Carbon Copy (1981)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writer:

Stanley Shapiro (writer)

Release Date:

25 September 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Any resemblance between Father and Son is purely hysterical.

Plot:

A white corporate executive is surprised to discover that he has a black teen-age son who can't wait to be adopted into the...

Plot Keywords:

Racial | Racial Slur | Blaxploitation | Independent Film

Cast

George Segal	...	Walter Whitney
Susan Saint James	...	Vivian Whitney
Jack Warden	...	Nelson Longhurst
Dick Martin	...	Victor Bard
Denzel Washington	...	Roger Porter
Paul Winfield	...	Bob Garvey
Macon McCalman	...	Tubby Wederholt
Vicky Dawson	...	Mary Ann
Parley Baer	...	Dr. Bristol
Vernon Weddle	...	Wardlow
Edward Marshall	...	Freddie
Ed Call	...	Basketball Father
Angelina Estrada	...	Bianca
Carmen Filpi	...	Wino
Warren Munson	...	2nd Guard

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG

Company:

First City

Trivia:

Denzel Washington's first movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Walter pulls in to park and hits the parking meter, he reverses and parks. The car is visibly outside of the parking lane lines. After the cut, he gets out of the car and the car is within the parking lane lines.

Quotes:

Walter Whitney: I'm Jewish, my son is Black and my lawyer smokes pot. Don't tell me I'm not in trouble.
Victor Bard: Hey, it makes me feel better, and does not affect my judgement. I delivered the valedictorian speech at Harvard... completely stoned.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lo squartatore di New York (1982)

Soundtrack:

I'm Gonna Get Closer to You

Funny and Informative Comedy 10 of 10

I liked this movie and found it to be very funny. I watched it as a kid and have looked for it ever since. I first found the VHS tape in Savons and later the DVD in Circuit City.

The movie demonstrated that even though society supposedly changed their view on Blacks, there were still racial undertones. These racial undertones were a reminder that being Black or labeled as family or friend of Blacks wasn't acceptable on an equal level. The film tells the story of a predominately wealthy White man who rose to wealth because he married into it. Then his quick demise because he chose to accept an illegitimate Black son. He was supposedly very much in love with the mother of his son but didn't want to marry her because she was black and it would be bad for business. The film showed how he had to adjust to the lack of support from family, friend and viewed things from the other side of the tracks. It was funny that through out most of the movie he was being a wimp and suffered for it. Then towards the end learns some things about himself.

Denzel Washington's character was funny because of his quick witty responses and view point of the real world even before the father realized things. Also, towards the end his character had more depth than at first realized.

The movie was very informative about the 1980s racial and social environment. The comedy presented things in a funny manner in which to explain the stereotypes and their effects on the characters. It was funny to the audience and will create dialog and discussions long afterwords.