Fame (1980)

Director:

Alan Parker

Guionista:

Christopher Gore (written by)

Release Date:

16 mayo 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Frase comercial:

If they've really got what it takes, it's going to take everything they've got.

Plot:

At the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, students get specialized training that often leads to success as actors...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Absent Father | Absent Mother | Bronx New York | Inner City

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 16 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

GREAT songs but has serious problems in drama

Cast

Eddie Barth	...	Angelo
Irene Cara	...	Coco
Lee Curreri	...	Bruno
Laura Dean	...	Lisa
Antonia Franceschi	...	Hilary
Boyd Gaines	...	Michael
Albert Hague	...	Shorofsky
Tresa Hughes	...	Mrs. Finsecker
Steve Inwood	...	François Lafete
Paul McCrane	...	Montgomery
Anne Meara	...	Mrs. Sherwood
Joanna Merlin	...	Miss Berg
Barry Miller	...	Ralph
Jim Moody	...	Farrell
Gene Anthony Ray	...	Leroy

También conocida como:

Hot Lunch (USA) (working title)
Fama (Argentina) (Spain) [es]

Duración:

134 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

English | Español | French

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby

Clasificación:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Haaren High School, 10th Avenue 59th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivialidades:

Sal Piro, the president of the Rocky Horror Picture Show fan club, makes an appearance as the host during the Rocky Horror Show scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shirley shakes the metal gate after being told she wasn't accepted, the yellow slip in her hand vanishes between shots.

Quotes:

Doris Finsecker: I'm about as flamboyant as a bagel.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Escape 2000 (#8.5)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Dogs in the Yard

GREAT songs but has serious problems in drama

Film follows a bunch of students in the NYC High School of the Performing Arts. There's Coco (Irene Cara) a black singer who WILL make it to the top despite everything. She's helped by Bruno (Lee Curren) a white musician. Then there's Doris (Maureen Teefy) who wants to be an actress--but she's shy and scared. She becomes friends with Motgomery (Paul McCrane)--purportedly the only gay student in the school and is romanced by Raul (Barry Miller). Then there's Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray--who sadly died in 2003) who's homeless and a great dancer--but can't read. Then there's various teachers (Albert Hague, Anne Meara stand out) trying to teach the kids.

The songs are GREAT (the title tune and "Out Here On My Own" were nominated for Best Song--"Fame" won), the dances are energetic and the young cast shows plenty of ambition and talent. BUT this film misses the boat in the drama department. Many plot lines are brought up and completely left open-ended by the end of the movie. Why did Coco do a porno? Did Doris and Raul remain together afterwords? Did either make it? How about Montgomery--what happened to him? And did Leroy ever graduate--and how? There are too many long speeches (Raul has two) and moments that just lead to nothing. I'm assuming there were cuts in the script--I can't believe the movie just left all this open.

Still, it's worth seeing for the acting and, again, the music. There's basically not one bad song and the dances go full force (and at one point stop traffic--literally!). My favorites are "Fame", "Out Here..." and "I Sing the Body Electric" which is a great closing song. So I recommend it but can only give it a 7--the script really needed to tie up loose ends--and it didn't.

Trivia: They wanted to shot this film at the actual School for Performing Arts but couldn't get permission. The dean of the school read the script and said there was way too much swearing in the film. That is true--there is a LOT of foul language but that's how high school kids talk. Avoid the TV version which abysmally overdubs it.