The Machine sends us to August 28, 1998 to cover the multi-character music drama 54 starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Breckin Meyer, and Mike Myers.

It’s 1979, and 19-year-old gas station attendant Shane O’Shea (played by Ryan Phillippe) is determined to break out of his humdrum suburban life in New Jersey to experience the glitz and glamor of New York City’s hottest and most exclusive nightclub, Studio 54. Standing in the crowd outside the club, Shane catches the eye of 54’s eccentric and mercurial owner, Steve Rubell (played by Mike Myers), who grants him entry and gives him a job as a shirtless bartender. As Shane is drawn into the world of casual sex, drug use, and glamorous debauchery inside the club, he forms a friendship with fellow waiter Greg (played by Breckin Meyer) and Greg’s wife Anita, an aspiring musician (played by Salma Hayek). But when this hard partying lifestyle begins to take its toll on his relationships - and the IRS takes an interest in 54’s dubious finances - Shane seeks an escape from this world of glitz and glamor with soap opera day-player and club regular Julie (played by Neve Campbell).

Written and directed by Mark Christopher

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Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.

Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.

Special thanks to Nate DuFort.

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