Before J.Lo. Before Shakira. Before Madonna. Before Beyonce...

WyattEarp

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May 17, 2017
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And before that, there was the singer, dancer, acting extraordinaire the beautiful Miss Lola Falana. This movie poster is worth this post.

 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
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this is the biggest stretch since spandex.
She basically was a one hit wonder.
so we could go back to anyone showing legs and say that's Madonna version 1?
Sex has been selling since the beginning of time.
You do know what the oldest profession is don't you?
 

thirdcup

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Jan 4, 2005
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Directly above the center of the earth

superstar_88

The Chiseler
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well, Madonna certainly loves to plow
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
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You were also 50 years younger so of course you would
 

Don Draper

Cufflinks & Cognac
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Insidious Von

My head is my home
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Whatever became of both Alan Parker and Irene Cerra?

Alan Parker broke big with Midnight Express, then followed it up with Fame. After that he followed it up with Pink Floyd-The Wall, Mississipi Burning and The Commitments. Eventually he tied his can to the wrong horse. Madonna couldn't handle the singing parts of Evita, so he made the decision to lip sync everything. Big mistake since it went against everything he'd done before, the singing parts in both Fame and The Commitments were done live. Madonna destroyed his career, he hasn't made a film since 2003.

Irene Carra was wonderful in Fame, great film. I still remember her famous line from that film, "the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice". Unfortunately none of the actors in that film broke through, the same happened with The Commitments. They were very much director driven films. One notable exception "Sex Machine" Marie Doyle Kennedy was part of the cast of Orphan Black.

 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
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Oops another exception from The Commitments. The film gave Colm Meaney (Chief O'Brien) a career outside of Star Trek. Meaney showed great comic timing as the Elvis obsessed father of the manager of The Commitments.

 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
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Alan Parker revived Gene Hackman's career.

Michael Rooker should know better than to mess with an ex-Marine.

 

Don Draper

Cufflinks & Cognac
Nov 24, 2009
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Whatever became of both Alan Parker and Irene Cerra?

Alan Parker broke big with Midnight Express, then followed it up with Fame. After that he followed it up with Pink Floyd-The Wall, Mississippi Burning and The Commitments.

Irene Cara was wonderful in Fame, great film. I still remember her famous line from that film, "the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice".
Amongst Alan Parker and his great work that Von already mentioned, there are two other gems: "Angel Heart" and "Angela's Ashes" that often get brushed aside because of the other bigger-than-life films he made. Both of those deserve a second viewing, if you all get the chance.

His last film in 2003, "The Life of David Gale" (Spacey, Winslet, Linney) had all the promise in the world to be an Oscar winner. Instead it was a horrific flop with a convoluted story and a truly woeful, preposterous ending (a man would NEVER let the woman he loves commit suicide in front of him just to 'make a point' while he caresses her still-living-body like a dog that's been hit by a car). Parker's creative spirit was broken in 2003 and he never returned to film making. I suspect that he knew the 'David Gale' ending was a festering turd and he should have known better. It must haunt him still.

*********

The Lovely and Delectable Ms. Cara has her own story: "Flashdance: What a Feeling" was/is a successful song of mammoth proportions that continues to be used in films, TV and commercials, very influential and covered by newer artists. She sang the song at the Oscars herself and then on the same evening collected an Oscar for it. It also continues to make serious $$$ in various levels of royalties to this day. Irene Cara is one of 3 credit songwriters on the song and therefore owns a big chunk of the publishing. As the song became a bigger and bigger success, she asked about why she wasn't receiving her share of the royalties. The record company offered her $25,000. Rightfully outraged and insulted, she took the record company and David Geffen (yes, THAT David Geffen) to court where they settled on about $2 Million. (Truthfully, with the passage of time, Irene's share in the song is calculated to be about $50 Million). Irene won her day in court and made her point but then the order was given in the industry that a pretty little brown girl (White Puerto Rican Father, African- Cuban Mother, Irene really is a 'Caribbean Queen'!) should not be taking on the David Geffen's of the world and winning. Almost overnight, the record company contracts were shredded, the TV and Film offers dried up and even her industry friends distanced themselves for fear of alienating themselves in the Geffen/Katzenberg/Spielberg world.

