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Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Barry Miller, Gene Anthony Ray, Lee Curreri ... see more see more... , Anne Meara , Debbie Allen , Eddie Barth , Albert Hague , Boyd Gaines , Joanna Merlin , Laura Dean , Jim Moody , Antonia Franceschi , Steve Inwood , Teresa Hughes , Richard Belzer , Michael De Lorenzo , Laura Delano , Aaron Dugger , Billy Hufsey , Nancy Lee , James Manis , Isaac Mizrahi , Alba Oms , Maureen Teefy , Meg Tilly , Anthony Evans , Louis Venosta , Ray Ramirez , F.X. Vitolo , Nancy Gianzero , Frank Bongiorno , Steve Hollander , Tresa Hughes

Fame is set at New York's High School of Performing Arts, where talented teens train for show-business careers. The film concentrates on five of the most gifted students: singer Irene Cara, actors Pau... read more read more...l McCrane and Barry Miller, dancer Gene Anthony Ray, and musician Lee Currieri. More so than the subsequent TV series Fame, the film emphasizes the importance of keeping up one's academic achievements in this specialized school. The faculty includes no-nonsense English teacher Ann Meara, erudite musical instructor Albert Hague, and martinet dance teacher Debbie Allen. Of the film's cast, Ray, Currieri, Allen and Hague were carried over to the TV version of Fame, which premiered in 1981. The score for the film version of Fame was honored with an Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

39,476 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

30 critics

R, 2 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Alan Parker

Release Date: May 16, 1980

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

Stats: 1,483 reviews

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Fame Irene Cara - FAME Irene Cara - FAME Fame (1980) Laura Dean Valerie Landsburg Irene cara - In fame Nicole Chapman - Fame television series Albert Hague Debbie Allen - Fame Gene Anthony Ray Paul McCrane & Maureen Teefy Maureen Teefy Erica Gimpel Erica Gimpel Erica Gimpel Erica Gimpel Debbie Allen
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Flixster Reviews (1,483)

