Starring Irene Cara, Lee Curreri, Lisa Monroe, and Antonia Franceschi
Directed by Alan Parker
Music and Lyrics by various
Of the four major film musicals that debuted in 1980, this one was by far the most successful at the time. Inspired by A Chorus Line and the real-life New York High School of the Performing Arts, this love letter to the kids who dream eventually became a world-wide franchise, with a long-running TV show, a remake, and a stage version. How does the gritty original film look today? Let's begin at the high school with the incoming freshmen auditioning - and showing off their talents (or lack thereof)...
The Story: We follow eight accepted students through their years at the high school and see how they grow and change. Coco Hernandez (Cara) has a phenomenal voice and is the school's best all-around student. Her boyfriend Bruno (Curreri) is into electronic music. His rock and synthesizer songs shocks the school's conservative orchestra teacher Mr. Shorofsky (Albert Hague). For Raul Garcia - or as he calls himself, Ralph Garci (Barry Miller) - his dream of being a stand-up comedian is an escape from the horrors of life in the barrios of the Bronx. Closeted homosexual actor Montgomery McNeil (Paul McCrane) befriends shy Jewish girl Doris Finsecker (Maureen Teefy), who is intimidated by the more colorful personalities around her.
The dancers have their own problems. Leroy Johnson (Gene Anthony Ray), who originally auditioned with a friend but ended up being the better performer, can't read and is constantly at odds with his English teacher Mrs. Sherwood (Anne Meara). Hilary Van Dorn (Antonia Franceschi) is obsessed with becoming a great ballerina, while Lisa Monroe (Laura Dean) isn't really that interested in dancing. We see how each student learns, grows, and discovers more about themselves through the course of each school year...and how they all discover how hard it is to find that elusive "fame."
The Song and Dance: Those of you expecting something more like the light-hearted High School Musical franchise may be surprised at how dark this is, especially for the time. These are real teenagers with real problems...so real, some of them, like the dive into Montgomery's homosexuality at the end and the candid sequence with Hilary at the abortion clinic, may be ahead of their time. Location shooting in the gritty and down-at-the-heels New York of the early 80's adds greatly to the documentary feel. Miller and Cara do particularly well as the Freddie Prinze-obsessed comic who sees show business as his way out of squalor, and the wanna-be singer and actress who keeps pushing Bruno to bring his music where it can be heard.
Favorite Number: The movie is probably best-known for its three big chorus numbers for the teenagers. "Hot Lunch Jam" is an actual jam, with kids improvising their own dance and music while doing a wild and colorful number over bad pizza. It's so catchy, even the lunch ladies eventually sing and dance along. The title song brings everyone out into the streets as Bruno's cab-driving father Angelo (Eddie Barth) blasts his sons' music from the top of his taxi. It's a literal traffic-stopper, with most of the cast performing intricate dance moves as cars honk around them. "I Sing the Body Electric" takes us to their graduation, as all of the kids show what they've learned...and everyone proves that there's always a chance to shine.
Some solo routines make an impression, too. Cara's thoughtful ballad "Out Here On My Own," performed on the piano later in the film after her sobering encounter with a sleazy producer. Montgomery plays the guitar and performs McCrane's own composition, "Is It Okay If I Call You Mine."
Trivia: The "Fame" number was filmed before the song was written; the kids were actually dancing to Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff."
The real-life New York High School for the Performing Arts wasn't thrilled about the concept of the movie and wouldn't allow the crew to film there. The movie was actually filmed at the closed Haaran High School and Performance Space 122, with exteriors filmed at the then-abandoned Church of the St. Mary the Virgin. PA merged with the High School of Music & Art in 1984 and today is known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School.
Acting debut of Meg Tilly, who appears as one of the dancers.
Spawned a long-running syndicated TV series from 1983 to 1987, a film remake in 2009, and a second series in 1997-1998 called Fame L.A.
What I Don't Like: As I mentioned earlier, this is a pretty dark movie. While the kids do all make it out alive, it's clear that not all of them will realize their dreams. It discusses some heavy subjects for a "teen flick," and once again, those who are expecting something lighter or more fantastical should look elsewhere.
This is also another movie where you need to take that R rating seriously. As honest as it is about is subject matter, there's also homosexual and ethnic slurs, tons of cursing, drug use, sexual references, and some brief shots of girls in their underthings when the boys are peeking through the walls in their bathrooms.
The Big Finale: Those who remember when this was a huge hit in the early 80's and older teens with their own interest in the performing arts will find a lot to enjoy in this unflinching look at what it takes to "remember my name."
Home Media: The continuing success of this franchise means it's easily found in all formats (as is most of the TV show).
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