IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Fame (1980)
Fame
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Photos (see all 20 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   6,750 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Christopher Gore (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Fame on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 May 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If they've really got what it takes, it's going to take everything they've got. more
Plot:
A chronicle of the lives of several teenagers who attend a New York high school for students gifted in the performing arts. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 16 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Dekker Slated to Find 'Fame'
 (From WENN. 30 September 2008, 6:40 PM, PDT)

Wanna Buy A Hobbit?
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 19 August 2008, 10:38 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
The Game Of Fame more (88 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Eddie Barth ... Angelo
Irene Cara ... Coco
Lee Curreri ... Bruno
Laura Dean ... Lisa
Antonia Franceschi ... Hilary
Boyd Gaines ... Michael
Albert Hague ... Shorofsky

Tresa Hughes ... Mrs. Finsecker
Steve Inwood ... François Lafete

Paul McCrane ... Montgomery
Anne Meara ... Mrs. Sherwood
Joanna Merlin ... Miss Berg
Barry Miller ... Ralph
Jim Moody ... Farrell
Gene Anthony Ray ... Leroy
Maureen Teefy ... Doris

Debbie Allen ... Lydia

Richard Belzer ... M.C.
Frank Bongiorno ... Truck Driver
Bill Britten ... Mr. England
Eric Brockington ... Plump Eric
Nicholas Bunin ... Bunsky
Cindy Canuelas ... Cindy
Nora Cotrone ... Dancer
Mbewe Escobar ... Phenicia
Gennadi Filimonov ... Violinist

Victor Fischbarg ... Harvey Finsecker
Penny Frank ... Dance Teacher
Willie Henry Jr. ... Bathroom Student
Steve Hollander ... Drama Student (as Steven Hollander)
Sang Kim ... Oriental Violinist
Darrell Kirkman ... Richard III
Judith L'Heureux ... Nurse
Ted Lambert ... Drama Student
Nancy Lee ... Oriental Student
Sarah Malament ... Dance Accompanist
James Manis ... Bruno's Uncle
Carol Massenburg ... Shirley
Isaac Mizrahi ... Touchstone
Raquel Mondin ... Ralph's Sister
Alba Oms ... Ralph's Mother
Frank Oteri ... Schlepstein
Traci Parnell ... Hawaiian Dancer
Sal Piro ... Rocky Horror M.C.
Lesley Quickley ... Towering Inferno Student
Ray Ramirez ... Father Morales
Loris Sallahian ... Drama Student
Ilse Sass ... Mrs. Tossoff
Dawn Steinberg ... Monitor on Stairs
Jonathan Strasser ... Orchestra Conductor
Yvette Torres ... Ralph's Little Sister

F.X. Vitolo ... Frankie (as Frank X. Vitolo)
Stefanie Zimmerman ... Dancer Teacher
Tracy Burnett ... Dancer
Greg De Jean ... Dancer (as Greg DeJean)
Laura Delano ... Dancer

Michael DeLorenzo ... Dancer
Aaron Dugger ... Dancer
Neisha Folkes-LeMelle ... Dancer (as Neisha Folkes)
Karen Ford ... Dancer
Robin Gray ... Dancer
Hazel Green ... Dancer
Eva Grubler ... Dancer
Patrick King ... Dancer
Cynthia Lochard ... Dancer
Julian Montenaire ... Dancer
Holly Reeve ... Dancer
Kate Snyder ... Dancer

Meg Tilly ... Dancer
Louis Venosta ... Dancer
Philip Wright ... Dancer
Ranko Yokoyana ... Dancer
Adam Abeshouse ... Musician
Yvette D. Carrington ... Musician
Fima Ephron ... Musician
Anthony Evans ... Musician
Crystal Garner ... Musician
Lisa Herman ... Musician
Thais Hockaday ... Musician
Karen Hoppe ... Musician
Frankie Laino ... Musician
April Lang ... Musician
Richard Latimer ... Musician
Lisa Lowell ... Musician
Ann Marie McDermott ... Musician
Kerry McDermott ... Musician
Maureen McDermott ... Musician
Josh Melville ... Musician
Peter Rafelson ... Musician
Ann Roboff ... Musician (as Anne Roboff)
Boris Slutsky ... Musician
Alan Vetter ... Musician
Evan Weinstein ... Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judith Blaylock ... Dancer (uncredited)
Guido Corte ... Man in airport (uncredited)
Donna Edge-Rachell ... Dancer (uncredited)

Holland Taylor ... Claudia van Doren (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Alan Parker 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Christopher Gore  written by

Produced by
David De Silva .... producer
Alan Marshall .... producer
 
Original Music by
Michael Gore 
 
Cinematography by
Michael Seresin (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Gerry Hambling 
 
Casting by
Howard Feuer 
Jeremy Ritzer 
 
Production Design by
Geoffrey Kirkland 
 
Art Direction by
Ed Wittstein 
 
Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Sr.  (as George DeTitta)
 
Costume Design by
Kristi Zea 
 
Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia .... hair stylist (as Joseph G. Coscia)
Joe Cuervo .... makeup artist (as Joseph Cuervo)
 
