When you were young and wanted to have fun in the 70s, you wanted to go to the disco. You wanted to let your hair down, dance with the stars, and party all night… but it was only possible if you can get past the velvet ropes of the nightclub. The most exclusive of these clubs was Studio 54, which, while short lived, revolutionized the New York nightlife through design and culture. The documentary is much more tame in depicting the wild and escapist scene of the club– much of the documentary was more focused on their legal troubles– but the candid exploration, the archival footage, and the interviews chosen with the crew of the studio rather than the famous celebrities that went there makes the Studio 54 documentary so intriguing.

The documentary focused more on Steve Rubell, and understandably so, considering his larger-than-life presence, and considering that he’s not here to tell his story.