Copacabana (1985 film)

Copacabana is a 1985 American made-for-television musical film based on the 1978 song of the same title by Barry Manilow. It aired on CBS on December 3, 1985. The film's script was written by James Lipton, with additional songs written by Manilow. Directed by Waris Hussein, it starred Manilow himself, in his acting debut, as Tony, an aspiring songwriter, and Annette O'Toole as Lola, an aspiring singer who falls in with the wrong crowd.

Copacabana
GenreMusical
Based onCharacters from the song "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman
Written byJames Lipton
Directed byWaris Hussein
StarringBarry Manilow
Annette O'Toole
Estelle Getty
James T. Callahan
Music byBarry Manilow
Bruce Sussman
Jack Feldman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersDick Clark
Dan Paulson
ProducerR.W. Goodwin
CinematographyBobby Byrne
EditorMichael Jablow
Running time96 minutes
Production companyDick Clark Productions
DistributorCBS
Release
Original networkCBS
Picture formatColor
Audio formatMono
Original releaseDecember 3, 1985 (1985-12-03)

A soundtrack album, Copacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album, was released for the film. The film also inspired a 1990 stage show at Caesars Atlantic City, which was based heavily on the film, as well as a 1994 musical, also called Copacabana, which was based more loosely on the film, which played in London's West End and elsewhere.

Plot

The film's story is told in flashbacks from 1978 to 1948, and back again.

In 1978, a woman named Lola Lamar patronizes the Copacabana lounge in Manhattan, which in that year was being operated as a discotheque. There, outfitted in worn wardrobe that was new in the middle-to-late 1940s, when she had originally obtained it, she drinks rather heavily and remembers happier days thirty years ago, when she was far younger.

In 1948, wannabe singer Lola meets aspiring songwriter Tony Starr when both are contestants on a radio show. Tony is immediately smitten with Lola and assists her flailing attempts to break into show business. At Manhattan's Copacabana lounge, both start finding fame. However, fate steps in and Lola is swept to Havana to work in a splashy night club act where she is convinced she will find her stardom, while Tony finds his own career gaining speed at the Copa. But Lola's new mentor and boss, Rico Castelli, demands a heavy price for elevating Lola's career, resulting in conflict, drama, and eventually Tony's accidental murder at Lola's hands, during a battle for the gun.

The setting returns to 1978 after the depiction of Tony's accidental murder at Lola's hands. The now-aged Lola, thoroughly drunk, has a vision of a younger version of herself and Tony dancing on the dancefloor.

Production

The television project began when Dick Clark approached Manilow and cowriters Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, persuading them to develop a musical film around their popular song, "Copacabana."

The film was directed by Waris Hussein and written by James Lipton. It aired on CBS on December 3, 1985.

Cast

The principal cast included:[1]

The featured cast included:

  • Hartley Silver as Husband
  • Ralph M. Clift as Customer
  • John Petlock as Man
  • Rafael Mauro as 1st Publisher
  • Lonnie Burr as Nightclub Owner
  • James Martinez as Reporter
  • Whitney Rydbeck as Minister
  • Robert Broyles as Bar Patron
  • Brad Logan as Rico's Henchman
  • Dickson Hughes as Lounge Pianist
  • Hugo Stanger as Doorman
  • Lew Horn as 2nd Patron
  • Richard Kuller as Radio Announcer
  • Carole Meyers as Wedding Guest
  • Artie Butler as Nightclub Piano Player

Soundtrack
Main article: Copacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album

The soundtrack album produced from the movie is titled Copacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album and was released by RCA Records.

Songs debuting in the movie version:[2]

  • "Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again)" - Tony
  • "Changing My Tune" - Tony
  • "Let's Go Steppin'" - Copa Girls
  • "Man Wanted" - Lola
  • "Call Me Mr. Lucky" - Tony
  • "Lola" - Tony
  • "Who Needs To Dream" - Tony
  • "¡Aye Caramba!" - Copa Girls
  • "El Bravo" - Lola

Awards and nominations

At the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards, Copacabana was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography (Grover Dale) and Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program (Waris Hussein), and won the Emmy for the latter category.[3]

References
  1. "Copacabana Cast & Crew". Yahoo. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  2. "Copacabana (TV) Soundtrack". BarryNetHomepage.com.
  3. "Copacabana". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
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