The Director of 'Rocky' and 'The Karate Kid' Nearly Took On This ’70s Seminal Classic

The legacy of Saturday Night Fever boils down to John Travolta’s superstar turn as Brooklyn disco king Tony Manero, as well as the unforgettable soundtrack featuring the Bee Gees. Yet, the story surrounds young men with no upward mobility surviving in a working-class environment engaging in gang violence and sexual promiscuity. Right before John Badham took the reins on the classic 1977 drama, Oscar-winning director John G. Avildsenalmost brought a lighter touch to Travolta’s charismatic dancing machine.