Phoebe Cates

Scott Coffey

Bridget Fonda

Annabeth Gish

Page Hannah

Robert Rusler

Tyrone Power Jr.

Jeff Yagher

Paul Lieber

Donald Craig

Shirley Anne Field

Carrie Hamilton

Jay Baker

Joe Seely

Leilani Sarelle

Pearl Jones

Bonnie Johnson

Janelle Cochrane

Barry Thigpen

Walker Owens

William Edward Roberts

Ezra Sutton

Elliott Phillips

Joey A. McGroaty

Linda Weatherly Wellman

Lise Lang

Jane Aiken

Robert Jacobs

Zelda Barron

Gregory Jacobs

Kenny Ortega

John Daly

C. Harper Hellams

Kara Lindstrom

Charles Stewart

Marco Mazzei

Elisabeth Leustig

Kerry Rock

Anthony "Bubba" Forester

Terry Sweeney

Stephen Woolley

Ed Novick

Tammy Ader

Suzanne Tenner

Jim Hill

Kathy Shorkey

Christopher O'Donnell

Jon Hutman

John D. Kretschmer

Danny Eccleston

Alan Bell

Julia Chasman

Jonathan Wolf

Peter Krook

Jim Speth

Susan E. Novick

Linda Kiffe

Joyce Anne Gilstrap

Mary E. Vogt

Anne Kubik

Jeffrey Silver

Katarina Wittich

Chris Edmonds

John Downer

Rob Kobrin

Jane Williams

Alicia Alexander

Carmen Soriano

Seymour Stein

Lanier Laney

Alan Caso

Jeanne Van Phue

Roger Wilson

Peter MacDonald

Nik Powell

Derek Gibson

Caroline Baron

Buddy Cone

Laurence Méry-Clark

Robin Swicord

Kendall Errair

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Shag

Palace Pictures

United Kingdom

United States of America

Youths having fun at Myrtle Beach in 1963
	
RELEASED IN 1989 and directed by Zelda Barron, "Shag” is a teen drama about four girls freshly graduated from high school taking a vacation weekend at Myrtle Beach in 1963. There’s the senator’s daughter, Luanne (Page Hannah); the engaged or encaged Carson (Phoebe Cates); the wannabe Hollywood starlet Malaina (Bridget Fonda); and the thinks-she’s-still-fat-but-she’s-not Pudge (Annabeth Gish).

The movie plays like a melding of “American Graffiti” (1973), “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Mystic Pizza” (1988). It’s far superior to the overrated “American Graffiti” and lacks the idiot subplot of “Dirty Dancing” (see my reviews of both for details). 

The script thrusts the four girls into the weekend festivities at Myrtle Beach as quickly as possible wherein the story splits into several vignettes that intertwine. The weekend highpoints include: A beauty contest on the beach, a wild house party at the senator’s vacation home (unbeknownst to him, of course) and a shag dance contest. Thematically, the flick tries to advocate the wise middle ground between life-stifling legalism and foolish libertinism.     

Some have called this a “chick flick” and I can see why since the focus is on the four girls, but there’s just as much here for dudes to relate. For instance, there are several voluptuous cuties on display, both in the main cast and in the periphery. Kudos to the director for his excellent eye for women. Bridget Fonda is particularly showcased in all her glory with her white bikini scenes being a highlight. She was 23 when the film was shot in 1987. There are also several prominent guys in the cast: Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.), Buzz (Robert Rusler), Chip (Scott Coffey), Jimmy Valentine (Jeff Yagher) and, to a lesser extent, the manager (Paul Lieber) and Big Bob (Jay Baker).

Lastly, the movie features a great period soundtrack with excellent cuts like “Stay” by The Voltage Brothers, performed (lip-synced) at The Pavilion.           

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 38 minutes and was shot entirely in South Carolina (Georgetown, Myrtle Beach & Florence). WRITERS: Lanier Laney, Terry Sweeney & Robin Swicord.

GRADE: B+

English

Shag (1989) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]