John Travolta’s career has seen legendary highs, but it has also included moments of major disappointment, such as the 1978 romantic drama “Moment by Moment.” Despite being preceded by monumental successes like “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease,” this John Travolta movie flop failed to impress critics or audiences when it was released. The film’s poor reception left a lasting mark on Travolta, who found the harsh reviews nearly unbearable at the time.
The Premise and Production Background of “Moment by Moment”
“Moment by Moment” starred John Travolta opposite Lily Tomlin, who played a middle-aged socialite trapped in an unhappy marriage, while Travolta’s character, a free-spirited nomad named Strip, sweeps into her life and sparks a whirlwind romance. The film was produced by Robert Stigwood, who had a strong track record working with Travolta on previous hits. Expectations were high for another collaboration to succeed, but this project faltered significantly.
The relationship between the leads and the storyline failed to resonate, and the movie quickly earned a reputation as one of the year’s biggest failures.
Critical Backlash and Public Reception
“Moment by Moment” faced nearly universal criticism from film reviewers upon release. Variety described it as
“one of the major disappointments of 1978”
, while Gene Siskel called it
“a thoroughly awkward, frequently laughable love story that Travolta would do well not to defend”
.
The Washington Post made an unusual comparison, joking that the movie seemed like a creation of HAL 9000 from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” implying a lack of warmth or human touch. Among the critics, only Kevin Thomas from the Los Angeles Times found something worthwhile, praising the vulnerability of the two lead actors despite the film’s shortcomings.
Travolta’s Reaction to the Harsh Criticism
This film marked one of Travolta’s first encounters with widespread negative reviews, and he took the backlash personally. He admitted to feeling as though critics treated the film’s failure with a venom that went beyond normal criticism. Travolta remarked,
“I feel that the criticism after the film became abusive,”
adding,
“It went beyond mere criticism. You would have thought Lily and I had committed murder. I thought, ‘My God, don’t ever do a movie people don’t like; they’ll murder you.’”
While the reviews were indeed scathing, they did not stray far from the level of criticism other poor-quality films received at the time. It is possible, however, that some journalists were particularly harsh because Travolta was coming off major hits, making him a bigger target for scrutiny.
A Shift in Perspective Years Later
By 1985, Travolta’s feelings regarding “Moment by Moment” had evolved. In an interview with reporter Wayne Robins, he reflected on the experience with a more thoughtful stance, recognizing the value of learning from failure rather than dwelling on regret. Travolta stated,
“Maybe what one learns from that is invaluable,”
and pondered further,
“So is it wise to regret that? I have a tendency to try not to regret and look at what I’ve learned from something. Where does it get me, to stew in something? You can’t change it. I think half the insanity in this world comes from regret.”
The Lasting Impact of “Moment by Moment” in Travolta’s Filmography
Today, “Moment by Moment” is largely forgotten except among the most devoted John Travolta fans and is no longer noted as the worst of his films. The movie’s poor reputation simply highlights the numerous other disappointing projects that followed throughout his career. Despite its failure, this early flop remains a significant example of how even big-name stars can face crushing setbacks.
