Copacabana (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Waris Hussein

Writer:

James Lipton (writer)

Release Date:

3 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

Singer Tony loves dancer Lola in 1940s New York, but sinister Rico brings her to his nightclub in Havana.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Songwriter | Show Business | Stardom | 1940s

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Barry Manilow	...	Tony Starr
Annette O'Toole	...	Lola Lamar
Estelle Getty	...	Bella Stern
James T. Callahan	...	Dennis Reilly
Andra Akers	...	Pamela Devereaux
Silvana Gallardo	...	Conchita Rivera
Joseph Bologna	...	Rico Castelli
Ernie Sabella	...	Sam Gropper
Cliff Osmond	...	Angelo
Dwier Brown	...	Bibi Sutton
Stanley Brock	...	2nd Publisher
Clarence Felder	...	Nick Panotis
Hamilton Camp	...	Nicky Richards
Hartley Silver	...	Husband
Ralph Clift	...	Customer (as Ralph M. Clift)

Also Known As:

Barry Manilow's Copacabana (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Company:

Dick Clark Productions

Trivia:

During a late 1985 appearance on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”, shortly before the movie aired on TV, Manilow actually revealed the ending to the movie, leading much of the audience to groan. However, he mistakenly thought they groaned not because he revealed the ending, but because of what actually happened to his character at the end, leading Manilow to comment, "It's only a movie."

Quotes:

Tony Starr: [Improving a musical arrangement for Lola] We'll change the keys! That always works.

Soundtrack:

Let's Go Steppin'

Well above-average TV movie

Underrated tribute to 40s screwball comedies and musicals. First rate score, excellent performances, and beautiful period settings. The feature film lighting is also quite remarkable for this time as most TV movies adopted flat TV lighting. Manilow interprets his own material far better than any of the Tonys in the

various stage musical versions that followed in later years. He's sort of a male Barbara Streisand with an underplayed comic edge, versatile acting skills, and a great voice. Too bad musicals were (and still are) dead by 1985. The

showcase number, "Who Needs to Dream" is both the highlight and the biggest

disappointment because it should have been staged better, even on a low

budget. It's reminiscent of Gene Kelly's famous "Singin' In The Rain" but without the rain and painfully static camera shots--cutting back and forth, back and forth between Tony and Lola. Tony (Barry) moves around a bit more toward the end,

but one is left with the impression this was the last scene they shot when they were out of money or time to do it right. The DVD version offers a beautiful transfer but, sadly offers no commentary or extra features.