Taglines: On a summer weekend in 1963, four girlfriends made memories that would last a lifetime.
Shag is a lighthearted story of four teenage girlfriends of various temperaments who escape from their parents for a few days in 1963 for an adventure in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where the big spring festival promises a dance contest, beer blasts and lots of cute boys.
Carson (Phoebe Cates) is engaged to a rich but square young man, Melaina (Bridget Fonda) fancies herself as a Hollywood sexpot, Luanne (Page Hannah) wears glasses and is a prim and proper senator’s daughter, and Pudge (Annabeth Gish) has recently lost weight but has always been called “Pudge” and suffers from low self-esteem.
The trip is spurred by the upcoming marriage of Carson. During their busy weekend at Myrtle Beach, the four find romance, dance up a storm, and make serious life decisions. Their story chronicles their final farewell to girlhood, and entree into womanhood and focuses on both the girls’ moral quandaries and their budding sexualities.
Cast
Phoebe Cates as Carson McBride, the beautiful socialite who is set to marry a tobacco executive’s son
Bridget Fonda as Melaina Buller, the promiscuous preacher’s daughter with bigger dreams
Annabeth Gish as Caroline “Pudge” Carmichael, the formerly overweight, hometown cutie
Page Hannah as Luanne Clatterbuck, the uptight senator’s daughter
Robert Rusler as Buzz Ravenel, the townie boy whose come-ons snare Carson
Scott Coffey 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 Yagher as Jimmy Valentine, a semi-famous Elvis Presley wanna-be
Carrie Hamilton as Nadine, a white-trash townie who is jealous of the girls
Leilani Sarelle as Suette
Shag (also known as Shag: The Movie) is a 1989 American 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 South Carolina Film Commission. The soundtrack album was on Sire / Warner Bros. Records.
Shag (1989)
Directed by: Zelda Barron
Starring: Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Scott Coffey, Annabeth Gish, Page Hannah, Robert Rusler, Jeff Yagher, Paul Lieber, Shirley Anne Field, Leilani Sarelle, Carrie Hamilton
Screenplay by: Lanier Laney, Terry Sweeney, Robin Swicord
Production Design by: Buddy Cone
Cinematography by: Peter MacDonald
Film Editing by: Laurence Méry-Clark
Costume Design by: Mary E. Vogt
Set Decoration by: Kara Lindstrom
Art Direction by: Jon Hutman
Distributed by: Hemdale Film Corporation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: July 21, 1989
Visits: 212
