Fame (1980)

I have to say that this movie had a big impact on me in that it was a movie of opportunities, either missed or accomplished. Having your future in front of you knowing what you want to do in life and focusing on that one thing and just putting all of your heart and soul into it.This was a typical prototypical rags to riches story made for the era and told from the aspect of the student and teachers so you get a "true to life" depiction of what you sometimes have to do to get ahead in this world. I would definitely have young people watch this movie especially if they are involved in the performing arts. I know it is dated but the message is not.

I think some movies age better than others. I don't think this film aged well. It was made back in 1980 but looked to me like it was made earlier in 1970-which stands against it-I think it was a throwback to an earlier type of film for 1980 that was surprisingly well received when it came out. Personally I found it hard to watch to the end. I thought it was overly melodramatic to the point of pain a number of times. It started out being a comedy of sorts and then turned into something else with younger characters spouting profanity as if that was somehow part of being 'gifted' when all it did was make the characters look dumb which didn't add anything in the way of credibility to the movie. Irene Cara's character is from the city yet doesn't pick up on a guy whose fishing for girls to do porn. To make matters worse/even less credible, she agrees to do an 'audition' with Mr. Phoney and then starts to cry when he asks her to take off her top-but does it anyway. I thought that part of the film was pretty ridiculous. Basically I wasn't impressed with this movie very much. There was just one or two standout musical moments in the whole movie which I thought was basically a stink bomb of a film.

New kids come to audition for New York City High School of Performing Arts. Leroy Johnson is a tough kid dragged to help a girl audition but he gets picked instead. Bruno Martelli is more interested in modern music. Doris Finsecker is shy pushed by her mother. Lisa Monroe is a dancer since childhood but finds herself falling behind. Coco Hernandez (Irene Cara) is confident at everything. Montgomery MacNeil is gay. The movie follows these kids and their teachers over the next 4 years.The beauty of this are the various unknown actors. The drawback is also the same thing which suffers from a lack of focus on a specific character. The numbers of characters are so many and the time spent is so vast. It becomes a series of disjointed vignettes. It does get into the foreign world of the performing arts and some pretty interesting dramatic aspects. Gene Anthony Ray is electric in his audition scene. There are some great memorable big energetic dance sequences like the cafeteria and on the street. They have 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Some characters are inevitably more interesting than others which is different for every viewer. It is simply a bit too scattered.

Fame is a film that is set at New York's High School of Performing Arts.It focuses on talented teens that train for showbiz careers. The story concentrates on five of the most gifted students namely:singer Coco Hernander,actor Ralph Garci/Raul Garcia,actor Leroy Johnson, and musician Bruno Martelli.They also include the story of the faculty members such as:Mr. Benjamin Shorofsky,a musical instructor; Elizabeth Sherwood,an English teacher; and Lydia,a dance instructor. The story covers four years of High School.It stars Lee Curreri,Irene Cara,Paul McCrane,Maureen Teefy,Barry Miller and Debbie Allen.Alan Parker directed the film.This is definitely an entertaining musical film.Anyone who wants to reminisce the 80's and their high school days will surely appreciate it.Aside from that,we are treated to great songs,musical performances and dance numbers.Who could forget Irene Cara's Oscar winning song,Fame and her other Oscar nominated song,Out Here on My Own?Aside from that,we are also treated to stories about High School students that experience different issues in life such as peer pressure,their sensitivity,overcoming pressures and expectations when showcasing their talents and achieving their potential in life.It may not be realistic all the time but is still one movie that will still surely enjoy after all these years.