The Karen Carpenter Story
Encyclopedia
The Karen Carpenter Story is a TV movie that aired on CBS
on January 1, 1989. It was directed by Joseph Sargent
. Richard Carpenter served as a producer for the film as well as the musical score. It was very popular in the ratings; it was the highest-rated two-hour TV movie of the year and the third highest rated such program on any network during the 1980s. Although the film's attempts to show the life of Karen Carpenter are usually accurate, there are a few minor dramatic factual inaccuracies. This movie was not easy to make. The idea for a movie based on Karen's life had been floating around since about 1985 or 86. However it was impossible to fine someone to write the script for it. Once it had been approved by the studio and Richard Carpenter there where daily script "rewrites or entire scenes where removed" according to Cynthia Gibb and Mitchell Anderson, in an attempt to soften the image of Agnes Carpenter by her son in real life. the final movie in Gibb's opinion gives a "white-washed" account of Karen's life and she also said that a lot of the information in it was "watered down or removed altogether." at the demand of Richard Carpenter.
. The story begins with the collapse of Karen Carpenter
in the closet of her parents' home in Downey, California
, on February 4, 1983. She is rushed to the hospital by paramedics, and as the EMT is placing an oxygen mask over her face, "Rainy Days And Mondays", recorded by the Carpenters on their self-titled album
, is playing. The scene shifts to teenage Karen Carpenter singing as she roller skates on the day the family moved into their home in Downey, (previously they had resided in New Haven, Connecticut
). The film then shows the highs and lows of Karen's life from the 1960s to 1983. The film improbably attempts to end on a happy note, with Karen smiling after her mother says "I love you." The details about her subsequent death are superimposed on the screen before the closing credits.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on January 1, 1989. It was directed by Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent is an American film director. He has directed many television movies, but his best known feature film works are probably White Lightning, MacArthur, Nightmares and Jaws: The Revenge, with his most popular film being The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He has won four Emmy Awards...
. Richard Carpenter served as a producer for the film as well as the musical score. It was very popular in the ratings; it was the highest-rated two-hour TV movie of the year and the third highest rated such program on any network during the 1980s. Although the film's attempts to show the life of Karen Carpenter are usually accurate, there are a few minor dramatic factual inaccuracies. This movie was not easy to make. The idea for a movie based on Karen's life had been floating around since about 1985 or 86. However it was impossible to fine someone to write the script for it. Once it had been approved by the studio and Richard Carpenter there where daily script "rewrites or entire scenes where removed" according to Cynthia Gibb and Mitchell Anderson, in an attempt to soften the image of Agnes Carpenter by her son in real life. the final movie in Gibb's opinion gives a "white-washed" account of Karen's life and she also said that a lot of the information in it was "watered down or removed altogether." at the demand of Richard Carpenter.
Factual inaccuracies
- Tom Burris, Karen's husband, didn't have the same name as stated in the film nor did they divorce. Karen was still married to Tom (Bob) and was due to sign the final divorce papers the day she died. It is very likely that Tom's name was changed due to a "gag" order that the Carpenter family put in place to keep Burris from profiting off his brief marriage to Karen. In her divorce settlement Karen was going to give him USD $1,000,000. In her own words "He can have the million and then it's good riddance!"
- Karen is shown reacting to a Billboard Magazine article that describes her as "chubby". No such article was ever written about Karen. However, there was an article that claimed Richard to be "chubby."
- A poster for the Carpenters album Made in AmericaMade in America (The Carpenters album)Made in America is the tenth album by The Carpenters, and was the final album by the duo to be released during Karen Carpenter's lifetime...
is shown on various tours throughout the 1970 - 1972 time frame in the film, while the album was not released until 1981. - The film also gives the impression that Karen did not make a solo album in 1979. She did, but it was not released until 1996.
- As Karen is walking up the stairs in her parents' house in Downey, California, to go to bed on Feb. 3, 1983, her mother, Agnes, says to Karen; I love you. This probably did not occur and was put in the movie to try to give it some kind of happy ending according to the book "Little Girl Blue, The Life of Karen Carpenxter", a biography by Randy Schmidt (2010).
- Karen had apparently gone downstairs on the morning of Feb 4, 1983, to start the coffee machine and went upstairs to shower and get changed. Her parents heard the sliding door of Karen's walk in wardrobe closet, and knew that Karen was up. The mother, Agnes Carpenter went to call her on their extensive room-to-room phone, as their house was big. No answer so she went to the stairs, and called for Karen. No answer, so she went up, and found Karen lying on the floor of her closet. This is from Ray Coleman's biography on The Carpenters THE UNTOLD STORY.
Story
The TV movie tells the story of the rise and fall of the brother-and-sister pop music duo, The CarpentersThe Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
. The story begins with the collapse of Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
in the closet of her parents' home in Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
, on February 4, 1983. She is rushed to the hospital by paramedics, and as the EMT is placing an oxygen mask over her face, "Rainy Days And Mondays", recorded by the Carpenters on their self-titled album
Carpenters (album)
Carpenters is the third studio album by the Carpenters. Released on May 14, 1971, the album was successful, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and #12 in the UK...
, is playing. The scene shifts to teenage Karen Carpenter singing as she roller skates on the day the family moved into their home in Downey, (previously they had resided in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
). The film then shows the highs and lows of Karen's life from the 1960s to 1983. The film improbably attempts to end on a happy note, with Karen smiling after her mother says "I love you." The details about her subsequent death are superimposed on the screen before the closing credits.
Cast
- Cynthia GibbCynthia GibbCynthia Gibb is an American actress and former model who has starred in film and on television. She is 5'-2" tall.-Biography:...
as Karen CarpenterKaren CarpenterKaren Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love... - Mitchell AndersonMitchell AndersonMitchell Ogren Anderson is an American character actor.Anderson was born in Jamestown, New York, to a retail store owner mother and a father who worked in business...
as Richard CarpenterRichard Carpenter (musician)Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony... - Peter Michael GoetzPeter Michael GoetzPeter Michael Goetz is an American actor.Goetz was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Esther L. and Irving A. Goetz, a construction engineer. Goetz studied at the State University of New York at Fredonia, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the University of Minnesota, from which he...
as Harold Carpenter, (father) - Louise FletcherLouise FletcherLouise Fletcher is an American actress best known for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and as Kai Winn Adami in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also guest starred on the science fiction television series Heroes...
as Agnes Carpenter, (mother)