Independent Films, Film Profiles

Staying Alive
by Sylvester Stallone

Staying Alive is the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta as the main character Tony Manero, Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes, Joyce Hyser, Steve Inwood, Julie Bovasso, and dancers Viktor Manoel, Kate Ann Wright, Kevyn Morrow and Nanette Tarpey. It was directed by Sylvester Stallone.Former disco king Tony Manero is six years older, and having left Brooklyn is now living in Manhattan staying in a flophouse while he works as a dance instructor and as a waiter at a dance club, looking for his big break in the modern dance productions on Broadway. Tony lands a role in the chorus of a new production called Satan's Alley starring wealthy English dancer Laura (Finola Hughes), whom he seduces only to find that he is the one who has been used.His girlfriend Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes), sick of being considered second best, finally leaves him, and he soon realizes how cruel he has been. Tony sees an opportunity to replace the lead male dancer and asks Jackie to help succeed, resulting in an intense dancing chemistry between Tony and Laura which climaxes on opening night. The film ends with Tony leaving the stage door in order to "strut" in celebration, reminiscent of the opening scene of Saturday Night Fever.