Copacabana

The Marx Brothers are too funny for words! My kids love their movies and my boy was so happy to get this for his birthday.

Copacabana(May/47)stars the irrepressible Groucho Marx and the beautiful and talented Carmen Miranda.This movie was a first of sorts for both of them.It was Groucho's first film foray since his split with his brothers and this was Carmen's first strut before the cameras since leaving 20th Century Fox.If it wasn't for the talents of these two the film would be completely forgettable.The story here involves a "talent agent" Lionel Deveraux(Marx) whose sole client is Carmen(Miranda).Desperate for a job for Carmen he goes to the Copacabana club,owned and run by Mr.Cochran(Steve Hunt)with his faithful secretary by his side Anne Stuart(Gloria Jean).He manages to weasel a quick audition for Carmen which seems to go well.However Cochran is not quite satisfied ,as he had more of a singing chanteuse in mind.After a quick change(she has her face partially covered with a veil) Carmen comes back as Mademoiselle Fifi and wows Cochran with a number in French.He tells Devereaux he will take BOTH the girls,which leaves Carmen and her agent trying to figure how to accomplish it without getting caught.As Carmen only has to travel from one floor of the Copa to the next all goes well until Devereaux crazily sells Fifi's contract to a competing agent for $5,000.Trouble is the new agent is going to get Carmen about $100,000 for starring in movies in Hollywood! Devereaux finds out and wants to get his client back but when that doesn't work he comes up with a scheme to get rid of Fifi.This also back fires as the police get involved and Devereaux is now a suspect in Fifi's murder.In the end Carmen and Devereaux fess up and they along with Cochran and his secretary live happily ever after.The plot here is so threadbare and mundane that if it wasn't for the talents of Marx and Miranda it would be a total wipeout.Marx here is certainly entertaining but he always appears a little antsy and not quite comfortable with his role throughout the film.Though there are a few cute moments,in general the gags and jokes are just not what one would expect from him.However in his defense Groucho was working from a script which was weak to begin with.The glue that really holds this picture together is Carmen Miranda and she actually amazes me at times.She shows just how under appreciated a talent she was.Her acting is marvellous as she holds her own with everyone including a clowning Groucho and she sings not only in English and Portuguese but in French;and beautifully!Her first number is the famous "Tico,Tico" then she does her French number "Je Vous Amour".Her final number is at the end as she sings "Let's Go to the Copacabana".Groucho even gets in on the singing routine with "Go West Young Man" surrounded by a bevy of beauties from the actual Copacabana club in NYC,who are seen throughout the film.In fact they open the film with a completely lifeless and forgettable "Hollywood Bound" number. Popular singer of the mid to late 40s Andy Russell(a Capitol recording artist of the day)is on hand and does well with the four main numbers he sings.He also does a nice turn with Carmen singing "He hasn't got a thing to Sell".Technically the film has been transferred well.In fact this print is very good to excellent throughout.It is generally very crisp and clear.The DVD however has no extras of any kind to speak of.As a trivial aside,you might have noticed,or will notice when you watch the film,that an assistant to the producer is one David Sebastian.David was the producer's brother in law and David was given the task of sussing out Carmen before production began because of rumours she was temperamental and hard to work with.Of course nothing could have been farther from the truth and in fact as circumstances would have it,David and Carmen married before the picture finished shooting! And as a tie in for the NYC premiere of the movie,Carmen appeared at the real Copacabana before its' release singing songs from the movie and performing for appreciative crowds.It certainly boosted attendance and improved what otherwise would have been even more lackluster reviews.Certainly not a bad movie but far from great.The plot is thin and the gags weak and don't expect Marx to be up to the level he was at with his brothers.Carmen shines throughout and is the glue that holds this entire "model" together.Miranda fans will want to get this DVD for that alone,if for nothing else.

