Fame (R, 1980)

common sense media says

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


parents & educators say
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 50% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, in terms of content, this R-rated 1980 film is much heavier than both the teen-friendly TV drama it spawned and the PG-rated 2009 remake -- consequently, it's only age-appropriate for mature teens. In addition to frequent, unbleeped swearing (including many forms of "f--k," which even pops up in the classroom with no objection from teachers), viewers will see plenty of topless female characters and watch teens grapple with serious situations, including intense competition, abortion, drug use, poverty, sexual identity (one male student comes out), and suicide. Many of the students make iffy choices that aren't always shown to have negative consequences, although at least two are generally positive role models.

Positive messages: Students have positive intentions to succeed. But the film imparts complex lessons about growing up by putting them in a variety of difficult situations. They don't always make the "right" choices, either, and because the plot resists tying up loose ends, it's rare to see what the consequences are.
Positive role models: Some students prove to be generally poor role models (cursing out teachers at school, having unprotected sex, using drugs) but ultimately redeem themselves at the end of the film, while others stay positive from the beginning. The cast is racially and ethnically diverse, but there's also some racial stereotyping, although it's largely a product of its time. Some students are at the mercy of predatory adults and don't always behave well.
Violence: A student (who carries knives) has a violent outburst in class in which he storms out and smashes glass doors with a trash can, and there are a handful of fistfights. Other characters describe violent incidents (not shown on screen) that have negatively affected their lives -- including a 5-year-old girl getting attacked by a junkie, a mother having her head put through a wall by her husband, and someone shooting himself in the head. One near suicide.
Sex: Several shots of frontal female nudity from the waist up, plus kissing and innuendo that teens are having unprotected sex (it's implied that Doris loses her virginity to Ralph, and another young couple's sexual activities ultimately lead to an abortion). One student becomes pregnant and schedules an appointment to have an abortion without her parents' knowledge. Another meets a stranger who claims to be a filmmaker and agrees to go to his apartment for a screen test, where she's asked to take off her top -- and does, although she cries as she's doing it.
Language: Heavy usage of "f--k" (in all its incarnations, including "motherf--ker" and "absof--kinglutely"), "s--t," "ass," "goddamn," and "hell," plus slurs and sexual terms like "faggot," "fag hag," "bitch," "dick," and "t-ts." Some obscene gesturing.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teens drink occasionally in nightclubs (legal drinking age at the time was 18). Two students smoke marijuana at a movie theater, and a first-time user says, "I got stoned! It was more than incredible; it was fun." Ralph uses unspecified drugs and drinks after his comedy shows.

More on Fame

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about whether these teens' stories are still relevant to today's high schoolers. Teens: Which of these characters, if any, do you relate to? Do any of the characters' problems seem outdated to you?
  • Does it surprise you to see students talking back to their teachers and using curse words like "f--k" in the classroom? Are curse words more often used as a form of expression or as a means to disrespect someone?
  • What messages does this film send about the consequences of premarital sex, acting out in school, and using recreational drugs?
  • This film is a great opportunity to open a dialogue with mature teens about the stresses they face, including pressure to do drugs, drink, and have sex. How do they respond? How do they protect themselves?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Blending elements of straight drama, music, and dance, FAME shadows a group of gifted students (including singer Irene Cara, dancer Gene Anthony Ray, and composer Lee Currieri) during their time at New York's prestigious High School of Performing Arts, where they're learning the skills they need to succeed. The film -- which won two Oscars for its music (including a Best Original Song statuette for the title track "Fame" -- spawned a 1980s TV series of the same name that allowed several of its young stars to reprise their roles and gave Debbie Allen a much more prominent role as a no-nonsense dance teacher.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Fame might not be a parent's dream pick when it comes to take-away messages and role models, but it doesn't pander, either -- it's one of the most honest portrayals of what it was like growing up in New York City during a certain time. The film also captures the raw emotions of teens who are grappling with heavy issues -- and, more importantly, casts the right actors to portray them with startling clarity.

Fame is undoubtably heavy. But that doesn't mean it leaves ardent fans of the musical/dance genre out in the cold. On the contrary, it serves up songs that still sound vital decades later and puts the talents of young dancers, musicians, and actors on display for the world to see. Fame isn't slick or glib, like many modern takes on the same topic. And that's ultimately what made it famous.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Home Video
Director: Alan Parker
Cast: Anne Meara, Debbie Allen, Irene Cara
Genre: Drama
Run time: 134 minutes
Theatrical release: May 16, 1980
DVD release: September 15, 2009
MPAA Rating: R

This review was written by Kari Croop
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 50% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

cutierox
teen, 16 years old
 
NOT GOOD-good music
TOO MUCH LANGUAGE! VERY BOTHERSOME! F-word is used just about every 5 minutes!

Calimom
adult
 
Entertaining if your tween is a budding star
This 30 year old movie and it's mores are very dated by today's standards. The huge serious scene of a boy admitting he's gay seemed really overblown, since it's not unusual for teens to describe themselves as gay these days. I had to explain to my daughter why the director and writer made such a big deal out of it. The review mentions issues of sex and a character getting an abortion because of it. The treatment is far tamer than say, Dirty Dancing, which only has a PG-13 rating. In fact, it's hard for me to pinpoint just how this movie got its R. I don't think it would be rated the same if it were released today. For the current generation growing up with movies like Hairspray and High School Musical, this offers a less saccharin but no less exuberant view of singing and dancing teens. My daughter found it more funny than gritty (there is a fair amount of humor) and I had to patiently explain pop culture of the late 70's like Freddie Prince and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you remember it fondly from the big screen, you will probably enjoy it more than your kids, but if they like to sing and dance, they are likely to be fascinated by the concept of a performing arts school.

rhearocks
teen, 14 years old
 
Really good!
I luv fame! So awesome! Some mature content, but if you're twelve than youve heard worse at school. Twelve and up.

gingerkiss
teen, 18 years old
 
Loved it (:
I liked it! I'm 14 and I watched it with my mum and she thought it was fine. I mean - who hasn't seen breasts before? And the language is used all the time by people much younger than me. I thought that it was a brilliant movie that showed the pain and the triumph of stardom and it was very realistic as it shows getting famous isn't just ladedada. It shows you have to make sacrifices and work hard to reach your goals. Overall it was a good film and I think parent's should stop having a scare as their little darlings are being exposed to the "f" word in it - I mean we're exposed to swearing and sexual things WAY more at school!

BellaBelle
kid, 11 years old
 
I could not get thorough 5 minutes of this show it's totally inappropriate and I have no idea why the heck the rated it pg!!!!!!!

fdkjssssssssss ...
parent of 19 year old
 
not for 10 and under
LOVE IT BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MissMoonie223
teen, 15 years old
 
Great movie, iffy content
Ok, for one thing, it's rated R, not an issue for some parents but for others.... If it skipped out on some of the nudity and language, it would be a lot more acceptable, but I've seen worse PG-13 movies. So, yeah. It also happens to be my favorite movie.

haddad fan
kid, 12 years old
 
rated Rand in the 80s? i thought it was PG and in 00s.

Emmi
kid, 12 years old
 
The movie was ok
Really heavy usage off bad words!!! A lot kissing and things like that!!! I thought the movie was ok!

 

MusicReview101
teen, 18 years old
 

jjodie77
parent of 7 , 8 , and 15 year old
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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