Overview: Immediately after SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER swept the world, the ‘discosploitation’ genre was born. And in the U.K.’s first polyester imitator, director Ian Sharp (THE FINAL OPTION) crafts a gritty time capsule of late ‘70s London in which an unemployed bloke (Gerry Sundquist of DON’T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS) tries to win the big dance competition at Camden Town’s iconic club, The Music Machine.

British-Nigerian singer Patti Boulaye, Clarke Peters (The Wire), Ferdy Mayne (THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS) and Academy Award® winner Brenda Fricker (MY LEFT FOOT) co-star in this “oddly likeable” (The Observer) discomania melodrama written by James Kenelm Clarke (HOUSE ON STRAW HILL) and produced by Brian Smedley-Aston (VAMPYRES) with cinematography by Phil Meheux (CASINO ROYALE), now scanned in 4K from a combination of the CRI and original camera negative for the first time ever.

Blu-ray Verdict: As a disco fanatic, I’m going to give this an historical interest rating because I do love the soundtrack, gorgeous co-star Patti Boulaye, and the great support of Clarke Peters as a disco DJ turned dance instructor. That said, well, overall the film itself is not Oscar-material, a virtual carbon copy of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER centered around a disco contest and a working-class young man hoping to win it, but it does come with a distinctly British flavor; that makes it more than interesting to watch.

I also like this film for the late Gerry Sundquist (RIP) as he is just so damn likable in the leading role; much more than Travolta is in FEVER, in all truth. I did find the movie charming. I liked the characters, and the actors who played them. Clarke Peters’ performance stood out. His charisma and acting prowess carried us through the ninety-three minute runtime.

I think my biggest issue with the film was the constant repetition of the song Disco Dancer. Such a terrible composition that is never going to leave my head and make me succumb to madness! That aside, if you’re not a disco movie person, you can move along, you won’t find much here to enjoy.

Special Features:
The Dance Partner – Interview With Actress Patti Boulaye
Howard & Candy: The Music Machine Dance Rivals – Interviews With Actors David Easter And Mandy Perryment
The Music Machine Mentor – Interview With Actor Clarke Peters
The Dance Machine – Interview With Choreographer Anthony Van Laast
The Music Of The Machine – Interview With Musician/Songwriter Les Hurdle
Disco Maniacs – Interview With Mark Moore Of S’Express And Alan Jones, Author Of Discomania
The Camden Locations Of THE MUSIC MACHINE – Locations Tour With Alan Jones
Teaser Trailer

Official Purchase Link