Shag *** (1988, Phoebe Cates, Scott Coffey, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish, Page Hannah) – Classic Movie Review 12,277

Director Zelda Barron’s 1988 musical comedy film Shag is a teenage nostalgia entertainment set in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the summer of 1963, and stars Phoebe Cates, Scott Coffey, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish, Page Hannah, Robert Rusler, Tyrone Power Jr, Jeff Yager, and Shirley Anne Field.

Shag is a British-made 80s version of the 60s American beach party movies, with four middle-class teenage girlfriends (Bridget Fonda, Page Hannah, Phoebe Cates and Annabeth Gish) escaping their parents for a few days and heading for the beach where the beer and the boys are – and a dance contest.

There are not enough singing and dirty dancing, but Barron directs with love for her characters and period, the girls are sweet, the boys are cute, and the tunes are fun.

John (Cry Baby) Waters would have made it camper, sharper and funnier, but it is jolly and touching and entertaining enough.

The shag is of course a dance.

Produced in co-operation with the South Carolina Film Commission, it features Carolina shag dancing. The dance sequence was choreographed by Kenny Ortega. The soundtrack album was on Sire/ Warner Bros Records.

It is written by Lanier Laney (story and screenplay), Terry Sweeney (story and screenplay), and Robin Swicord (screenplay).

It is made by Palace Pictures, and distributed by Hemdale Film Corporation.

Despite good reviews, the film underperformed, grossing $6.9 million at the US box office on a cost of $5 million.

The cast are Phoebe Cates as Carson McBride, Bridget Fonda as Melaina Buller, Annabeth Gish as Caroline “Pudge” Carmichael, Page Hannah as Luanne Clatterbuck, Robert Rusler as Buzz Ravenel, Scott Coffey as Chip Guillyard, Tyrone Power Jr. as Harley Ralston, Jeff Yagher as Jimmy Valentine, Carrie Hamilton as Nadine, and Leilani Sarelle as Suette.

In  2022, Bridget Fonda’s most recent film is the 2001 The Whole Shebang.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,277

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