Thank God It's Friday(film)

Thank God It's Fridayis a 1978 Americanmusical comedyfilm directed byRobert Klaneand produced byMotown Productionsand Casablanca FilmWorks forColumbia Pictures.Produced at the height of thediscocraze, the film features theCommodoresperforming "Too Hot ta Trot", andDonna Summerperforming "Last Dance",which won theAcademy Award for Best Original Songin 1978. The film features an early performance byJeff Goldblumand the first major screen appearance byDebra Winger.The film also featuresTerri Nunn,who later achieved fame in the 1980s new wave groupBerlin.This was one of several Columbia Pictures films in which the studio's "Torch Lady" came to life in the opening credits, showing off her moves for a few seconds before the start of the film.

Thank God It's Friday
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Klane
Written by	Armyan Bernstein
Produced by	Neil Bogart Rob Cohen Phillip M. Goldfarb Lauren Shuler
Starring	Donna Summer The Commodores
Cinematography	James Crabe
Edited by	Richard Halsey
Music by	Giorgio Moroder
Production companies	Casablanca FilmWorks Motown Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	May 19, 1978(1978-05-19)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.2 million
Box office	$7.3 million

Plot

Thank God It's Fridaytells several intertwining stories of the patrons and staff of the fictional Los Angeles disco The Zoo over the course of a single Friday evening. These people include:

• Tony Di Marco – owner of The Zoo. Lecherous and promiscuous, he's inordinately fond of his 1974Porsche 911 Carrera.
• Bobby Speed – the club's DJ, who's broadcasting his first live show from the club.
• Frannie and Jeannie – two high school friends who want to win The Zoo's dance contest to buyKISSconcert tickets.
• Carl and Ken – a hopelessly near-sighted schlub looking for a casual liaison, and his friend looking for a girlfriend.
• Dave and Sue – a young married couple celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
• Jackie – dental hygienist by day, drugged-out disco freak and Zoo regular by night.
• Jennifer and Maddy – the new girl in town taken to the disco by her know-it-all friend who's not as sophisticated as she thinks she is.
• Nicole Sims – an aspiring disco singer.
• Marv Gomez – a self-described "leatherman" who lives to dance.
• Malcolm Floyd – the roadie for The Commodores, responsible for delivering their instruments to the club by midnight.
• Gus and Shirley – a mismatched couple on a blind date.

Sue insists that her uptight accountant husband Dave take her to the disco. On a bet with Bobby, Tony tries to pick up Sue. Dave is drugged and renamed "Babbakazoo" by Jackie, and makes a fool of himself. Carl and Ken are repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to meet girls. Frannie and Jeannie trick Marv into helping them sneak into the disco after several failed attempts at gaining entry. Jennifer tries to meet a guy, but Maddy vetoes each of the guys that Jennifer is attracted to. Nicole repeatedly attempts to slip into the DJ booth to get Bobby to play her single. Crude garbage collector Gus is horrified that the dating service has matched him with a prim college educated woman, and one who is taller than he is. Floyd gets stopped repeatedly by the police on suspicion of stealing The Commodores' instruments. Marv teaches the uptight Ken how to dance.

Maddy ditches Jennifer to attend a hot tub party (with the same sleazy guys who came on to Jennifer). Gus and Shirley decide to give it a try. Carl finally meets a girl, but becomes trapped in a stairway before they can leave together. Floyd makes it to the club in time for the Commodores to play, but before they go on, Nicole sneaks up on stage and scores a huge triumph singing "Last Dance". Frannie, after tricking Marv's dance partner into the locked stairway, enters the dance contest with Marv. Carl and Marv's dance partner hook up in the stairway. Jennifer and Ken share a romantic dance, as do Nicole and Bobby. Dave comes down and Sue ditches Tony. Tony's parked car, having taken innumerable hits from pretty much every other character's car, falls apart in the parking lot. Marv and Frannie win the big dance contest. Deciding that theKISSconcert is "kid stuff", Frannie and Jeannie, now self-proclaimed "disco queens", go with Marv to hit another disco for the 1:00 a.m. dance contest.

