American Fever Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

American Fever Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 22, 2026

Claudio Giorgi's "American Fever" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with author and critic Alan Jones; new audio commentary by critics Nathaniel Thompson and Howard S. Berger; and original trailer. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Claudio Giorgi would not have directed American Fever if John Badham’s Saturday Night Fever had not become an international sensation. Only a year after Saturday Night Fever premiered in America, disco music was already a global phenomenon, too. American Fever was made to capitalize on their popularity. It is hardly surprising because, in the film industry, the Italians have always been extremely good at identifying opportunities and taking full advantage of them.

However, American Fever is not a shameless copycat. (In a recent program, Alan Jones politely suggests that it is exactly that kind of film, but he is very wrong). It is a contemporary Italian melodrama with a unique Italian personality, replacing much of the typical noisy chatter in these films with disco music. Also, a fraction of American Fever juggles material that would have fit nicely in a proper Italian exploitation film. This material is not explicit. It is suggestive, which is not surprising because American Fever was supposed to do well in the mainstream movie theaters. (Giorgi penned American Fever with George Eastman, one of the biggest names in Italian exploitation cinema from the 1970s and 1980s).

In the Eternal City, car mechanic Tony Ferrante (Micha Carven) dreams of being a film star. But not like the local Italian ones. Ferrante wants to be like Sylvester Stallone and Al Pacino, instantly recognizable, admired and loved by everyone, a legitimate big-timer. Ferrante has already figured out that to become one, he must make it to America, where ordinary guys, like Stallone and Pacino, have a chance of being discovered.

Ferrante’s best pal, Nino (Vincenzo Crocitti), a former small-time drug dealer-turned-screenwriter, has volunteered to help. He has penned a brilliant screenplay and offered it to a few producers, but the only people trying to get in touch with him have been his former business partners from the underworld. He owes them money, and they have warned him he has run out of time to pay them back. To appease his former business partners, Nino has managed to secure Ferrante an ‘important part’ in a western shot by a notoriously cranky American director, which requires him to jump from the rooftop of a fake saloon into a pile of crushed cardboard boxes. With the money Ferrante will be paid, Nino will buy himself extra time to come up with a new scam.

While running across the city like Rocky Balboa, Ferrante crosses paths with Lisa (Zora Kerova), preparing to jump off a bridge and end her miserable existence. After changing her mind, Ferrante and Lisa become lovers and a formidable dance duo on the city’s rapidly expanding disco scene. However, their love is tested when Ferrante agrees to be the star in a sleazy new film produced for il cinema a luci rosse.

Despite repeatedly playing several big tracks by Cannon Ball (“Pason Flower”), La Bionda (“1,2,3,4 Give Me Some Moore” and “One For You, One For Me”), and Spotlight (“American Fever” and “A Little Bit Faster”), American Fever does not evolve into one big promo piece for disco. It balances the melodrama and music quite well, leaving plenty of time for proper character development. For this reason, it could easily be placed next to American gems like Aloha, Bobby and Rose.

Of all the disco-themed Italian films, including the hybrid projects, American Fever has some of the absolute best acting. It is still easy to point out serious flaws. However, it is the most coherent, most meaningful acting, which is why large parts of American Fever appear naturally loose and authentic.

American Fever Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, American Fever arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

The release presents an exclusive new 4K restoration, sourced from the original camera negative. This 4K restoration is easy to describe as good, but it could have been managed better.

Virtually all visuals boast wonderful delineation and clarity. Depth can fluctuate a bit, especially during the nightclub footage, but not because of problematic digital corrections. The sporadic softness and some flatness are accurately reproduced. Grain exposure is natural and convincing. Image stability is excellent as well. Color reproduction is where more could and should have been done to ensure that American Fever has a consistent, convincing period appearance. To be clear, it still looks pleasing, but in a few areas, primary blue and blue nuances are mismanaged. There is a small shift toward cyan, which is an unfortunate error. A most obvious example can be seen during the pool party, where Tony Ferrante and Nino meet the snotty film producer. The oversaturated cyan in the pool is an obvious error. Some blue nuances are lost as well. You can see examples of the errors here and here. (For reference, the same color-grading error is present on the 4K restoration of The Usual Suspects). Fortunately, elsewhere, the overall balance remains pretty decent. I did not encounter any distracting large debris, marks, stains, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

American Fever Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the former) and English (for the latter) subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I chose to view American Fever with the English track, which I think is preferable. Unfortunately, in several areas, the original English overdubbing is pretty poor. For example, in the first footage from the nightclub where Tony Ferrante goes to dance, it is pretty much impossible to tell what is said, so the optional English subtitles are most helpful. I also sampled the Italian track, which is not bad but uses overdubbing with other obvious limitations. Dynamic intensity is pretty decent for a film from the 1970s.

American Fever Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Nathaniel Thompson and Howard S. Berger.

• All About the Music: The Birth of Disco - in this new program, author and critic Alan Jones discusses the rise of disco and its transformation into a worldwide phenomenon, a few of its first big American and international hits, and the conception and success of American Fever. Jones also comments on the film's soundtrack. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage international trailer for American Fever. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

American Fever Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Among the various disco-themed Italian films, American Fever is the biggest and most ambitious of them all. It is the best acted one, too. It shares several of the qualities that I like in American gems like Aloha, Bobby and Rose, though I cannot say that it is an equally effective time capsule. Severin Films presents a new 4K restoration of it that could have been managed a little better. However, it is a small miracle that someone actually cared to redo American Fever and bring it to America. It is included in Disco Italiana, a three-disc box set. RECOMMENDED.