A Groucho solo, if you will, meaning it's sans Chico and Harpo, but Carmen Miranda and Gloria Jean (from the last W. C. Fields feature), do just fine to make it a trio. Later-career Laurel and Hardy foil Ralph Sanford ("Muldoon" in their best 20th Century Fox picture, "The Bullfighters") has some good scenes as a very nervous Talent Agent.As Hollywood musicals go, this one's okay - despite containing *all* forgettable songs, many by Crosby-esque crooner Andy Russell. All Miranda's production numbers are fine; Groucho even gets a chance to do "Groucho" in a Western number written for "Go West".The plot doesn't really matter, although it's a very entertaining one, centered at a famous nightclub and featuring some zany costume changes as Carmen fulfills the impossible task of playing two different singers contemporaneously, for her suddenly budding career and that of her longterm fiance and showbiz partner, Groucho, now threadbare Agent. There's an interesting twist just when you think they'll all live happily ever after.Groucho has his best lines and scenes since the 1937 "A Day At The Races".Video-audio quality is excellent; beautiful Black and White cinematography.(Fans note: next Groucho film with his Brothers in 1949, then a better one with Frank Sinatra and Jane Russell in 1950).

wonderful talents of Groucho Marx and Carmen Miranda make this a fun bright musical comedy with Carmen playing 2 roles it also has the pleasant singing voice of Andy Russell the Copa girls Steve Cochran and Gloria Jean. The critics have not always been kind to this film but i have always enjoyed it.

Me gusto mucho la pelicula, la imagen nitride, los numeros musicales con muy buen gusto, CARMEN MIRANDA Y GROUCHO muy simparicos, STEVE COCHRAN, el galan de la pelicula, me gustaba seguirlo en sus peliculas, primera pelicula que veo de STEVE en una comedia musical, lo tengo en dramas etc, ANDY RUSSEL, ya lo conocia en peliculas Mexicanas, en colores hubiera sido mejor ya que tiene varios numeros musicales.

loved this movie long ago and so happy it is available on dvd at such a reasonable price. the unusual pairing of groucho marx and carmen miranda was brilliant and created a movie full of fun and entertainment. had forgotten what a beautiful voice andy russell had. no wonder they called him the voice of romance. each cast member added to this wonderful little gem of old hollywood movie making. it wasn't made for intellectual purposes, it was made to take your mind off your troubles and get into a world of fantasy and fun. if you are a fan of groucho, carmen, or any of the other cast members, you'll enjoy this movie.

I really enjoyed this movie with Groucho Marx (minus Harpo and Chico) and Carmen Miranda in a silly story that gives them both the chance to do what they did best. Carmen plays two night club singers - who knew she could sing French! Groucho goes through the entire movie with his natural face until the big scene where our beloved Groucho appears on stage with the famous shoe polish mustache, bat-wing eyebrows and slouching walk with a bevy of beautiful chorus girls. Yea, it's in black and white - with these two working together, the sparks that fly are still dazzling.

Carmen Miranda was magical in front of the camera. When she smiled she lit up the screen. Talented was a word that described Carmen but not strong enough of a word for an amazing woman, actress, singer and entertainer. Though I was never a fan of the Marx brothers, this story was rather entertaining. Though it only stars Groucho Marx, Carmen has the all the fun playing two different characters and she does both very well with that "Carmen Miranda" flare. A fun comedy for those who love a good chuckle.

dated but fun

good comedy moments supplied by Groucho, wearing a real moustache for once, and some great musical numbers supplied by the great Carmen Miranda, quite a good transfer for its age, you can enhance the image by dvd upscaling if your player has this facility it is a bonus

"Copacabana" est certainement le plus drôle des nombreux films de Carmen Miranda. Malheureusement introuvable en Europe, il en existe une version en anglais seulement et sans sous-titres sur DVD en Zone 1, que l'on trouve à bas prix sur "Amazon.ca". Ici, Carmen Miranda joue deux rôles: une chanteuse latino aigrie, et une "French chanteuse" aguichante et sensuelle venant des colonies (on évoque le Maroc). Dans son second rôle, elle porte le voile comme déguisement. Elle chante dans un faux français hilarant, et le film (à petit budget) ressemble parfois à une parodie de Hollywood, voire de Bollywood, avant la lettre. Et Groucho Marx (aux gags très moyens) se fait voler la vedette par la vedette ! On rit beaucoup et fort en voyant ce film dont le début est toutefois un peu lent.

The funniest guys of 1930s.