Copacabana (1947)

Wissenswertes

Copacabana is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green starring Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, and Steve Cochran. Groucho appears for the first time in his own person, without his traditional greasepaint mustache and swallow-tail coat. This was Groucho's first significant film appearance as a solo act, minus his brothers Harpo and Chico.

Production

According to a report in the Hollywood Reporter (June 1944), independent producer Jack H. Skirball was originally set to make the film, with assistance from Monte Proser. Around the same time, George Raft was announced as a potential lead for the film.

The film's origins trace back to when United Artists suggested to Sam Coslow that the studio could use a musical film to balance its release schedule. Coslow discussed the idea with George Frank, Carmen Miranda's manager, and Monte Proser and Walter Bachelor, managers of the famous New York City nightclub Copacabana, located at 10 East 60th Street. They decided to combine Miranda with the Copacabana.

In August, Coslow cast singing star Gloria Jean for her first film since December 1944. On the advice of her agent Eddie Sherman, she had left motion pictures for national and then international personal appearance tours, and returned to Hollywood in 1946. In September 1946, it was announced that Groucho Marx would star, without his older brothers. He agreed to 10% of the profits.

Coslow, Frank, Proser, Bachelor, and Hersh invested preproduction funds, including scriptwriter fees and secretarial expenses. They borrowed 65% of the $1,300,000 budget from a bank at 5% interest. The remaining 35% came from Standard Capital, a private financing company.

The film includes cameo appearances by Broadway columnists Abel Green (editor of Variety), Louie Sobol (New York Journal-American), and Earl Wilson (New York Post). At the time of production, Groucho Marx was married to Kay Gorcey; she has a small role as a cigarette girl, from whom Groucho tries to buy a nickel cigar.

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