John Travolta turns 60 today. He has been entertaining cinema goers for decades portraying such iconic characters like Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and Terl in Battlefield Earth. He has also been the subject of some controversy regarding his alleged behaviour at certain L.A massage parlours. But hey, if you don't ask you don't get, and surely a polite request for a reach around is not worth one million dollars in emotional damages. Anyway, I digress. Here is a quick look at some of Travolta's finest moments on screen.
We start at the top in 1977 with Saturday Night Fever. It's all about the tight silk shirts and the flares that ride up to your nipples. It also includes this exchange.
Connie: So, are you as good in bed as you are on that dance floor?
Tony Manero: You know, Connie, if you're as good in bed as you are on the dance floor, then you're one lousy f**k.
A year later Travolta appears in probably one of his most famous roles as greaser Danny Zuko. Grease was a wonderful advert for smoking, leather jackets and brill cream. It featured a whole list of wonderful hits like 'Sandy' whose lyrics included 'Why, you left me oh Sandy'. You really don't know John? You tried to rape her at the drive-in! The poor girl ran screaming for her life. Oh Sandy why? Cry me a river John.
Look Who's Talking (1989). Remember this classic where the main gag of the film is the audience gets to hear what a child is thinking. It's a hilarious concept right? And would you believe that at some point during this movie, Travolta drinks breast milk by mistake. Oh the humanity! The Eighties really was a mixed bag for movies.
But all is forgiven as Tarantino salvages Travolta's career, dragging it up from its shoe laces in the 1994 classic, Pulp Fiction. This film catapulted Travolta into the limelight once more. It also did wonders for Samuel L Jackson who has appeared in every other movie since its release.
YEH Broken Arrow. 'I said Goddam what a Rush'. I actually really like this film. Travolta plays a maniac called Deak who harbors dreams for nuclear fallout whilst rocking a roll neck sweater. Travolta smokes cigars in real life and you can tell by watching him smoke cigarettes in films. He holds the cig wedged way up between his fingers, with super-straight, exaggerated, angular release and recapture as he takes a drag. Its a cigarette John not a freakin tiperrilo.
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