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Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

  • 1987
  • Not Rated
  • 43m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987)
BiographyDramaMusicShort

Karen Carpenter's battle with anorexia nervosa and the cultural influence of the Carpenters in the 1970s.Karen Carpenter's battle with anorexia nervosa and the cultural influence of the Carpenters in the 1970s.Karen Carpenter's battle with anorexia nervosa and the cultural influence of the Carpenters in the 1970s.

  • Director
    • Todd Haynes
  • Writers
    • Cynthia Schneider
    • Todd Haynes
  • Stars
    • Merrill Gruver
    • Michael Edwards
    • Melissa Brown
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    3.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Todd Haynes
    • Writers
      • Cynthia Schneider
      • Todd Haynes
    • Stars
      • Merrill Gruver
      • Michael Edwards
      • Melissa Brown
    • 46User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos

    Top Cast19

    Merrill Gruver
    • Karen
    • (voice)
    Michael Edwards
    Michael Edwards
    • Richard
    • (voice)
    Melissa Brown
    • Mother
    • (voice)
    Rob LaBelle
    Rob LaBelle
    • Mr. A&M
    • (voice)
    • …
    Nannie Doyle
    • Cherry
    • (voice)
    Cynthia Schneider
    • Dionne
    • (voice)
    Larry Kole
    • Announcer
    • (voice)
    Gwen Kraus
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Bruce Tuthill
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Joanne Barnett
    • Self - Singer
    Todd Haynes
    Todd Haynes
    • Todd Donovan, Disc Jockey
    Moira McCarty
      Laurie Stone
        Michele Manenti
        • Michelle Hoyt, Musician
        • (as Michelle Manenti)
        Celia Pearce
          Barbara Epler
            Sarah Varnoe
              Richard Nixon
              Richard Nixon
              • Self - President of the United States
              • (archive footage)
              • (uncredited)
              • Director
                • Todd Haynes
              • Writers
                • Cynthia Schneider
                • Todd Haynes
              • All cast & crew
              • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

              User reviews46

              7.73.6K
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              Related interests

              Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
              Biography
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              Short

              Storyline

              Did you know

              • Trivia
                The film was pulled from circulation in 1990, after a cease-and-desist order for unauthorized use of The Carpenters' music. As of 2016, sale or distribution of the film remains illegal. Hundreds of bootleg copies have been sold.
              • Goofs
                In the opening sequence, as the camera rounds the corner on its way into Karen's bedroom, a crew member is visible at the end of the hallway.
              • Quotes
                • Narrator: There is a discouragingly high failure rate in the treatment of anorexia. The refusal to eat is so annoying to doctors and family that intervention seems to focus entirely on trying to make the sufferer eat. When the anorectic is unable to comply with the dietary plan, she is often force fed. In these cases, the patient is considered officially recovered when the normal weight is reached and appropriate sex role functioning achieved. Ultimately treatments which assert absolute control over the patient's life only contribute to anorectic behavior, which is often the result of highly controlled, familial environments.
              • Crazy credits
                There are no ending credits, the film ends after shots of newspaper headlines detailing Karen Carpenter's death.
              • Connections
                Featured in Playing Columbine (2008)
              • Soundtracks
                Superstar
                Written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell
                Performed by The Carpenters

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              Details

              • Release date
                • July 15, 1987 (United States)
              • Country of origin
                • United States
              • Language
                • English
              • Also known as
                • Суперзвезда: История Карен Карпентер
              • Production company
                • Iced Tea Productions
              • See more company credits at IMDbPro

              Tech specs

              • Runtime
                • 43m
              • Color
                • Color
              • Sound mix
                • Mono
              • Aspect ratio
                • 1.33 : 1

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