As time went on, fans of Irene grew out of their teenage years and into adulthood. She was sought out for her influential talent by entertainment industry bosses who never forgot her. She has been able to tour Europe and Asia in smaller venues and record new material. It was never on the same scale as her success in the 80's though. If you announce that "Flashdance" is being sung in live performance by the original singer, a solid and dedicated audience will surely show up.

If ever the phrase "Heart Still Beating" applies, does it ever to the Gorgeous and Talented Ms. Irene Cara.
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
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Sad to hear about what happened to Irene Cara. Evita went down like a Chimichanga bomb, the worst box-office bomb in MGM history. Parker was in an impossible position, he couldn't replace the star with someone who could actually sing.

I knew Marie Doyle Kennedy looked familiar when she showed up on Orphan Black.

The Sex Machines were half women, half amazin!

 

WyattEarp

Well-known member
May 17, 2017
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Evita went down like a Chimichanga bomb, the worst box-office bomb in MGM history. Parker was in an impossible position, he couldn't replace the star with someone who could actually sing.
Evita likely made decent money for the studio. It's just probably that it was expecting much more due to Evita's popularity on stage as well as Madonna's popularity. Popular stage musicals don't always translate to big box office at the cinema.

Madonna was a good choice for that time.

 

xix

Time Zone Traveller
Jul 27, 2002
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La la land
Irene Cara is one of 3 credit songwriters on the song and therefore owns a big chunk of the publishing. As the song became a bigger and bigger success, she asked about why she wasn't receiving her share of the royalties. The record company offered her $25,000. Rightfully outraged and insulted, she took the record company and David Geffen (yes, THAT David Geffen) to court where they settled on about $2 Million. (Truthfully, with the passage of time, Irene's share in the song is calculated to be about $50 Million). Irene won her day in court and made her point but then the order was given in the industry that a pretty little brown girl (White Puerto Rican Father, African- Cuban Mother, Irene really is a 'Caribbean Queen'!) should not be taking on the David Geffen's of the world and winning. Almost overnight, the record company contracts were shredded, the TV and Film offers dried up and even her industry friends distanced themselves for fear of alienating themselves in the Geffen/Katzenberg/Spielberg world.
.
I don't think she had any offers before her court date.
It seems to be common in Music Industry that if you are not a white male or good looking white female, you won't get your royalties at all or only a small percent. And there is always an accounting issue. The big shots are hoping to steal the one time or small artist's, Money as much as they can.

It even happens at regular companies. Look at the result for JAG tv show and Bones. Dolly Parton gets her money from Whitney Houston and so on. Before you enter the Entertainment World you have to do what John Travolta did.... Incorporate.

The link below explains new losses because of the internet. What is needed is a DNI - Documented Number Identifier with you SIN link to it so you can get your royalties. For books, music, art, video and what ever else I forgot.

link
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
Sep 12, 2007
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Madonna was a good choice for that time.
How's that? She couldn't handle the singing live, she had to do it in a studio. If Lady Gaga had done Evita, it would have been a smash hit.

Adam Sandler's tribute to Evita.

 

John Wick

Baba Yaga
Oct 25, 2019
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[SIZE=+2]...there was the gorgeous Irene Cara...


...those legs, Sweet Jesus!!

TRAILBLAZER!!!![/SIZE]
She dances like a white woman from Connecticut who still has the cedar clothes hanger stuck in her shirt...
 

superstar_88

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she was doing a version of the Carlton before there was a a Carlton
 

WyattEarp

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How's that? She couldn't handle the singing live, she had to do it in a studio. If Lady Gaga had done Evita, it would have been a smash hit.
I've seen many stage musicals and rarely do I enjoy them on the screen. I guess I don't care about whether someone is singing live in a movie. I don't really consider it live. Lady Gaga would be awesome, but she shouldn't be encouraging men to poke her face.
 
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