Copacabana (1947)

Genre: Comedy / Musical

Directed by: Alfred E. Green

Starring: Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda

Running time: 92 minutes

Lionel Devereaux and his fiancée Carmen Navarro are having very minimal success as nightclub performers. With bills piling up, and realizing she is so much more talented than he is, Lionel decides to become her manager and to try to book her at the famous Copacabana club. Getting caught in a lie while trying to look more credible as a manager, Lionel has to find a second act for his roster, a French singer called Mlle Fifi. Carmen will now have to carry on the subterfuge, playing both roles, so they can benefit from that much needed contract.

This 1947 musical comedy was mostly a showcase for Carmen Miranda’s singing. As a nightclub singer, she was indeed very good. As an actress, she was too over-the-top for me. All her grimacing became a bit much after a while and too much emphasis was put on her and the music.

Groucho Marx got to feature some of the comedy he became famous for, and that was a hoot. It may not be in everyone’s taste, but it has always made me laugh. It was Groucho’s first movie without the Marx brothers and he seemed a bit lost at times. That being said, I still enjoyed the comic relief he provided in between the musical parts.

Copacabana was a fine movie for Groucho’s comedy. All the nightclub singing was not my thing, but it might be pleasing to some. Go in with low expectations if you decide to give it a look.

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