Shag (1989 film)
Encyclopedia
Shag 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
.
and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a scene 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.
Though it was not a big hit when initially released, in recent years it has become something of a cult film
to fans of beach music
and the Carolina Shag
. According to IMDB.com, 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.
The film was released in the United States on July 21, 1989, and grossed approximately $6.9 million at the US Box Office. Commercially, the film is considered a flop but has since developed a cult-like following.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
, Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates is an American film actress, model, and entrepreneur known for her roles in several teen films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.-Early life:...
, Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish is an American actress known for starring roles in Shag, Mystic Pizza and Double Jeopardy. She is best known for her roles as Special Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing and as Eileen Caffee on the Showtime drama Brotherhood.-Personal...
, Page Hannah
Page Hannah
Page Hannah is an American television and film actress. She is married to Lou Adler and the couple have four sons, Manny, Ike, Pablo, and Oscar. She is the sister of actress Daryl Hannah...
, Jeff Yagher
Jeff Yagher
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Yagher is an American actor.Born in Lawrence, Kansas, he graduated from Ohio State University and then attended the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where he appeared in productions of "The Vultures", "We Can't Pay, We Won't Play", and "Las Madres".His television debut was in...
and Scott Coffey
Scott Coffey
Scott Coffey is an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter. His acting credits include films such as Shag, Some Kind of Wonderful, Dream Lover, and Mulholland Drive...
. The film features Carolina shag
Carolina shag
Carolina Shag is a six-count partner dance done mostly to moderate tempo music . During the dance the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork. The lead is the center of attention, and the follow's steps either mirror the lead's or mark time while the lead...
dancing and was produced in cooperation with the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Film Commission. The soundtrack album was on Sire
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
/Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
Plot
The film is a lighthearted story of four teenage girlfriends of various temperaments who escape their parents for a few days in 1963 for 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. Filmed primarily in Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a scene 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.
Though it was not a big hit when initially released, in recent years it has become something of a cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
to fans of beach music
Beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
and the Carolina Shag
Carolina shag
Carolina Shag is a six-count partner dance done mostly to moderate tempo music . During the dance the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork. The lead is the center of attention, and the follow's steps either mirror the lead's or mark time while the lead...
. According to IMDB.com, 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.
The film was released in the United States on July 21, 1989, and grossed approximately $6.9 million at the US Box Office. Commercially, the film is considered a flop but has since developed a cult-like following.
Cast
- Phoebe CatesPhoebe CatesPhoebe Cates is an American film actress, model, and entrepreneur known for her roles in several teen films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.-Early life:...
as Carson McBride, the beautiful socialite who is set to marry a tobacco executive's son - Bridget FondaBridget FondaBridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
as Melaina Buller, the promiscuous preacher's daughter with bigger dreams - Annabeth GishAnnabeth GishAnnabeth Gish is an American actress known for starring roles in Shag, Mystic Pizza and Double Jeopardy. She is best known for her roles as Special Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing and as Eileen Caffee on the Showtime drama Brotherhood.-Personal...
as Caroline "Pudge" Carmichael, the formerly overweight, hometown cutie - Page HannahPage HannahPage Hannah is an American television and film actress. She is married to Lou Adler and the couple have four sons, Manny, Ike, Pablo, and Oscar. She is the sister of actress Daryl Hannah...
as Luanne Clatterbuck, the uptight senator's daughter - Robert RuslerRobert RuslerRobert Rusler is an American film and television actor.Rusler was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Maria Elena and Richard C. Rusler. He moved to Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, where he started surfing and skateboarding on a semi-professional level, competiting in local tournaments...
as Buzz Ravenel, the townie boy whose come-ons snare Carson - Scott CoffeyScott CoffeyScott Coffey is an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter. His acting credits include films such as Shag, Some Kind of Wonderful, Dream Lover, and Mulholland Drive...
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 YagherJeff YagherJeffrey Brian "Jeff" Yagher is an American actor.Born in Lawrence, Kansas, he graduated from Ohio State University and then attended the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where he appeared in productions of "The Vultures", "We Can't Pay, We Won't Play", and "Las Madres".His television debut was in...
as Jimmy Valentine, a semi-famous Frankie Avalon wanna-be - Carrie HamiltonCarrie HamiltonCarrie Louise Hamilton was an American actress, singer, and playwright. She was the daughter of comedienne/actress Carol Burnett and producer Joe Hamilton.-Life:...
as Nadine, a white-trash townie who is jealous of the girls - Leilani SarelleLeilani SarelleLeilani Sarelle is an American actress whose most notable role to date has been the character Roxy in Basic Instinct.-Personal life:...
as Suette