| | | | Times Square
(1980) |
amela Pearl (Alvarado) is a rich girl with a dad who doesn't understand her and a need to be herself. Nicky Marotta (Johnson) is a street-smart girl with only guts and nerves driving her. The two meet in a mental hospital, and after making their escape, become "blood sisters". Bound together, they try to achieve their dreams, Nicky's of stardom and Pamela's of understanding. All they have are themselves being guided over the airwaves by smooth-talking DJ Johnny LaGuardia (Curry), who either cares about them or is manipulating them for the press.
While ostensibly a punk rock movie, "Times Square" is a movie for outcasts of all stripes. I can definitely relate to both Pamela and Nicky. Like Pamela, I have a lot going for me, but no one to understand me. My mom says she does and my doctors say they do, but they only hear what I say. I can't put my thoughts and feelings into words for them without offending anybody.
Like Nicky, I have a tendency to be brash, bold and opinionated. By watching this movie, I see Nicky saying all the foul-mouthed poison-pen thoughts I want to hurl at my bosses, members of my family, and programs that are designed to hold me down from living the life I want to live.
Sometimes, you have to take crazy steps in order to get ahead. In this movie, the duo do everything from stealing food to taking jobs in a strip club to keep alive and two steps ahead of the game. When the song said "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere", perhaps they weren't aware that they were perpetrating a big lie. This movie is almost like a documentary, showing how people have to hustle for everything in the city. I could never live in New York City...I'd be dead within a week.
Still, if I want to take a trip to the city, I'll use the movies. This movie is a great ride. It shows Times Square the way everybody remembers it...As a pit of sleaze and degradation. Disney, Planet Hollywood and everything else they've put there doesn't hide the truth about the city and its' inhabitants.
This movie demonstrates the truth about New York, and the truth is "Give it everything you got, but watch your step...You might not make it out alive".
 Don't forget that Times Square is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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This movie is a great example of punk rock cinema. The music is great, and the performances better. Tim Curry has a great combo of sincerity and sleaze. Trini Alvarado expresses both forwardness and fear.
Finally, there's Robin Johnson. She's a total babe with a nice raspy voice. She looks a little like Kathleen Wilhoite actually. Johnson's intense performance runs the gamut of emotions from A to Z. She gave an Oscar-worthy performance. She should've at least gotten a nomination for Best Actress.
I wish that all outcasts could see this movie. It's a film just for them.
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The film was inspired by a diary director Allan Moyle found in a second hand couch that he bought. The diary was from a young mentally disturbed woman that featured words and drawings about her life on the streets. 
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Producer Robert Stigwood insisted on including a Bee Gees song on the soundtrack because he was also the producer of Saturday Night Fever (1977).
One of the dancers cheering on 'Robin Johnson' in her first musical scene was actual porn star Sharon Mitchell.
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here to add some Times Square trivia
Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Times Square DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Times Square or 80's Dance / Musical classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Dirty Dancing ..... Pink Floyd: The Wall ..... Breakin' ..... Footloose ..... Xanadu ..... Stop Making Sense ..... Fame ..... Pennies From Heaven ..... Earth Girls Are Easy ..... Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo ..... Purple Rain ..... Girls Just Want to Have Fun ..... Best Little Wh*rehouse In Texas ..... Back To The Beach ..... One From The Heart .....[More]
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A lot was cut out by EMI before release. Had it been kept at its' full length, the movie would've had a lesbian angle to it. Anchor Bay (the distributors of the DVD) tried to find the lost footage, but they couldn't. It's sad, really...This could've been "Top Gun" for women had the original cut remained. If you get the preceding joke, thank you.
Director Allan Moyle was fired before production was finished. According to Moyle, this was because he refused to re-shoot the film to add more songs, as the producers wanted a double (vinyl) soundtrack album. Scenes such as the teen girls getting ready to go to the concert were filmed by the second unit.
An out-of-business radio station was used as the location both for radio station WJAB and Pearl political headquarters.
Producers held open auditions in several cities to cast the film.
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|  |  |  | | Times Square
Locations |
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Filmed around Times Square, of course!
Featured Link: Some locations info
Can you help? Do you know any of the New York City, New York filming locations used for Times Square? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Commentary |
| Our
Comments: Great commentary track! |
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This is a primo soundtrack with a grand variety of New Wave and Punk cuts from many great artists. The following list is incomplete, but these songs are on the soundtrack:
Same Old Scene by Roxy Music
I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones
Rock Hard by Suzi Quatro
Babylon's Burning by The Ruts
Life During Wartime by The Talking Heads
Walk On the Wild Side by Lou Reed
Dangerous Type by The Cars
Innocent Not Guilty by Garland Jeffreys
The Night Was Not by Desmond Child & Rogue
Down In the Park by Gary Numan
Pi$$ing in a River by Patti Smith
You Can't Hurry Love Performed by D.L. Byron
Talk of the Town by The Pretenders
Damn Dog Performed by Robin Johnson
Your Daughter Is One Performed by Robin Johnson and Trini Alvarado
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Click here to add new music trivia for Times Square
Soundtrack Available:
Used Vinyl LP / Tape
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