Do You Remember ‘Can’t Stop the Music’? Five Funky Facts About the Village People Disco Spectacle

CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC, The Village People, Steve Guttenberg, 1980 — Everett Collection

Call it a study in bad timing and good music (if you’re a proud disco baby): Can’t Stop the Music, which was released on June 20, 1980, starred disco legends the Village People and told the sort-of tale of how they came to be. Helmed by flamboyant Grease producer Allan Carr and directed by Rhoda star and Bounty pitch-woman Nancy Walker, the film also featured a 21-year-old Steve Guttenberg and Valerie Perrine as struggling composer Jack and his supermodel roomie Samantha, who assemble a singing group to turn Jack’s songs into hits. Can’t Stop the Music also marked the film debut of Caitlyn Jenner, then still known as Bruce.

Can’t Stop the Music was released with great fanfare, including the nationally syndicated special Magic Night, which Walker also directed. But the film took so long to get into theaters that disco music had not only fallen out of fashion, but was also openly — often ferociously — scorned. Critics ridiculed the picture, and moviegoers ignored it.

But the silver lining is that, like most poorly acted musical spectacles, Can’t Stop the Music because a campy cult favorite. And, though the band’s gone through multiple lineup changes, Village People is still on the road.

So get ready to do the Milkshake, kids, because we’re celebrating 45 years of Can’t Stop the Music with a few funky facts about this disco-rific film.

1 “Milkshake” — sponsored by the American Dairy Association

Apparently, the American Dairy Association bankrolled the film’s biggest musical number, to the tune of $2 million. In keeping with the dairy theme, Baskin Robbins also helped fund the film, creating a flavor of the month called “Can’t Stop the Nuts” and enjoying some heavy-duty product placement in return.

The Milkshake number also claimed some impressive cinematic credentials. It, along with some of the film’s other numbers, was filmed on the same MGM stages used by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The scene’s outfits were designed by famed costumer Theoni V. Aldredge, winner of the 1975 Oscar for Best Costume Design for The Great Gatsby.

2 Olivia Newton-John was a no-go (as was Cher, as was Raquel Welch …)

Perrine’s role was originally intended for Carr’s Grease star Olivia Newton-John. But she turned him down to star in Xanadu instead. “Allan told me he had this project he wanted me to do,” Newton-John said in a subsequent interview. “It sounded great, but when I read the script, it didn’t feel right, so I declined. And he wasn’t too happy with me.”

The producer then considered Cher, then Raquel Welch, before settling on Perrine.

3 Jenner turned down Airplane! to play lawyer Ron White

In order to take the role of very good helper Ron White (widely considered one of the worst parts of the film), Jenner turned down a custom-written part in the 1980 Zucker Brothers’ comedy classic Airplane! While the decision worked out badly for Jenner, it turned out great for her fellow pro athlete Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was cast in Jenner’s place.

In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, Jenner also revealed that she also passed on starring in Superman before taking the Music! role.

4 EMI Films walked out on Walker

Mario Casilli / TV GUIDE

Can’t Stop the Music was the first of a three-picture deal Walker signed with EMI Films. But the experience was far from what she had hoped. She struggled with the scope of the production, battled Greenwich Village locals who weren’t too hyped to host the production and fought vigorously with her leading lady. And when early reviews signaled defeat, TV’s beloved Ida Morgenstern was ticked.

“The critics all loved it — and then told you what was wrong with it,” she told The Washington Post. “They got everything wrong, which is what they always do. They can say any goddamn thing they want. I might as well ask the gas-pump man what he thinks. He’d know as much as they do.”

When those critics correctly predicted a box office flop, EMI backed out on Walker’s deal.

5 The film gave rise to The Razzies

AFD/courtesy Everett Collection

John Wilson wasn’t a film critic, but he knew a good movie when he saw one. He knew a bad one, too. But a Can’t Stop the Music/Xanadu double feature in August of 1980 pushed him over the edge. Wilson paid just 99 cents to see it in August 1980 … and he still wanted his money back.

The theater people said no, but Wilson couldn’t let the cinematic affront be. He came up with the idea of a sort of anti-Oscars, nominated Can’t Stop in the Music in nearly every category, and four decades later, “The Golden Raspberry Awards” — better known as The Razzies — are still going strong.

And now for a little good news …

Everett Collection

Though Can’t Stop the Music flopped resoundingly, the soundtrack still proved popular, reaching No. 47 on the Billboard U.S. charts and cracking the top 10 in Spain, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, New Zealand and the U.K.

And after a lengthy court battle, Village People’s original lead singer Victor Willis regained the rights to “Y.M.C.A,” “Milkshake” and “Magic Night” from the movie’s music publishing team.

Can’t Stop the Music is also extra-beloved Down Under. Carr hosted special sneak-peek screenings in Australia and the soundtrack shot to No. 1 on the Aussie music charts. But the best part? The film has aired every New Year’s Eve on Australia’s Channel 9 since it came out.

Are you a Can’t Stop the Music fan — or detractor? What are your other “so bad they’re good” faves? Let us know in the comments below.

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