Production Management
David Golden .... unit production manager
Candace Suerstedt .... assistant production manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert F. Colesberry .... first assistant director
Ray Greenfield .... second assistant director (as Raymond L. Greenfield)
Joseph Ray .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo .... property master (as Joe Caracciolo)
David Coleman .... property master (uncredited)
Richard Shelton .... painter (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Arthur Bloom .... sound recordist
Jerry Bruck .... stereo sound consultant
Rusty Coppleman .... sound editor
Jay M. Harding .... sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Kohut .... sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Maitland II .... boom operator
Christopher Newman .... sound mixer (as Chris Newman)
Aaron Rochin .... sound re-recording mixer
Thomas Scott .... stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Tom Scott)
Les Wiggins .... sound editor
Robert Davenport .... sound re-recordist (uncredited)
James Fenton .... sound crew chief (uncredited)
Duncan McEwan .... sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Otto Snel .... sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Colette Alexander .... stunts (uncredited)
Sandy Alexander .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Holly Bower .... still photographer
Catharine Bushnell .... still photographer
Joseph F. Coffey .... camera operator
Bill Gerardo .... second assistant camera (as William Gerardo)
Vinnie Gerardo .... first assistant camera (as Vincent Gerardo)
Marty Nallan .... key grip
LeRoy Patton .... first assistant camera: New York (as Leroy Payyon)
Tom Priestley Jr. .... camera operator
Frank Schulz .... gaffer (as Frank O. Schulz)
John Stanier .... camera operator
Garrett Brown .... Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Billy Kerwick .... best boy grip (uncredited)
Sal Martorano .... electrician (uncredited)
Robert Shepherd .... electrician (uncredited)
Sandi Sissel .... camera operator (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Margery Simkin .... special casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Burchard .... wardrobe
Al Craine .... wardrobe supervisor: men
Beverly Cycon .... wardrobe supervisor: women
Thelma Gregory .... wardrobe supervisor: women (as Thelma S. Gregory)
Ellen Mirojnick .... assistant costume designer
 
Editorial Department
Terry Busby .... assistant editor
Jack Gardner .... assistant editor
Leonard Green .... assistant editor
Michael B. Hoggan .... additional editor: Los Angeles
Norman Hollyn .... assistant editor
Eddy Joseph .... assistant editor
Yoshio Kishi .... additional editor: New York
Stefna Smal .... assistant editor
Glenn Cunningham .... apprentice editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Chuck Irwin .... music recording engineer
Don Brooks .... musician: harmonica (uncredited)
Norman Hollyn .... music editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy .... transportation captain (as Whitey McEvoy)
 
Other crew
Pamela Adler .... assistant: Mr. Marshall
Pamela Adler .... assistant: Mr. Parker
Arlene Albertson .... production office coordinator
Renee Bodner .... script supervisor
Louis Falco .... choreographer
William Gornell .... assistant choreographer
John Kane .... unit publicist: Solters & Roskin, Inc-
Ellie Linas .... production auditor
Angela Micklesburgh .... production assistant: London
Grant Reid .... assistant location manager (uncredited)
Lynda Van Damm .... assistant production accountant (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Fame: The Original Movie (Australia) (DVD title)
Hot Lunch (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
134 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Albert Hague was an actual teacher at Laguardia when he was hired almost on a whim by the producers to play Benjamin Shorofsky, a role that resurrected his acting career. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Bruno is in the taxi with his dad, the back window keeps changing from fogged up to clear. more
Quotes:
Coco Hernandez: [the girls are fighting over Leroy] You know what they say? The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.
Hilary van Doren: Yes, but who wants diabetes?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
I Sing The Body Electric more

FAQ

What did Doris mean when she said to Ralph: "See you at Schwab's"?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "Fame" based on a book?
more
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful.
The Game Of Fame, 12 November 2008
Author: Senyales from Fraggle Rock

Alan Parker's 'Fame' beautifully showcases college-life of eight aspiring artistes. Many seem to have a problem with the open ending and ponder on questions like what happened to Coco after the porn shoot or what happened to Ralph and Doris etc. However, I think this works well as it points to the uncertainty of their future as that's how life is. The point was to show their struggles during the college years and Parker captures that very well making it easy for the viewers to relate to and bringing a nostalgic feel.

'Fame' starts with some audition scenes which are hilarious. Then it shows which candidates are selected and that's when the story starts. Though it is labelled a musical drama, it doesn't follow the traditional musical genre. The songs do not appear out of nowhere. They are well situated within the context of the film and quite nice to listen to. 'Fame' also has that wild 70's feel. If this movie is the last of the 70s then it 'rounds' up the decade well.

The actors, most of them in their 20s, do a fine job. There are those who are shy, naive and afraid, those who are wacky, wild and a little reckless and those who put a front but all these characters are striving for their dream which is to become an artiste. The actors brilliantly demonstrate this. I particularly liked Barry Miller, Paul McCrane and Maureen Teefy who play the three close friends and Irene Cara who as the vulnerable singer Coco.

I had heard a lot about 'Fame' but I was under the impression that it would be a flimsy musical. I got a chance to watch it last night and I was certainly under the wrong impression. Even though many won't appreciate it, To me it is great.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (88 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Fame (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How the hell did Leroy get past first year?? royal_blue
montgomery/ralph litaps27
Alan Parker Commentary piece-of-gold
What could Sir Alan Parker being thinking about SonGoku1985-4
Dated thomas-jorgensen
Was Leroy.... ag5244
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Running on Empty Factory Girl Naked in New York Piñero Thirteen
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.