  • hunterjt13
    January 15, 2011
    hunterjt13
    "I celebrate the me yet to come."
    Recognizing all its flaws, I unabashedly love Fame. I understand that the characters fall into stereotypes, and I think many of their stories never reach a cathartic or dramatic conclusion; this is especially true of Ralph and Leroy. Als... read moreo, these are oh-so-clearly adults playing teens; it even seems written that way most of the time. However, Fame achieves a complexity found in few films and almost no musicals. How is it that - for me - this film worked as both a cautionary tale and an inspiration? How is it that I recognized so many people from the acting world in these loosely drawn characters?
    Parker's direction and the rather spontaneous musical numbers embody the passion, ambition, dedication, triumphs, disappointments, and blindnesses that afflict these people. More to the point, I've known some artists whose talent amazed me, but yet you don't know them. You know talentless hacks, many of whom can't act dead. Each of these people recognizes that what most likely awaits them is a boulevard of broken dreams, spoiled ambitions, and a life counting their tips, hoping enough is there for rent, but each is also driven by an indomitable spirit. Fame's achievement is capturing all that on film, even to some degree into one fantastic scene toward the end (Irene Cara's nude scene - you'll know what I mean if you see the film).
    Additionally, I enjoyed the peripherals: the stage mother, the broken home, the absent but financially generous parents. All of these exist in varying forms.
    Overall, it takes some effort to see past this film's flaws, but once you do, you won't be disappointed with what lies at its core.
  • FrizzDrop
    January 13, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    Wildly entertaining, contains vivid musical sequences, and has all the repressed teenage emotion and show business catastrophe involved in a performing arts high school, or even Hollywood in general. The title song was a winner, and the breakthrough actors, who dealt with such is... read moresues as poverty, ethnic prejudice, and homosexuality, are sadly less known then they should be. A teen survival tale like none other.
  • ajv2688
    January 8, 2011
    ajv2688
    If you're an arts student, or have been one at one point, you'll be able to relate to this movie like I did. It's a good drama for the most part, and the songs are great too, but the movie is split up into many different stories, which I found made it hard to watch. Today that ... read morestyle is more popular, but it gets on my nerves. If you like those kinds of stories, and love musicals, you'll like this movie.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    August 30, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I think I expected it to be more musically. But I would have honestly classified it more as a drama than a musical. Still, I liked the story and the ways that different kids had different problems. It's been done to death by now but it was still interesting to watch. And of cours... read moree the fantastic teen performers, Barry Miller and Paul McCrane were my favorites, but Gene Anthony Ray was also fantastic and Lee Curreri was the cutest kid in the whole thing.
    I think now this would have worked better as a TV show series, to expand on all the stories, oh wait, that's called Glee. Still, expected more songs, but still entertaining and hard to watch at times.
  • dreamfaeries
    May 5, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    LOVED IT!!! Fabulously done and entertaining and the music was superb.
  • romy861
    March 28, 2010
    romy861
    I'm sure I saw this many years ago, but I really couldn't remember it. I am not sure I would have enjoyed it so much had it not been an 80's film (just!). As it was, I found it quite nostalgic viewing and I liked all the little stories about these performing arts students. The... read more main fault is that some of the stories were not fully explored, but I guess maybe that happened in the tv series (I do not remember that and am unsure if the movie was made with intent to spin it into a series - I'm old, but not that old, lol. I was actually pretty young at this movies release).
    The characters of Doris and Coco were the highlight. I can remember my mum playing Irene Cara when I was little, somehow did not make the connection between her and this movie. LOL. She really did have a lovely voice, although I'm sure I'm totally ruining my credibility (like I had any!), by admitting that.
    This was a fun movie to watch, although I am cringing at the thought of seeing the remake, and may be avoiding that one.
  • hobster1
    January 18, 2010
    hobster1
    Ambitious musical drama follows a group of students through their four years at the New York High School of Performing Arts, as they take music, theater and dance. Raw and profane, this bears little resemblance to the hit TV series that followed. Nevertheless, this is a heartfe... read morelt and emotionally involving slice of life. Rarely has a film so beautifully shown how people of diverse backgrounds can come together and get along in an effort to be the best. But Christopher Gore's Oscar nominated script isn't cloying or saccharine. This is gritty stuff and he's masterful in juggling multiple characters and storylines. Their lives feel authentic and sincere. A brilliant ensemble film.
  • movieguru12
    December 24, 2009
    movieguru12
    This movie is the greatest movie about young kids turning into adults,and following their dreams to sing,dance,and act. A GREAT DANCE MOVIE!!! I love it! :) Just great! Love,love, love it! :)
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    December 15, 2009
    StarCrossedVoyager
    I liked the main idea for this film however it seemed to drag and parts were very unconnected it made it difficult to follow. It had some really good themes and messages however some of the good stories never really took hold (pregnancy, being abused by a man) which could have be... read moreen really good had it been explored in more depth. Very abrupt and unfinished end.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 14, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    If they've really got what it takes, it's going to take everything they've got.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
September 8, 2010
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Every once in a while what appears to be the entire student body pours out into the street to do song-and-dance numbers, some of which are cheerful enough, but all of which break faith with the film's... Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 8, 2010
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The film is cut at such a frenzied pitch that it's often possible to believe (mistakenly) that something significant is going on. Full Review

Variety Staff
June 9, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Alan Parker has come up with an exposure for some of the most talented youngsters seen on screen in years. There isn't a bad performance in the lot. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A genuine treasure, moving and entertaining. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 21, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Director Alan Parker has reinvented effectively the old musical movie genre of let's put on a show in a way that speaks directly to younger viewers Full Review

Kari Croop
December 19, 2010
Kari Croop, Common Sense Media

Raw look at teen life more shocking than you might recall. Full Review

Walter Chaw
September 28, 2010
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

What recommends Fame to whatever degree that it doesn't totally suck is that Parker's still content at this point in his career to not resolve every single storyline Full Review

Anna Smith
September 8, 2010
Anna Smith, Empire Magazine

The song and dance scenes are hard to beat in terms of sheer energy and atmosphere, but the dramatic storylines leave several loose ends. Full Review

Jason McKiernan
October 26, 2009
Jason McKiernan, Filmcritic.com

Nearly thirty years after its debut, Alan Parker's Fame remains, in its way, even fresher than its glossy 2009 remake Full Review

Elias Savada
October 23, 2009
Elias Savada, Film Threat

Sadly, everything is predictable, which is to the detriment of the mostly fine, young talent that appears in this ineffective retread. I hope that their fame, unlike this film, isn't fleeting. Full Review

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Fame Trivia

  • Daniel Craig is the new 007. But in which British gangster film did he find fame?  Answer »
  • For which 2 dance movies did Irene Cara sing the theme song?  Answer »
  • These two buddy 'droids rocketed to fame in 1977 with the release of"Star Wars". What were the names of the fireplug and the gold guy?  Answer »
  • Winona Ryder has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame ?  Answer »
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