The Karen Carpenter Story (TV 1989)

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

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer:

Barry Morrow

Stars:

Cynthia Gibb, Mitchell Anderson, Peter Michael Goetz

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

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

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

anorexia | drummer | eating disorder | female drummer | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Karen Carpenterin tarina

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weintraub Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film implies Richard Carpenter talked Karen out of making a solo album in 1979. In fact, Karen Carpenter made a solo album, (with the help of Phil Ramone), between 1979 and 1980. The Carpenters's label, A & M, did not like it, so it did not get released until 1996.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Agnes Carpenter: Karen, you're not eating. You look too thin, if you ask me.
Karen Carpenter: Mother, how can anybody be too thin?

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Connections

Features The Third Man (1949)

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Soundtracks

"Karen's Theme"
Written by Richard Carpenter

User Reviews

My Favorte Made For TV Movie

There is a clever little scene in The Karen Carpenter Story, where both Carpenters are in a recording studio, and Richard makes an impromptu decision to have Karen sing for the owner of the studio.

Richard picks the wrong key for Karen to sing in, so Karen is singing above her natural range. You can see a look of bemusement on the owner's face; he figures she really can't sing. Richard quickly realizes his mistake and tries again in a different key. The next thing you hear is Karen's amazing, beautiful voice, and the owner does a priceless double take. Nicely done! For some reason, I have never forgotten that scene.

The Karen Carpenter Story chronicles the meteoric rise of the Carpenters, and Karen's struggle to overcome anorexia. A lot of things are glossed over. This isn't a documentary, and the movie left me with a lot of questions. Very little is mentioned of Karen's solo venture (the CD was released only a few years ago. If you buy it, you will wonder why they waited. It's some of Karen's best work. The songs aren't as timeless as her work with brother Richard, but it was a great recording, in my opinion).

I have heard it said that, you can be listening to a cheap, time-worn little radio in the middle of the Third World, that would seem to produce more static than anything else. But when a Carpenter song comes on the radio, you would think you were listening to a $1000 Hi-Fidelity unit.

Watch this movie!