Fatal Beauty ** (1987, Whoopi Goldberg, Sam Elliott, Rubén Blades) – Classic Movie Review 7616

Whoopi Goldberg stars as unconventional Beverly Hills cop Rita Rizzoli, who goes undercover to break a drugs ring and keep cocaine off the streets, in director Tom Holland’s efficiently made, violent 1987 formula comedy thriller Fatal Beauty. Though Goldberg was very popular at the time, and it tries to ape Beverly Hills Cop, even using the same composer Harold Faltermeyer, it was a box-office failure.

Hard work from an interesting cast and the director, plenty of action, as well as a strong anti-drugs message in the script, are the pluses. The poor dialogue and a fatal shortage of charm and humour this time from the generally reliable Goldberg are the minuses. The mix of dramatic and comedy moments just doesn’t deliver the intended Beverly Hills Cop-style thrills.

Fatal Beauty was recut controversially after some prejudiced preview audiences said that they disliked the inter-racial romance between Goldberg’s Rita Rizzoli and Elliott’s Mike Marshak characters. In particular, a love scene between Goldberg and Elliott was cut from the final edit.

The TV version edits for language and violence.

Also in the cast are Rubén Blades, Harris Yulin, John P Ryan, Jennifer Warren, Brad Dourif, Mike Jolly, Charles Hallahan, David Harris, Cheech Marin, Neil Barry and Ebbie Roe Smith.

Hilary Henkin and Dean Riesner’s screenplay is based on a story by Bill Svanoe. The score is by Harold Faltermeyer, who also scored Beverly Hills Cop.

Fatal Beauty is directed by Tom Holland, runs 104 minutes, is made by CST Communications and Enterprise, is released by MGM is written by Hilary Henkin and Dean Riesner, based on a story by Bill Svanoe, is shot by David M Walsh, is produced by Leonard Kroll, is scored by Harold Faltermeyer, and is designed by James William Newport.

The title refers to a new deadly tainted type of PCP-laced crack, though the posters suggest that Rita Rizzoli is a fatal beauty of a cop.

It is never explained why the African-American star Goldberg plays an Italian named character called Rita Rizzoli, but a clue might be that Cher was initially signed to star.

Holland has the movie poster for his previous film Fright Night (1985) showing in the background when two dope dealers are coming out of a cinema.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7616

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