Get Crazy

Get Crazy

Year: 1983

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

MusicComedyCrude humor and satireLegendary musicians and stardomCatchy songs and hilarious musical comedy

The concert was billed as the greatest rock event ever, until the venue literally exploded. Mega‑promoter Colin Beverly schemes to sabotage the New Year’s 1983 show organized by modest operator Max Wolfe. Wolfe’s aides, Neil Allen and Willie Loman, fall in love while battling Beverly’s plots to save the drugs, violence and rock‑and‑roll chaos.

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Timeline & Setting – Get Crazy (1983)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Get Crazy (1983). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1982

The events unfold on December 31, 1982, amid a vibrant era of rock and punk-infused live shows. The countdown to midnight anchors the night, turning a concert into a dramatic deadline. The atmosphere reflects early-80s show business energy, where legacy venues face corporate pressure and personal agendas.

Location

Saturn Theater, Fillmore East

The Saturn Theater is a storied live venue known for hosting major rock performances. On New Year’s Eve 1982 it becomes a battleground of power, loyalty, and spectacle as a promoter tries to seize control from the owner. The venue’s long 30-year lease sits at the center of the conflict, turning the show into a high-stakes theater drama. The setting emphasizes the venue itself as a living character within the night’s chaos.

🎭 Theater 🎵 Music venue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:15

Main Characters – Get Crazy (1983)

Meet the key characters of Get Crazy (1983), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Max Wolfe (Allen Garfield)

Owner and flamboyant showman who controls the Saturn’s long lease. His pride and love of spectacle drive the New Year’s Eve show, even as his stubborn stance against Beverly risks the theater’s fate and forces him toward retirement.

🎭 Theater 💼 Business

Neil Allen (Daniel Stern)

The steady stage manager who keeps backstage chaos in check and fights to honor the theater’s legacy. He guides the night’s events and becomes a steadying force as tensions mount toward midnight.

🎭 Theater 🔧 Stagecraft

Susie Allen (Stacey Nelkin)

Neil’s sister who gets swept up in the wild energy of the performance world. Resourceful and proactive, she navigates danger and loyalty as the night spirals toward its climax.

🎭 Theater 💡 Insight

Willy Loman (Gail Edwards)

Visiting former stage manager with deep knowledge of Saturn’s history. She acts as a conduit between past and present, aiding Neil and providing crucial information as the plot tightens.

🎭 Theater 🧭 History

Colin Beverly (Ed Begley Jr.)

Aggressive promoter attempting to buy out Max and take control of the theater. His scheming represents corporate greed and strategic manipulation that puts the venue’s spirit at risk.

💼 Business 🧭 Strategy

Sammy Fox (Miles Chapin)

Max’s nephew who stands to inherit the theater, but participates in Beverly’s plan. He attempts sabotage, highlighting familial ambition and the corrosive pull of potential wealth.

🎭 Theater 🧱 Sabotage

Reggie Wanker (Malcolm McDowell)

Self-assured performer whose ego and bravado embody the punk-rock energy of the night. His stage persona amplifies the concert’s wild, rebellious mood.

🎤 Music 🧠 Ego

Auden (Lou Reed)

A veteran performer who arrives amid the tension, anchoring the night with his rock credibility. His presence underscores the era’s musical lineage and the show’s edgy character.

🎸 Rock 🎭 Persona

Captain Cloud (Howard Kaylan)

Onstage figure leading the crowd in the countdown and the final song, symbolizing the show’s theatrical pomp and communal celebration.

🎺 Showmanship 🗳️ Leader

King Blues (Bill Henderson)

The opening act, a veteran blues figure who sets the night’s energy with his own renditions, anchoring the concert’s roots-rock vibe.

🎤 Music 🎷 Blues

Dr. Carver (Paul Bartel)

A clinical presence in the backstage world, adding an element of control and safety to the chaotic spectacle.

🩺 Medical 🧪 Science

O'Connell (Robert Picardo)

A dependable member of the theater crew who helps navigate the crisis and keeps the machinery of the show running under pressure.

🎭 Theater 🧰 Crew

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:15

Major Themes – Get Crazy (1983)

Explore the central themes of Get Crazy (1983), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Power

A 30-year lease becomes a weapon in a struggle between Max Wolfe's ownership and promoter Colin Beverly's bid to seize the theater. Sammy’s potential inheritance adds a layered motive, showing how money and control shape creative space. The looming midnight deadline intensifies decisions that will redefine who truly runs the venue.

🎤 Showmanship

The night’s performances are as much about spectacle as story, with acts like King Blues and the Nada Band fueling the energy. Backstage dynamics, lighting, and stagecraft create a cinematic rhythm that parallels the crowd’s emotional arc. The finale hinges on crowd engagement and the performers’ daring stunts, blurring art with risk.

💥 Chaos

Sabotage threads through the night as Sammy fuels danger and the bomb subplot cascades toward catastrophe. The countdown mirrors the peril, turning the theater into a pressure cooker of loyalties and bravado. The explosive finale tests friendships and courage, shaping the night’s ultimate outcome.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:15

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