Deeming Jack's vocals inadequate, Sam recruits neighbor and Saddle Tramps waiter/go-go boy Felipe Rose (the Indian), fellow model David "Scar" Hodo (the construction worker, who daydreams of stardom in the solo number "I Love You to Death"), and Randy Jones (the cowboy) on the streets of Greenwich Village, offering dinner in return for their participation.
Meanwhile, Sam's former agent Sydney Channing orders her long-suffering personal assistant, Girl Friday Lulu Brecht, to attend, hoping to lure back the star.
Ron White, a lawyer from St. Louis, is mugged by an elderly woman en route to deliver a cake that Sam's sister sent and arrives disconcerted.
Ron suggests a new location for rehearsal space at the YMCA (the ensuing production number features its athletic denizens in various states of undress).
That evening, the group cuts a demo ("Liberation") for Marrakech, but Steve sees limited appeal and Sam refuses his paltry contract.
To bankroll the party, Sam acquiesces to Channing's plea to return for a TV advertising campaign for milk, provided the Village People are featured.
The lavish number "Milkshake" begins as Sam pours milk for six little boys in the archetypal costumes with the promise that they will grow up to be the Village People.
Following a set by The Ritchie Family ("Give Me a Break"), the Village People triumphantly debut before a cheering crowd ("Can't Stop the Music").
Can't Stop the Music was her lone effort at theatrical film direction, as after it, Walker returned to acting in television.
The film's supporting cast includes Tammy Grimes, Russell Nype, June Havoc, Altovise Davis, Jack Weston and Leigh Taylor-Young.
Jenner did not appear in another film until Adam Sandler's Jack and Jill (2011), which, like Can't Stop the Music, won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture.
Background dancers included Perri Lister, girlfriend of Billy Idol and mother to his son, and Peter Tramm, who would go on to appear in dozens of music videos and double for Kevin Bacon in Footloose.
[3] Carr was coming off a massive worldwide hit with the pop musical Grease when shooting took place between May and July 1979 at the height of the disco craze.
Carr took a hands-on role with the production, and personally directed and cast the male athlete extras for the "YMCA" musical sequence.
[13] A few weeks prior to release, Jenner and Perrine hosted a TV special, Allan Carr's Magic Night, to promote the film.
[14] Carr said he decided to change the title during filming because, as the music score included older ballads and Broadway numbers, it would be inaccurate to call it Discoland.
At a cost estimated at $20 million, the film was a colossal failure financially, bringing in only a tenth of that in gross revenue,[18] and is considered one of the reasons for the downfall of AFD.
The film itself also performed well in Australia, where the world premiere preview was shown at the Paramount Theatre, Sydney on June 1, 1980, with the after party held at Maxy's.
[22] Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream sold a flavor called "Can't Stop the Nuts" as part of the promotion of the film.
[24] Variety magazine felt likewise, writing "The Village People, along with ex-Olympic decathlon champion [Caitlyn] Jenner, have a long way to go in the acting stakes.
[29] Can't Stop the Music was the first winner of the Worst Picture Golden Raspberry Award, for it was a double feature of this and Xanadu that inspired John J.
[30] Can't Stop the Music was released on Region 1 DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment, under license from StudioCanal on April 16, 2002.