Themes: Assumed Identities, Cons and Scams, Musician's Life
Main Cast: Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, Andy Russell, Steve Cochran, Gloria Jean, Ralph Sanford
Release Year: 1947
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Groucho Marx made his first solo film appearance away from his brothers in the musical comedy Copacabana. Groucho plays two-bit theatrical agent Lionel Q. Devereaux, whose favorite client--indeed, his only client--is fireball Brazilian entertainer Carmen Novarro (Carmen Miranda). Hoping for a double commission, Devereaux gets Carmen two different singing jobs at the Copacabana nightclub, through the simple expedient of having Carmen wear a veil and pose as a French chanteuse. Steve Hunt (Steve Cochran), manager of the Copa, falls in love with one of the Carmens, much to the dismay of pretty bookkeeper Anne (Gloria Jean). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Simply because of the talent involved, Copacabana should be a hilarious treat. After all, what could be more interesting that teaming up the uniquely bizarre Carmen Miranda with the bizarrely unique Groucho Marx? Sure enough, the stars don't disappoint, but their talents are squandered in a vehicle that is as dull and pedestrian as one can imagine. The premise -- that Groucho tries to pass his client Carmen off as two different performers -- is certainly full of promise, but it's as if the writers exhausted themselves coming up with it and couldn't find the energy to do anything original or interesting with it. Even these two personalities need material, and what they have here is weak, weak, weak. There are highlights, of course, including Groucho exulting "Go West, Young Man," and Carmen sinking her teeth into "Tico Tico," but not enough to make the film special. In addition, Groucho seems a bit at sea without his brothers and Margaret Dumont; the creators haven't figured out a context into which his special personality can be shown off to its best advantage, and that hurts things. So, for that matter, do the bland performances of Andy Russell, Steve Cochran and Gloria Jean. Copacabana is a missed opportunity, redeemed somewhat by its stars. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Abel Green - Columnist; Louis Sobol - Columnist; Andrew Tombes - Murphy; Earl Wilson - Columnist
Credit
Larry Ceballos - Choreography, Alfred E. Green - Director, Phil Cahn - Editor, Bert Glennon - Cinematographer, Sam Coslow - Producer, Laszlo Vadnay - Screen Story, Allen Boretz - Screenwriter, Laszlo Vadnay - Screenwriter, Howard Harris - Screenwriter
Copacabana is a 1947musicalcomedy film starring Groucho Marx and Carmen Miranda. A show business agent (Groucho) somehow gets his only client (Carmen) hired twice, as different people, by a nightclub owner (Steve).
The film is a showcase for Miranda, who performs several numbers in her usual style, including a high-energy rendition of "Tico-Tico". Groucho, as Lionel, her fiance and agent, by then was wearing a normal mustache in real life, but he also sings a song, "Go West, Young Man", wearing his traditional greasepaint brows and mustache, and baggy suit. This was Groucho's first significant film appearance as a solo act, minus Harpo and Chico. Anne (Gloria Jean), at the urging of Andy, sings a song called "Stranger Things Have Happened", admitting her unrequited love for her employer, Steve.