Cast

• Jeff Goldblumas Tony Di Marco
• Donna Summeras Nicole Sims
• Debra Wingeras Jennifer
• DeWayne Jessieas Malcolm Floyd
• Ray Vitteas Bobby Speed
• Valerie Landsburgas Frannie
• Terri Nunnas Jeannie
• Paul Jabaraas Carl
• John Friedrichas Ken
• Mark Lonow as Dave
• Andrea Howardas Sue
• Marya Smallas Jackie
• Robin Menken as Maddy
• Chick Venneraas Marvin "Marv" Gomez
• Chuck Sacci as Gus
• Hilary Beane as Shirley
• The Commodoresas Themselves

Production

The film production occurred during the summer and autumn of 1977 at 333 S.La Cienega Boulevard(on the corner of La Cienga andSan Vicente Boulevard) in Los Angeles. The building was formerly named the Millionaire’s Club, which was closed several years before the film. Within these several years, the building underwent “a series of disco and restaurant attempts,” including one named Cabaret. It then was reopened as the nightclub Osko’s in December 1977, several months after the filming.The club had fourdance floorsand 'the Cave', an ice cavern-themed room as seen in the film. Osko's was also a filming location of the 1978 horror filmJennifer.Club owner Osko Karaghossian had a role as a bouncer in the film. Osko's nightclub was completely demolished by the early 1990s and was replaced by a largeLoehmann'sdress store.

Release

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 36% rating, based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7/10.

Roger Ebertrated the film 1.5 stars out of 4 and wrote, "When you describe it, it sounds like a lot more fun than it is when you see it."Gene Siskel of theChicago Tribunegave the film an identical 1.5-star grade and called it "a disco movie that's little more than a dismal record promotion... More attention has been paid to the display of records than people."Vincent CanbyofThe New York Timeswrote that the film was "really a record album with live-action liner notes featuring a dozen young actors, most of whom are quite nice and, as yet, unknown, and a few who are better known but not as impressive as the new people." Canby remarked that Donna Summer, "whose wigs are as elaborate asDiana Ross's, is competition for the superb Miss Ross in no department other than hair. "Arthur D. Murphy ofVarietywrote, "Donna Summer makes her film debut in a comparatively charming role of an aspiring singer who cons her way to the disco stage and instant stardom. Fact that she is not known as an actress makes the thesping believable. Rest of cast, however, includes many with strong prior credits who are shot down by the Barry Armyran Bernstein script and Robert Klane's direction."Kevin Thomas of theLos Angeles Timesdescribed the film as a "lively, zany, often crass, sometimes irresponsible but surpassingly good-natured movie," with Summer possessing "an exciting screen presence", if not strong acting abilities.Gary Arnold ofThe Washington Postpanned the film as "90 aimless, alienating minutes" full of "TV sitcom-pilot boors, half-wits and low-lifes" who "don't sustain a glimmer of human interest. When attention shifts back to one character or set of characters previously introduced, you have trouble placing them."

In his annualMovie Guide,film criticLeonard Maltinrated the film as a "BOMB". He wrote that it is "perhaps the worst film ever to have won some kind ofAcademy Award",for Summer's hit song"Last Dance".

Box office

The film opened in New York City on May 19, 1978and grossed $752,000 from 85 theaters in its first week, which made it second for the week at the U.S. box office behindThe Greek Tycoon.

