Fame (1980)

A chronicle of the lives of several teenagers who attend a New York high school for students gifted in the performing arts.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writer:

Christopher Gore

Stars:

Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, Lee Curreri

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

At the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, students get specialized training that often leads to success as actors, singers, etc. This movie follows four students from the time when they audition to get into the school, through graduation. They are the brazen Coco Hernandez, shy Doris Finsecker, sensitive gay Montgomery MacNeil, and brash, abrasive Raul Garcia.

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Plot Keywords:

performing arts | new york city | actor | singer | audition | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French Russian

Release Date:

16 May 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hot Lunch

Filming Locations:

Church of Saint Mary the Virgin 145 West 46th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$21 (USA) (2 January 1981)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A poster for the Broadway production of Evita can be seen in the background. Director Alan Parker would later direct the film version of Evita (1996), starring Madonna (who auditioned for this movie).

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Coco Hernandez: [the girls are fighting over Leroy] You know what they say? The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.
Hilary van Doren: Yes, but who wants diabetes?

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Connections

Referenced in Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish (1999)

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Soundtracks

Is It Okay If I Call You Mine
(1980)
Music and Lyrics by Paul McCrane
Performed by Paul McCrane (uncredited)

User Reviews

Fame! I'm going to live forever. I'm going to learn how to fly.

I LOVE this movie.

It is way too bad they don't make movies like this any more, and that teenagers are more amazed by a bunch of trashy movies with big name actors and big time special effects, but not big time plots and characters.

I'm 15 years old, a teenager in the "nothing 90's" (oh, so it's 2000 now, who gives a care?), and being a lover of musicals, 80's high school movies (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.) and those sort of things, I was recommended this by a "Fame fanatic", my aunt.

I knew after the audition scenes that this was a perfect movie for me. It follows the lives of tear-jerkingly believable characters of several different backgrounds. I laughed, I cried, and I bought the soundtrack. The acting is so excellent that the first time I saw it, I'd forgotten that these were not real living, flesh people, only actors.

There a some flaws, however. There are a few gaps in some of the characters, and the movie should have went on for another 30 minutes, although it was already about 2 hours and 30 minutes (which it didn't feel like). It is also outdated, and you sometimes can't help but laugh at how much it is.

If you've never seen this movie, and you are a fan of musicals, arts, and realistic teenage movies, run, don't walk, to a local video store.

Hopefully, Fame will truly live forever!

My rating: **** (out of 5 *'s)