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The Karen Carpenter Story (1989) (TV)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
1 January 1989 (USA) morePlot:
Story of the meteoric rise and sudden fall of Karen Carpenter, who became a famous singer before battling anorexia and bulemia. | add synopsisPlot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. moreUser Comments:
Little Drummer Girl moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
USA:120 min (including commercials)Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Australia:PGFun Stuff
Trivia:
The same ambulance, paramedics, and house that the real Karen Carpenterdied in were used in the movie. moreGoofs:
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. moreQuotes:
Agnes Carpenter: Here take one of these.Richard Carpenter: What is it?
Agnes Carpenter: Something called qualuuds, to help you sleep.
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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.