Copacabana (1947)

Agent has his only client pose as both a French chanteuse and Brazilian bombshell to fool nightclub owner.

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

László Vadnay (story), László Vadnay (screenplay),

Stars:

Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, Steve Cochran

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Groucho Marx	...	Lionel Q. Deveraux
Carmen Miranda	...	Carmen Novarro / Mlle. Fifi
Steve Cochran	...	Steve Hunt
Andy Russell	...	Singer Andy Russell
Gloria Jean	...	Anne Stuart
Abel Green	...	Abe Green - Editor of Variety
Louis Sobol	...	Louis Sobol - Columnist (as Louie Sobol)
Earl Wilson	...	Earl Wilson - Columnist
The De Castro Sisters	...	Singers
Ralph Sanford	...	Liggett, an Agent
Igor Dega	...	Specialty
Kay Marvis	...	Cigarette Girl (as Kay Gorcey)
Merle McHugh	...	Copa Girl
Dee Turnell	...	Copa Girl
Maxine Fife	...	Announcer, Thing to Sell

Storyline

Talent agent Lionel Devereaux sells his girlfriend/client Carmen Novarro to New York City's famous Copacabana nightclub as a Latin-American singer/dancer and, pressed for another act, he sells her again, this time with a blonde wig and Moroccan veil, as a French singer...for the same presentation. The wear and tear on Carmen, changing back-and-forth between numbers, leaves to a heated exchange of words between the performer and her fiancé agent. This leads to the disappearance of Carmen's alter ego, which arouses suspicions by the management...and the police.

---

Plot Keywords:

nightclub | singer | police | performer | new york city | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Idem

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Productions (III)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Abe Green - Editor of Variety: Now listen, Deveraux. You and I both know this check is no good.
Lionel Q. Deveraux: Oh? I thought only I knew it.

---

Connections

Featured in Flubber (1997)

---

Soundtracks

"My Heart Was Doing a Bolero"
Written by Sam Coslow
Performed by Andy Russell

User Reviews

Delightfully Naive and Entertaining

In New York City, Lionel Q. Devereaux (Groucho Marx) and his fiancée Carmen Novarro (Carmen Miranda) are unsuccessfully trying to find a spot in the show business. Lionel introduces himself to Steve Hunt (Steve Cochran), who owns the famous Copacabana nightclub, as an important agent and convinces Steve to see the presentation of Carmen. He enjoys the show and asks for another attraction; Lionel convinces Carmen to wear a veil and perform another song and introduces her to Steve as the French singer Mademoiselle Fifi. Steve hires both singers and Carmen has to change clothes and identities between her performances. When she sees Lionel flirting with a Copa Girl, Mlle. Fifi accepts the invitation to have dinner with Steve, hurting the feelings of his secretary Anne Stuart (Gloria Jean) that is in love with him. The situation gets complicated and Carmen simulates an argument with Mlle. Fifi with her subsequent disappearance, originating an investigation of the police where the prime suspect is Lionel.

"Copacabana" is a delightfully naive and entertaining movie from a time when the society was extremely innocent and could buy such ingenuous story. The plot, i.e., the double-identity of Carmen Miranda, is totally absurd but the situation of Lionel after the disappearance of Mlle. Fifi was remade by Billy August in 1963 in "Irma La Douce". Groucho Marx is funny and responsible for the best moments of this movie; but the subplots with the silly romance of Anne and Steve, and the participation of the weird singer Andy Russell should be better written. The songs are boring and dated in 2009, but Carmen Miranda was very successful in those years and sings the famous "Tico-Tico no Fubá". My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Copacabana"