The “Saturday Night” movie was shown in the Summers Auditorium over the weekend to commemorate the show’s impact over the year and the 90 minutes leading up to the first show. Hawk Cinema sponsored this event as a way for students to enjoy a free movie and snacks with the intent of providing entertainment for those looking for things to do in the University Center. They also hosted a discussion panel after the movie to gather student feedback on the film.
A recurring theme in the movie is that people say it was destined to fail. At the beginning of the film, the door security didn’t recognize the creator of “Saturday Night Live,” and many believed NBC approved the program simply to fill late-night hours without expecting much success. With all the various performers scheduled, there was a clear struggle to fit everything into one show and multiple people were asked to shorten their acts. Network executives were skeptical of the performances and pointed out the turmoil between cast members, the lights falling down on the first rehearsal, among other issues. John Belushi, in particular, was known for being both unpredictable and difficult to work with. He provided lots of laughter but would also throw fits multiple times behind the scenes.
Belushi briefly attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater before dropping out after a year. While professor Erica Moulton wasn’t aware of his brief stint in Whitewater, she described him as a “son of the Midwest” and said that he represented the impact the Midwest had on American comedy. After college, he started with The Second City in Chicago before landing a role on “Saturday Night Live” in New York.
Many students leave for the weekend or stay in their dorm rooms from Thursday to Saturday night, and Moulton admitted that it’d be nice to have screenings during the school week in the future. Nevertheless, Friday night’s showing drew 18 students, along with Moulton and three representatives from the Hawk Cinema Club.
One of the discussion questions posted after the film was about the structure of the film. Some viewers found it sporadic, saying certain moments were packed with too much content while others dragged. Though nearly everyone agreed that they were more interested in watching the original “Saturday Night Live” show after watching the movie. The film included several scenes of cigarette use, cocaine use and profanity, so many people in the audience appreciated the authentic point of view of working in a film studio in the 70s.
SNL was started by a bunch of unknown actors in their twenties, and with the help of several amazing acts and NBC’s sponsorship, they created a product that defined American comedy and was a staple of the time. It’s still an inspiration to young directors and actors across the country that anything is achievable to those who strive to make a difference and grasp the spotlight.
