Carmen Miranda gives financé Groucho Marx the Death Stare. Image: IMDb
Poor Groucho Marx.
The famous comedian and member of the Marx Brothers once made the unfortunate decision to star in a musical comedy with the über-charismatic Brazilian actress and dancer, Carmen Miranda.
Copacabana (1947) is a musical extravaganza with a thin but amusing storyline about an engaged couple desperate for a Big Break in Show Business.
Groucho and Miranda play the mismatched entertainers angling for an audition at the swanky New York night club, The Copacabana. Groucho’s character realizes success will come only if he gives up performing to become Miranda’s agent.
He immediately gets to Work. Through negotiations with Copacabana’s easily-duped management, Groucho makes a deal for two singers – both of whom are Miranda. She agrees perform as Carmen in the barely-tolerable downstairs club, but becomes Mademoiselle Fifi (thanks to a blonde wig) in the prestigious upstairs club.
With a crazy schedule and quick costume changes, Chaos ensues.
There are some really funny moments. When Miranda and Groucho tire of the Mademoiselle Fifi routine, they decide to “kill her off”, and joke about it in a hotel lobby where they are overheard by a woman who alerts police.
Groucho spends much of the movie flirting with the Copa Girls (the in-house chorus line), much to Miranda’s consternation:
Miranda: “Why are you always chasing women? Groucho: “I’ll tell you when I catch one.”
Groucho has the majority of witty lines in this film, but as an actor, he is Doomed. His name appears first in the credits, indicating the movie should be his. But it ain’t.
It’s his misfortune that Carmen Miranda is in the same movie.
Carmen Miranda as Mademoiselle Fifi. Image: IMDb
Almost no one can deliver snappy one-liners as well as Groucho Marx, and he became a legendary comedian for this reason. Yet, halfway through Copacabana, it starts to feel like he’s overstayed his welcome. Even so, that is not his fault.
There are three reasons why this movie would never be his showcase:
Carmen Miranda’s smile steals the scene. Miranda spends enough time in the movie chastising and being annoyed with Groucho, but when she smiles, the energy in the scene shifts. Her smile outshines everyone around her.
She has far more energy than the other characters. Even when she’s still, you expect her to launch into a song and dance at any second, and we’re here for it. No other character has that capability.
Her costumes deserve their own screen credits. No one wears the over-the-top costumes and towering heels like Miranda, and the black and white cinematography does not dim their opalescence. She wields these costumes like a warrior: How does she dance in those shoes? How heavy are those headpieces? How does she make it look so easy?
As you can see, Groucho Marx didn’t have a chance, the poor slob.
Groucho with the Copa Girls. Image: Alchetron
The (real) Copacabana was a famous nightclub in New York, named after a beach in Rio de Janeiro. It opened in 1940, with some Mafia financing, and it featured Brazilian decor and Latin-infused music.
Naturally, Miranda was the best choice for Copacabana the movie. It was the first film she made after leaving Twentieth Century-Fox, the studio that nabbed her when she came to Hollywood in 1940.
The movie is notable for two other firsts: It was the first time Groucho Marx starred in a film without his two older brothers, and it was the first time he sported an actual mustache instead of his famous grease-paint affair.
As for this movie, it never lags or stalls; it zips from scene to scene with plenty o’ merrymaking.
If you want to see sheer star power that can sideline one of the most heralded comedians in Hollywood, take time to see Carmen Miranda in Copacabana.
This is a contribution to the 4th LUSO WORLD CINEMA Blogathon, hosted by Critica Retro and Spellbound with Beth Ann.
Copacabana starring Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, Steve Cochran. Directed by Alfred E. Green. Written by Laslo Vadnay, Howard Harris & Allen Boretz. Paramount Pictures, 1947, B&W, 92 mins.
When Carmen Miranda is on screen, you truly can’t look at anyone else! It makes me wonder how Groucho felt being overshadowed by her. Great review about a movie that’s a lot of fun.
Carmen Miranda sounds amazing! I think I’ve only actually seen her in a Bob Hope Bing Crosby film before. Coincidentally I have recently obtained a cocktail book that features kickass cocktails inspired by iconic women. The Carmen Miranda
2 shots cachaca
2 shots coconut milk
1 shot sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp sugar
Garnish ~ selection of fruits on a cocktail stick.
