ComedyDramaRomance

Shag

- On a summer weekend in 1963, four girlfriends made memories that would last a lifetime.

Summer of 1963. Carson is getting married to her boyfriend so her friends Melaina, Pudge and Luanne take her to Myrtle Beach for one last irresponsible weekend.

Release Date : 1989-04-14

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Palace Pictures

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : The Shag

Cast

Character Name : Carson McBride

Original Name : Phoebe Cates

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chip

Original Name : Scott Coffey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Melaina Buller

Original Name : Bridget Fonda

Gender : Female

Character Name : Caroline "Pudge" Carmichael

Original Name : Annabeth Gish

Gender : Female

Character Name : Luanne Clatterbuck

Original Name : Page Hannah

Gender : Female

Character Name : Buzz Ravenel

Original Name : Robert Rusler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harley Ralston

Original Name : Tyrone Power Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jimmy Valentine

Original Name : Jeff Yagher

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Manager

Original Name : Paul Lieber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Senator Clatterbuck

Original Name : Donald Craig

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Clatterbuck

Original Name : Shirley Anne Field

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nadine

Original Name : Carrie Hamilton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Big Bob

Original Name : Jay Baker

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Creep

Original Name : Joe Seely

Gender : Male

Character Name : Suette

Original Name : Leilani Sarelle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elvira

Original Name : Pearl Jones

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Carmichael

Original Name : Bonnie Johnson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. McBride

Original Name : Janelle Cochrane

Gender : Male

Character Name : MC

Original Name : Barry Thigpen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Man

Original Name : Walker Owens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dying Cockroach

Original Name : William Edward Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gator Boy

Original Name : Ezra Sutton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Turkey Sandwich

Original Name : Elliott Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reverend Buller

Original Name : Joey A. McGroaty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bathing Beauty

Original Name : Linda Weatherly Wellman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Car Hop

Original Name : Lise Lang

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ettie Stroos

Original Name : Jane Aiken

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Stroos

Original Name : Robert Jacobs

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

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+