown USA is becoming a true "cult classic", much like "Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Night of the Comet" which leads to hope that it will eventually be out on DVD/Blu-Ray.
The second best of the disco type films
rlcsljo26 March 2000
I know this isn't saying much, but after Saturday Night Fever, this was the best of the disco themed movies. Unlike SNF, this movie took the tact of most other disco films and tried to capture the "fun" side of disco, and greatly succeeds where many others of this type failed.Although most of the skits are only mildly amusing, the characterizations are on the money and work well.As with any musical, the dance numbers and songs make this movie and really make you want to dance and sing along with it(if you know how to roller skate)Once again, if you want a semi-historical document that seems to capture the tone of disco, this is a classic.
It's nowhere near the masterpiece Xanadu is, but it's still campy fun nevertheless.
San Franciscan12 September 2003
I never did understand why most audiences didn't go for XANADU. That movie had a huge cult following upon its theatrical release; while being considered a box office dud, it had the sort of presence that granted it an instant cult classic among musicals. I know tons and tons of people who love both the movie and the soundtrack dearly, and I've noticed that they are all the same personality I am--namely, folks who are starry-eyed by nature, have a strong sense of poetic beauty and grew up with before-Eisner Walt Disney movies.
Story has it that SKATETOWN, U.S.A. was deliberately pushed back a couple of years or so the moment word got out that XANADU was in the works, for apparently the makers of this flick didn't want to chance XANADU's destroying it. They needn't have worried. This thing didn't have a chance to begin with. SKATETOWN is far, far, FAR inferior to the wonderful and delightful XANADU. It doesn't begin to even hold a candle to XANADU, which lives up to its title.
And yet, SKATETOWN, U.S.A. is campy fun in its own way, a time capsule from the disco era that brings back memories despite obvious flaws in direction, choppy editing that insists on slashing the footage of some genuinely spectacular skating stunts before you can fully enjoy them, and a story that is nonexistant at best.
The music makes this movie, hands down. It has a wonderful theme song and original songs as well as a whole slew of disco staples that are now truly timeless classics. And of course all the skating is a blast. And gotta love that goofball D.J. with his sparkle afro!
There's one thing that seriously ruins my enjoyment of this film though. An annoying overweight worker at the snack bar who has a thing for hot dogs. This guy is just... seriously, he's disgusting! He's so gross and lacking in personal hygiene and basic cleanliness that... well, would *YOU* buy food from this guy? I swear, I lose all appetite (especially for hot dogs) upon seeing this guy in action. I'll be sitting there enjoying a wonderful skate dance set to gorgeous music, only to have the camera suddenly cut away to this jerk's gross antics. Edit him OUT entirely and this film would be much, much better and more carefree.
Oh, and you haven't lived until you hear this flick's answer to the question "You saved my life... Why?"
Story has it that SKATETOWN, U.S.A. was deliberately pushed back a couple of years or so the moment word got out that XANADU was in the works, for apparently the makers of this flick didn't want to chance XANADU's destroying it. They needn't have worried. This thing didn't have a chance to begin with. SKATETOWN is far, far, FAR inferior to the wonderful and delightful XANADU. It doesn't begin to even hold a candle to XANADU, which lives up to its title.
And yet, SKATETOWN, U.S.A. is campy fun in its own way, a time capsule from the disco era that brings back memories despite obvious flaws in direction, choppy editing that insists on slashing the footage of some genuinely spectacular skating stunts before you can fully enjoy them, and a story that is nonexistant at best.
The music makes this movie, hands down. It has a wonderful theme song and original songs as well as a whole slew of disco staples that are now truly timeless classics. And of course all the skating is a blast. And gotta love that goofball D.J. with his sparkle afro!
There's one thing that seriously ruins my enjoyment of this film though. An annoying overweight worker at the snack bar who has a thing for hot dogs. This guy is just... seriously, he's disgusting! He's so gross and lacking in personal hygiene and basic cleanliness that... well, would *YOU* buy food from this guy? I swear, I lose all appetite (especially for hot dogs) upon seeing this guy in action. I'll be sitting there enjoying a wonderful skate dance set to gorgeous music, only to have the camera suddenly cut away to this jerk's gross antics. Edit him OUT entirely and this film would be much, much better and more carefree.
Oh, and you haven't lived until you hear this flick's answer to the question "You saved my life... Why?"
How Can You Not Love This?
chow91317 July 2013
This is the very definition of a guilty pleasure film.
Teenage blondes in hot pants and mini skirts, Scott Baio, Marcia Brady, stoners, food fights, midgets, cross dressers, and "Introducing Patrick Swayze" it all takes place within one night within the wall of Skatetown USA!
The plot: Yes, there actually is a plot. True to the Greek unity of time and place the entire film is set in one night inside a roller disco which appears to be the space ship from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' only BRIGHTER!
The night starts with Scott Baio placing huge bets that his rookie friend Stan can sweep the roller disco competition. But there are troubles in techno paradise as Patrick Swayze and his Ron Jeremy look alike gang arrive on scene and black mail Flip Wilson (no puns intended) Skatetown USA's owner into rigging the contest.
Swayze's performance boldly says that no closet can hold him. But Stan's puts John Travolta performance in 'Staying Alive' to shame.
All in all this is a fun film that never takes itself to seriously. There's some good music which is difficult for the 70s and some really impressive dance scenes. There's also plenty of PG T&A.
Teenage blondes in hot pants and mini skirts, Scott Baio, Marcia Brady, stoners, food fights, midgets, cross dressers, and "Introducing Patrick Swayze" it all takes place within one night within the wall of Skatetown USA!
The plot: Yes, there actually is a plot. True to the Greek unity of time and place the entire film is set in one night inside a roller disco which appears to be the space ship from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' only BRIGHTER!
The night starts with Scott Baio placing huge bets that his rookie friend Stan can sweep the roller disco competition. But there are troubles in techno paradise as Patrick Swayze and his Ron Jeremy look alike gang arrive on scene and black mail Flip Wilson (no puns intended) Skatetown USA's owner into rigging the contest.
Swayze's performance boldly says that no closet can hold him. But Stan's puts John Travolta performance in 'Staying Alive' to shame.
All in all this is a fun film that never takes itself to seriously. There's some good music which is difficult for the 70s and some really impressive dance scenes. There's also plenty of PG T&A.
This movie rules man!
ceci_sgirl10 April 2008
I really loved this movie it was so cool and oh man Patrick Swayze looked so hunky. I am also a big fan of Kelly Lang she is one of my favorite actresses from Bold and the Beautiful she was so young and beautiful and she still looks hot. I would love to see this movie again again and again I love 70's disco skating movies. I love all the wonderful skating tricks that are performed it really was just great. Also the blonde guy in the movie was pretty hot too is he in any other popular movies? Also I really liked that little short guy he really made the movie fun and wonderful to watch as well as miss Marcia Brady herself in that nice little outfit she wore wow! She has good taste in skating attire. Oh and let us not forget the skate town doctor he was really just funny man cool guy love the actor. You just got to watch this movie.
Get a Copy
kimpossible19693 May 2006
If anyone knows where i can get a copy, please email me at kimpossible1969@sbcglobal.net I have been looking for this movie for a long time. I called everywhere I have looked on line and it is no where to be found. I don't understand how you can get movies from the fifty's but you can get a movie made in 1975. Any ideas would greatly be appreciated. Out of all the movies i remember this one the most as a child and would love to get it. I loved this movie. I thought for sure there would be more people looking for it. Going skating in the 70's as a child and then going to see this movie was a great memory for me.
Thank you! Kim :0)
Thank you! Kim :0)
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