Copyright 30 May 1947 by Beacon Productions, Inc. Released through United Artists. New York release at the Broadway: 11 July 1947. U.S. release: 30 May 1947. U.K. release: December 1947. Australian release: 20 November 1947. Sydney release at the Empire: 8 November 1947. 8,525 feet. 93½ minutes.SYNOPSIS: Agent induces not overbright nightclub manager to hire a non-existent double act.COMMENT: Groucho's first film without his brothers was not a box-office success despite the fact that he appeared "in character" for an attractively chorused (and costumed) song number, "Go West, Young Man". The energetic support of Carmen Miranda in a dual role, some pleasant songs and a bevy of "Copa Girls" could not save a lame and rather talkative script. The players try hard (Gloria Jean is particularly agreeable and has a catchy production number), and even Alfred E. Green (whose direction is usually ploddingly pedestrian) makes a few laudable attempts at atmosphere, pace and inventiveness. All to no avail. The jokes are stubbornly stale and heavy-handed, the plot unintentionally ridiculous, and the characters one-dimensionally garrulous.Copacabana could be saved - it would cut down to a fairly entertaining two-reeler for nightclub buffs. Of course this would remove most of Mr Marx and as he is the reason most people will want to see Copacabana, such drastic trimming is not likely. A pity. I've got a soft spot myself for the old Groucho, but Copacabana sticks him with such gummy material it's downright impossible to unglue.

Groucho Marx was a comedy genius and a near-unparalleled master at rapid-fire and wit, with an immediately recognisable appearance. His partnership with the rest of the Marx brothers Chico, Harpo and Zeppo was iconic, and the best of their films together among the funniest comedies/films ever made with many classic scenes and lines.Likewise Carmen Miranda was nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell" for a very good reason. She was a truly exuberant performer and a deservedly popular radio star, with a very at the time unique sense of fashion and an immediately distinctive singing and dancing style. In the films she starred in, some of them were very entertaining if not devoid of flaws while others varied in entertainment value and had major imperfections ('Copacabana is one such example) but Miranda stole the show or was one of the best assets for many of them.While Groucho and Miranda come off quite well, though neither at their best, they deserved better than this otherwise lacklustre affair. They are certainly the best things about it this said. Groucho fared better with zanier and much cleverer material and when he was partnered with the rest of the Marx Brothers, but he still shows off his rapid-fire and witty delivery well enough and has an air of charm about him. It is especially with Miranda and her scenes where 'Copacabana' properly comes to life, her performance is classic Carmen Miranda and one does wish that her enthusiasm and exuberance could be seen in a much better film much worthier of her talents.Their partnership on paper seemed somewhat of an odd one, due to that their styles of performing are so completely different to one another which did suggest a major mismatch, but they are actually surprisingly enjoyable together. There are two good songs, Groucho's "Go West Young Man" and particularly Miranda's "Tico Tico", the latter being my pick for the highlight of 'Copacabana'. There are a few mildly amusing scenes with them, especially with Miranda, and the film has a good amount of energy with them together and with Miranda on her own.'Copacabana' has major faults though. That Groucho and Miranda have a few mildly amusing scenes has been discussed, but there are also a few dull and annoying ones due to lacking material and a little over-acting, Groucho does generally come off well but he does over-compensate in weaker moments (hope this doesn't come off too contradictory). The film is mostly consumed by the musical numbers, and unfortunately only two are good, the rest range from the forgettable to the awful and interminably dull ("Stranger Things Have Happened" grinds everything to a halt and it is difficult to fight sleep, or even drowsiness).Also in 'Copacabana' is a fantasy dream sequence, that could have been a highlight if done well, instead it was over-extended, went on for too long and was not that imaginatively or even interestingly staged. 'Copacabana' is a real cheapie visually, everything looks as though it was made hastily and on a low-budget and it cries out for colour. As well as the musical numbers, a sub-plot between Steve Cochran and Gloria Jean is focused on too much (to the point where Groucho and Miranda disappear completely for a stretch of the film) and cripples 'Copacabana', it suffers from cheesiness and lacking any charm or energy, lack of personality or star power from either Cochran and Jean (despite the latter's beautiful appearance and voice, inexperience shows massively here) doesn't help.Other flaws are Andy Russell, who looks handsome and sings wonderfully but is a complete blank as an actor and his smile grates more than it beguiles; a very clunky script that is not as funny or as clever as it should have been and a story that is so slight to the point that it struggles to sustain momentum to justify the film's near-overlong length and goes overboard with the silliness and sheer idiocy. Alfred E. Green tries and struggles to rise above the material (which was near-impossible to do) or bring much sense that he was at ease with or know what to do with it.In conclusion, Groucho and Miranda don't come off too badly (far from it) and saves an otherwise lacklustre film from a complete misfire or even worse a turkey. 5/10 Bethany Cox

After they made their last movie together-A Night in Casablanca and I emphasize it truly was their final one as a team since Groucho only appeared mostly separate from Harpo and Chico in Love Happy and all three were in separate segments in The Story of Mankind-Groucho did his first movie solo here. He's teamed with Carmen Miranda in which he's her agent. She also has to perform as two acts-one as her usual persona, the other as a French woman with a veil on her face. Now that I got that out of the way, I'll just say this was quite funny and pretty entertaining concerning the musical numbers which also included Andy Russell and Gloria Jean, both of whom perform their own renditions of "Stranger Things Have Happened". Oh, and Groucho himself performs-with his greasepaint mustasche as opposed to the hairy prop one he uses to play his character here-Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby's song, "Go West, Young Man" which looks and sounds like a number he could have performed in the movie he made with his brothers a few years back called Go West. In summary, Copacabana is no masterpiece but it's still quite entertaining if you're a fan of all of the above. P.S. Groucho's then-wife Kay Gorcey appears as a girl at the nightclub who tells her hubby how much the cigars cost to his consternation.

O.K. Take a look at Carmen Miranda in this film, especially in scenes without her head dresses or turbans. Even with them on, in close-up, you can see a serious resemblance to Fanny Brice, and her facial contortions prove that. As a performer and comedienne, she is flawless, and even though she pretty much never played a part other than herself, that itself is character enough. Now paired with Groucho in a rather lavish musical comedy, she gets two characters to play, one a Brazilian bombshell based upon herself, the other an alter-ego named Fifi she must live a second life as after both performers (of which only one really exists) is given a contract at Manhattan's exclusive Copacabana nightclub.Groucho is her agent/fiancée who has been trying without success to get her a booking, and this has them on the verge of being locked out of their hotel rooms. In fact, they still have to sneak in as the film begins, but somehow manage to get another night during which time a miracle occurs. It isn't the type of miracle Miranda would want because she's part of a double package demanded by the Copa's management, the other being Fifi. So for half of the film's running time, she must run around, perform one number as Carmen and another as the French Fifi, who always wears a veil covering her mouth. (Miranda's mouth is such that a child could tell that both women were the same person).There's the romantic young subplot of singing secretary Gloria Jean in love with Copa manager Steve Cochran while singer Andy Russell plays matchmaker. Jean and Russell get the romantic "Stranger Things Have Happened" while Groucho gets the comic "Go West, Young Man" which has an ironic conclusion that comes out of nowhere. Miranda though is the whole show, staging a fight behind closed doors between her and the non-existent Fifi, and delivering lines as if she was preparing a banana split from one of her own hats. The Miranda/Marx pairing is excellent which makes the absence of the other Marx Brothers acceptable on this rare occasion.