54 is the famous case of a film taken away from its director and re-shot into something else, then rebuilt two decades later into the version Mark Christopher actually made. Christopher and producer Dolly Hall are both in the room afterward, which turns a screening into an oral history of what happened. If you care about Studio 54 or what studios do to first-time directors, this is the weekend's best hour of context.
What to expect
A 106-minute restored cut in Roxy's cellar-level cinema, followed by a conversation with the director and producer moderated by Justin LaLiberty. The Q&A is the reason to come, so do not plan to duck out at the credits. Roxy's screening room is small and the crowd skews toward repertory regulars and film-history obsessives.
Good to know
- Roxy Cinema is on the cellar level at 2 Avenue of the Americas in Tribeca; the A, C and E at Canal Street are closest.
- Budget extra time beyond the running time for the post-screening conversation.
- The room is small, so booking ahead is sensible for a screening with guests.
- This is a bar-and-hotel building, so there are places to keep talking afterward without walking far.
- Content is adult - this is not a family screening.
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Common questions
How is the director's cut different?
It restores footage the studio removed and reverses reshoots imposed on the original release, producing a substantially different film. Roxy lists the restored version at 106 minutes.
Who is appearing?
Roxy's listing names director Mark Christopher and producer Dolly Hall for a post-screening Q&A, moderated by Justin LaLiberty.
Do I need to have seen the theatrical version?
No. The restored cut stands on its own, and the Q&A will fill in what changed. Having seen the original release just makes the comparison sharper.
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