Blend all ingredients, pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with fruits on a cocktail stick. 🍓🍍
Great post 🙂 Carmen Miranda (who is always fantastic) always inevitably upstages her co-stars and the same fate happened to Groucho Marx as you so eloquently state 🙂
It’s interesting to see Groucho Marx without his brothers and being paired with Carmen Miranda. While this film doesn’t have much depth, it is so much fun.
You’re so right, Ruth! The presence and energy of Carmen Miranda is unmatched. I was just watching her in That Night in Rio and felt the same. An amazing woman and star! Will keep an eye out for Copacabana 🙂
It’s pretty hard to think of Groucho getting upstaged by anyone, but if it’s Carmen Miranda, it’s a no-brainer. She’s so wonderfully hard to compete with.
Yes! That’s a great one. I also really like “Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you… he really is an idiot”
Silver Screenings 
I get it. She captures the lens.
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She really does, doesn’t she? The camera absolutely loves her.
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Carmen and her younger sister Aurora were fab. Carmen effortlessly stole many a scene and the camera loved her.
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So true! If I’m having a bad day, I watch a Carmen Miranda clip on YouTube, and it makes the world a better place.
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Absolutely!
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Carmen totally steals the show out from Marx in this little gem of a movie. It’s such a snappy and fun film.
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I only know the Barry Manilow song with this name, now got your leading pair in my head dancing to this track. Thanks for the inspiration!!
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Haha! Me too! When I was writing this post I kept humming, “Music and passion are always the fashion at the Copa…”
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I had the same problem with his Bermuda Triangle song when I was reviewing Airport 77…
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Ha! I forgot about that one.
Barry was a force to be reckoned with wasn’t he?
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You are probably right… I am surprised he hasn’t been immortalised in a biopic yet.
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Right? How come no biopic? We want answers.
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I really could only see Marjoe Gortner playing him so I need a time machine…
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That would be awesome!
The time machine too.
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When Carmen Miranda is on screen, you truly can’t look at anyone else! It makes me wonder how Groucho felt being overshadowed by her. Great review about a movie that’s a lot of fun.
Thanks for taking part in the blogathon!
Le
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So true! She has SO much charisma. There’s no one quite like her, is there?
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She’s amazing—no wonder she upstaged him!
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There are times Groucho Marx looks really out of place in this movie.
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His comedy was a very specific type–no wonder!
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Carmen Miranda sounds amazing! I think I’ve only actually seen her in a Bob Hope Bing Crosby film before. Coincidentally I have recently obtained a cocktail book that features kickass cocktails inspired by iconic women. The Carmen Miranda
2 shots cachaca
2 shots coconut milk
1 shot sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp sugar
Garnish ~ selection of fruits on a cocktail stick.
Blend all ingredients, pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with fruits on a cocktail stick. 🍓🍍
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This looks SO GOOD! Yum! Thanks for sharing this with me.
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Sounds good though no idea what Cachaca is!
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Me either! I’ve been texting friends to try to find out.
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Great post 🙂 Carmen Miranda (who is always fantastic) always inevitably upstages her co-stars and the same fate happened to Groucho Marx as you so eloquently state 🙂
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Yup – as terrific as Groucho is, not even he is a match for Carmem Miranda.
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Great article, Ruth! It’s sounds like a fun film! Plus, I don’t think I’ve seen any Carmen Miranda films :S This one seems to be a great start :)
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It’s interesting to see Groucho Marx without his brothers and being paired with Carmen Miranda. While this film doesn’t have much depth, it is so much fun.
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You’re so right, Ruth! The presence and energy of Carmen Miranda is unmatched. I was just watching her in That Night in Rio and felt the same. An amazing woman and star! Will keep an eye out for Copacabana 🙂
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Yup, there will never be another like her, right? It’s been too long since I’ve seen That Night in Rio – must watch again!
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It’s pretty hard to think of Groucho getting upstaged by anyone, but if it’s Carmen Miranda, it’s a no-brainer. She’s so wonderfully hard to compete with.
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Poor Groucho. He didn’t have a chance next to Carmen Miranda!
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A joy to be on your blog again. Do you have a fave Groucho quote?
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One of my fave quotes is: “I have principles, and if you don’t like them, I have others.”
Do you have a fave Groucho saying?
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Yes! That’s a great one. I also really like “Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you… he really is an idiot”
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Nice post Thanks
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Thanks for your nice comments. I’ll be dropping by your site soon.
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