In 2010, Saturday Night Fever was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Travolta’s energetic performance is centerstage. When he is on the dance floor, you cannot take your eyes off of him. When he moves, he is like a peacock strutting his stuff, and though he seems self-absorbed, he is aware of the attention that he needs–and gets–from the spectators.
The movie gets right the romantic pull of the disco subculture, the hypnotic drug-like addiction to its music.
When the music stops, and Travolta is off the stage, the movie becomes more conventional in its narrative and characterization.
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