Accolades

Award	Category	Song Title	Recipient	Result	Ref.
Academy Awards	Best Original Song	"Last Dance"	Paul Jabara	Won
Golden Globe Awards	Best Original Song			Won
Grammy Awards	Best Rhythm & Blues Song			Won
	Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female		Donna Summer	Won

The film is recognized byAmerican Film Institutein these lists:

• 2004:AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
  • "Last Dance"– Nominated

Home media

Thank God It's Fridaywas released onRegion 1DVD on April 4, 2006 and released on Blu ray on May 1, 2018 by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Soundtrack

Thank God It's Friday
Soundtrack albumby Various Artists
Released	April 1978
Recorded	1975–1978
Genre	Disco
Length	104:49 106:12 (CD release)
Label	Casablanca Records(original release), Rebound Records, PolyGram, Universal Music
SinglesfromThank God It's Friday
"Thank God It's Friday" Released: 1978 "Last Dance" Released: July 2, 1978 "Je t'aime... moi non plus" Released: July 17, 1978

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

The film contains many popular disco songs, with many key performers featured, includingDonna Summer,Pattie Brooks,Love & Kisses,The Commodores.A triple album containing many of the tracks heard in the film was released six weeks in advance of the theatrical release to build up interest in the film.

Several songs heard in the film were not included on the soundtrack album, includingAlec R. Costandinos' "Romeo and Juliet",Giorgio Moroder's "From Here to Eternity",The Originals' "Down to Love Town",D.C. LaRue's "You Can Always Tell a Lady (By the Company She Keeps)",The Commodores' "Brick House",The 5th Dimension's "You Are The Reason (I Feel Like Dancing)",Meco's "Meco's Theme" and theVillage Peopletracks, "In Hollywood (Everybody Is A Star)" and "I Am What I Am".

The biggest hit single on the album was Donna Summer's "Last Dance",which won anAcademy Awardas well as aGolden Globefor Best Original Song and also made it to #3 on theUS singles chart.The song was written byPaul Jabara,who the following year composed Summer's duet withBarbra Streisand,"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)".Jabara performed two of the songs on theThank God It's Fridaysoundtrack and appeared in the film as well.

The soundtrack album was issued as a three-record set in 1978, of which the third disc was a single side 12 inch single of the 15:45 minutes Donna Summer, "Je t'aime... moi non plus"track. Upon its 1978 release, a promo set of separate 12" singles of every track was released to select DJs only. An edited CD came out in 1995 on the budget label Rebound Records. A digitally remastered version of the full soundtrack on a 2 disc set was released onPolyGramRecords on March 25, 1997. The company that holds the rights to the album is as of 1998 theUniversal Music Group.The album is described by many as the world's only five-sided soundtrack album.

Cameo's "Find My Way" was issued as a 7 "single in 1975.Giorgio Moroderand Donna Summer's cover version ofSerge GainsbourgandJane Birkin's 1969 hit single "Je t'aime... moi non plus"was recorded a few years earlier, but had its debut on the soundtrack and was issued as an edited 7" single in a few countries in 1978. "Too Hot ta Trot"was fromThe Commodores' 1977 albumCommodores Live!– on certain editions of theThank God It's Fridayalbum replaced by a studio recording. The song topped Billboard's R & B chart the week of February 18, 1978. Other titles on the soundtrack, including "Last Dance",were recorded for the film.

Diana Ross' "Lovin' Livin' and Givin'"was remixed after the release of the soundtrack and used as the opening track on her 1978 albumRoss.It was released as a single in certain territories and has since been remixed and re-edited a number of times for inclusion on various hits packages issued byMotown/Universal Music.

The final part ofDonna Summer's "Last Dance"is later re-included as a separate track titled" Reprise "toward the end of the soundtrack album. An edited version of the whole track was the version issued on the 7" single in most countries, and this track can be found on many of Summer's compilations, including 1994'sEndless Summerand 2003'sThe Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer.The 12 "single used the full-length 8:11 version. A live recording of the track was included on the albumLive and More,issued in late 1978 and the following year the studio version was remixed byGiorgio Moroderfor what was to be Summer's finalCasablanca RecordsalbumOn The Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2.The 1979 mix can be found on Summer's 1993 and 2005 compilationsThe Donna Summer AnthologyandGoldrespectively.

