Well, it’s the first day of a new year and that means that it’ time for me to bring back a feature that was once quite popular on this site, Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers.  This is where I just share six trailers, sometimes all dealing with the same thing and sometimes not.  Unfortunately, because there’s only so many trailers available on YouTube, you’ll probably see a few trailers listed more than once.  It can’t be helped but no matter!  Trailers are fun and hopefully, watching a few of them will be an enjoyable way for you to start your day or your week or whatever.  I certainly enjoy them!

Since it’s the start of a new year and I already shared a music video for The Hustle, I figured I would continue that disco theme now.  Below are 6 trailers that will hopefully leave you dancing!

1. Thank God It’s Friday (1978)

Considering that this film won an Oscar and was released by a major studio and featured both Jeff Goldblum and future Oscar nominee Debra Winger in the cast, it may seem odd to include this trailer in a feature about exploitation film previews.  But seriously, just watch the movie!  Yes, Last Dance is great but otherwise, this movie is pure drive-in gold.

2. Skatetown USA (1979)

“The greatest story ever rolled!”  Check out Patrick Swayze, playing a bad guy.  Swayze made his film debut here and, when he became a star, he actually tired to buy the rights to the film to keep anyone from ever seeing it again.  Honestly, though, it’s not that bad.  The music’s good.  Some of the routines are fun.  Swayze smolders with intensity.  Put on your skates and dance!

3. Roller Boogie (1979)

At the same time that Patrick Swayze was dominating Skatetown USA, Linda Blair was teaching a nation how to roll, dance, and love.

4. Disco Godfather (1979)

Of course, the disco wasn’t always a safe place.  Even in the 70s, it was a dangerous world out there.  Fortunately, Rudy Ray Moore was around to keep the peace and prevent the dancers from getting hooked on PCP.  “Put your weight on it, put your weight on it, put your weight on it!”

5. Can’t Stop The Music (1980)

You can’t stop the music …. no matter how much you try!  This was an attempt at a Village People movie.  It apparently didn’t really go very well.  I’ve never actually seen the film, though I suppose I’ll have to watch it someday.

6. Xanadu (1980)

Heh …. on YouTube, this is listed as being “A Gene Kelly movie.”  Yeah, Gene Kelly is one of the stars but I still don’t know if I’d necessarily call this “A Gene Kelly movie,” in the same way that I might use the label for Singin’ In The Rain or An American In Paris.  Xanadu was one of the last of the big disco movies and it’ll live forever, though perhaps not in the way that it was originally intended to.