1 hour 22 mins ago
world entertainment news WENN

Fame director Sir Alan Parker is appalled by a modern remake of his classic film, insisting he never gave permission for the new version to be made.

Studio bosses maintain they consulted Parker before shooting this year's Fame movie, which is currently at the top of the UK box office, but the veteran filmmaker insists he was never contacted.

And Parker, whose 1980 version won two Academy Awards, is annoyed he can't do anything because officials at MGM own the rights to the original.

He says, "It's a bit like being mugged. Such are the realities of Hollywood manners and American copyright law.

"I have never had a single phone call from anyone - the studio, the producers - about this remake. No one spoke to me about it. To say so is absolute nonsense. I feel very much that Fame is mine. I spent months with the kids at the school then spent a year making the movie. You do the work and make it as good as it can be, and you try to protect it.

"Then, because the copyright is owned by the studio, as with almost all American feature films, they can do a remake like this. It's extremely galling. There is no other area of the arts where you can do that."

Parker told the Daily Telegraph he is considering legal action over the new moviemakers' use of the Fame logo, which MGM does not own the rights to.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20091007/ten-parker-hates-fame-remake-c60bd6d.html

I don't blame him for being upset. The original 1980 film was raw, gritty and showed the dark side of trying to achieve fame (like Coco going to the guy's house and he filmed her topless, which made her cry, and the ballet student who became pregnant by Leroy and had an abortion) - and was rightfully rated R. This one is rated PG, which means a lot is glossed over.

I don't blame him for being upset. The original 1980 film was raw, gritty and showed the dark side of trying to achieve fame (like Coco going to the guy's house and he filmed her topless, which made her cry, and the ballet student who became pregnant by Leroy and had an abortion) - and was rightfully rated R. This one is rated PG, which means a lot is glossed over.

i haven't seen this modern version yet, though judging by the poor reception and reviews it has got, i'm not sure if i want to now. the remake was made for kids and today's generation, as opposed to those who grew up with the original in the 80s. i saw the trailers for the remake and there is something about it that i find so 'disney' and cheap about it. this is the cheapened version of fame. which many people would refer to as 'lame'.

i haven't seen this modern version yet, though judging by the poor reception and reviews it has got, i'm not sure if i want to now. the remake was made for kids and today's generation, as opposed to those who grew up with the original in the 80s. i saw the trailers for the remake and there is something about it that i find so 'disney' and cheap about it. this is the cheapened version of fame. which many people would refer to as 'lame'.
While it is interesting that Kelsey Grammer is in the cast as one of the teachers - I wouldn't touch this version with a ten-foot pole. I wonder what Alan Parker thought of the TV version that aired from 1982-87 (and starred several actors that were also in the 1980 movie such as Lee Curreri and Gene Anthony Ray).

While it is interesting that Kelsey Grammer is in the cast as one of the teachers - I wouldn't touch this version with a ten-foot pole. I wonder what Alan Parker thought of the TV version that aired from 1982-87 (and starred several actors that were also in the 1980 movie such as Lee Curreri and Gene Anthony Ray).

he probably enjoyed it more than the remake, although i don't think he has ever commented on the tv series yet. which is surprising. this was one movie that didn't need a remake or makeover of any kind.

he probably enjoyed it more than the remake, although i don't think he has ever commented on the tv series yet. which is surprising. this was one movie that didn't need a remake or makeover of any kind.
Well, the TV show was OK from what I remember, but they obviously had to tone down the language/sex from what it was in the movie. But at least it kept some of the same spirit of the movie. I still love the soundtrack and still have it on my iPod. Who knew that Montgomery McNeil (actor Paul McCrane) would one day become the evil doctor Rocket Romano (from ER)? :eek: :lol:

Well, the TV show was OK from what I remember, but they obviously had to tone down the language/sex from what it was in the movie. But at least it kept some of the same spirit of the movie. I still love the soundtrack and still have it on my iPod. Who knew that Montgomery McNeil (actor Paul McCrane) would one day become the evil doctor Rocket Romano (from ER)? :eek: :lol:

:lol: i know, although arguably the one person from that movie who later went on to have greater success in the showbiz world was debbie allen.