The Karen Carpenter Story (1989) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer (WGA):

Barry Morrow (written by)

Release Date:

1 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

Story of the meteoric rise and sudden fall of Karen Carpenter, who became a famous singer before battling anorexia and bulemia. |

Plot Keywords:

Anorexia | Eating Disorder

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cynthia Gibb	...	Karen Carpenter
Mitchell Anderson	...	Richard Carpenter
Peter Michael Goetz	...	Harold Carpenter
Michael McGuire	...	Sherwin Bash
Lise Hilboldt	...	Lucy
Kip Gilman	...	David Lattimer (as Kenneth David Gilman)
Richard Minchenberg
Scott Burkholder	...	Ted
Louise Fletcher	...	Agnes Carpenter
John Patrick Reger	...	Bob Knight
Doug MacHugh	...	Dr. Lazwell
William Tucker	...	Peter Howard
Henry Crowell Jr.	...	Denny
Josh Cruze	...	Herb Alpert
Carrie Mitchum	...	Randy Bash

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Weintraub Entertainment Group

Trivia:

The same ambulance, paramedics, and house that the real Karen Carpenterdied in were used in the movie.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The first time at the Magic Lamp recording studio, there is Karen on drums, a double bass player and Richard on piano. When Karen starts singing in the right key (A) we then cut to a Carpenter sound track that with an electric bass and an oboe.

Quotes:

Agnes Carpenter: Here take one of these.
Richard Carpenter: What is it?
Agnes Carpenter: Something called qualuuds, to help you sleep.

Movie Connections:

Features The Third Man (1949)

Soundtrack:

Now

Little Drummer Girl

There have been a lot of opinions expressed as to the crux of Karen's problems. Certainly the eating disorder was a result and not a cause of the talented singer's anxiety.

The "controlling mother," need for romantic love, and career stresses all undoubtedly played a part. However, my feeling is that the act of moving Karen from her drums to the center stage mike was the real trigger.

The young musician felt comfortable and natural behind the drums. It was where she really belonged, despite professional dictates. A drummer's always a drummer at heart, sitting behind those traps and wielding those sticks. Her singing emanated from and was intertwined with the drumming, and not an isolated entity.

The move to center stage and abandoning her trap set was the beginning of Karen's downfall. The move robbed her of her base, grounding and natural habitat. It threw off her balance, and began her downward spiral to a rash of personal problems.

Seems like a small thing, yet my feeling is that had Karen remained behind those drums singing her songs, she might still be with us today.

The TV movie includes lots of great Carpenter hits, and includes the contribution of her protégé brother, Richard, who currently (in 2006) is alive and doing well in California.