Studio 54 was the epicenter of ‘70s hedonism—a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but also came to symbolize an entire era. Its co-owners, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, two friends from Brooklyn, seemed to come out of nowhere to suddenly preside over a new kind of New York society. Now, 39 years after the velvet rope was first slung across the club’s hallowed threshold, Matt Tyrnauer has created a gripping and vibrant film, one which captures the spirit of the era and tells the real story behind the greatest club of all time.

Q&A with director Matt Tyrnauer to follow.