Copacabana

In New York’s bustling vaudeville scene, Lionel Q. Devereaux [Groucho Marx] and his longtime fiancée, the Brazilian singer Carmen Navarro [Carmen Miranda], have been engaged for ten years but remain far from stardom. They’ve worn out their welcome at a theatrical hotel, and the manager gives them 24 hours to settle their bill.

With money tight, Lionel restructures the act: Carmen becomes the talent while he acts as her savvy manager. He heads to the famous Copacabana nightclub, where he pressures producer Steve Hunt [Steve Cochran] to audition Carmen. When asked about his other clients, Lionel produces a racing form that lists the name on the sheet as Mlle. Fifi [Carmen Miranda], a veiled Parisian belle he wants Carmen to embody.

The Copa hires both Carmen and Fifi for its floor show. Steve is drawn to the pair, and to shield Carmen, Lionel claims he’s engaged to her. Steve then turns to Fifi and asks her out, while Anne Stuart [Gloria Jean], Steve’s secretary, privately resents the producer’s dating.

Liggett [Ralph Sanford], a professional rival, convinces Lionel to sell Fifi’s contract to him for a mere $5,000. Unknown to Lionel, Hollywood producer Anatole Murphy wants to star Fifi in movies and would pay Liggett $100,000 for the deal.

Liggett grows suspicious when he sees the veiled Fifi hop into a taxi and then Carmen emerges from it. Anne reveals to Carmen that the enigmatic Fifi has siphoned Steve’s attention away. To help Anne, Lionel and Carmen stage a fake fight between Carmen and Fifi in Carmen’s dressing room. The ruse ends with Fifi disappearing.

The incriminating conversation is overheard, and Lionel is blamed and arrested for Fifi’s murder. He argues with the police, insisting Fifi was a ruse, but no one believes him and he makes several escape attempts.

Steve finally confesses that his interest in Fifi was motivated by business, and that he is truly in love with Anne. Meanwhile, Carmen arrives dressed as Fifi, removes her veil for all to see, and reveals that the two women are one and the same.

Murphy, impressed by the extraordinary story, buys the premise for a film. Lionel becomes involved in the production and even earns screen credit for much of the process, from casting to development. The film opens with a lively Copacabana-inspired number that caps the tale.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:51