An extended remix of Summer's "With Your Love" was issued as a promo 12 "single in 1978; a slightly shorter version of this can be found on the cdMercury Records/PolyGram's 1987 releaseThe Dance Collection: A Compilation of Twelve Inch Singles.The 8 track cartridge and cassette both feature the full length version.

Track listing

Side one

1. Love & Kisses:"Thank God It's Friday"(Alec R. Costandinos) – 4:13
   • Producer: Alec R. Costandinos
2. Pattie Brooks:"After Dark" (Simon Soussan/Sabrina Soussan) – 7:50
   • Producer: Simon Soussan
3. Donna Summer:"With Your Love" (Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Donna Summer) – 3:58
   • Producers:Giorgio Moroder,Pete Bellotte
4. Donna Summer: "Last Dance"(Paul Jabara) – 8:11
   • Producers:Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Side two

1. Paul Jabara: "Disco Queen" (Paul Jabara) – 3:45
   • Producers: Bob Esty, Paul Jabara
2. Cameo:"Find My Way" (Johnny Melfi) – 4:56
   • Producer: Larry Blackmon
3. The Commodores:"Too Hot ta Trot"(Lionel Richie,Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, Thomas McClary, Walter "Clyde" Orange, William King) – 3:24
   • Producers: The Commodores, James Carmichael
4. Wright Bros. Flying Machine: "Leatherman's Theme" (Arthur G. Wright) – 3:22
   • Producer: Arthur G. Wright
5. Marathon: "I Wanna Dance" (Pete Bellotte,Thor Baldursson) – 5:58
   • Producer: Pete Bellotte

Side three

1. Sunshine:"Take It To the Zoo" (Bruce Sudano, Donna Summer,Joe Esposito) – 7:56
   • Producer: Arthur G. Wright
2. Santa Esmeralda:"Sevilla Nights" (Jean-Manuel de Scarano,Nicolas Skorsky,Jean-Claude Petit) – 6:05
   • Producers: Jean-Manuel de Scarano, Nicolas Skorsky
3. Love & Kisses:"You're the Most Precious Thing in My Life" (Alec R. Costandinos) – 8:02
   • Producer: Alec R. Constandinos

Side four

1. D.C. LaRue:"Do You Want the Real Thing" (D.C. LaRue, Bob Esty) – 4:40
   • Producer: Bob Esty
2. Paul Jabara: "Trapped in a Stairway" (Bob Esty, Paul Jabara) – 3:22
   • Producer: Paul Jabara, Bob Esty
3. Natural Juices: "Floyd's Theme" (Dick St. Nicklaus) – 2:57
   • Producer: Dick St. Nicklaus
4. Diana Ross:"Lovin', Livin' and Givin'"(Kenneth Stover, Pam Davis) – 3:17 (CD releases: – 4:40, remixed version)
   • Producer:Hal Davis
5. Thelma Houston:"Love Masterpiece" (Art Posey, Josef Powell) – 4:01
   • Producer: Hal Davis
6. Donna Summer "Last Dance"(Paul Jabara) (Reprise) – 3:17
   • Producers: Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Side five

1. Donna Summer: "Je t'aime... moi non plus"(Serge Gainsbourg) – 15:45
   • Producers: Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	32
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	34
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)	10
USBillboard200	10
USR&B Albums(Billboard)	6
USBillboardHot Dance Club Play	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000^
^Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Other films released during the late 1970s disco and jukebox movie musical craze:

• Car Wash(1976)
• Saturday Night Fever(1977)
• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band(1978)
• Skatetown, U.S.A.(1979)
• Roller Boogie(1979)
• The Apple(1980)
• Xanadu(1980)
• Can't Stop the Music(1980)
• Fame(1980)

External links

• Thank God It's FridayatIMDb
• Thank God It's Fridayat theTCM Movie Database