''Soup for One'' is a 1982 American

sex comedy Sex comedy, erotic comedy or more broadly sexual comedy is a genre in which comedy is motivated by sexual situations and love affairs. Although "sex comedy" is primarily a description of dramatic forms such as theatre and film, literary works such ...

film directed and written by

Jonathan Kaufer Jonathan David Kaufer (March 14, 1955 – October 2, 2013) was an American film director, screenwriter, and occasional actor. Kaufer received his first job while in his late teens as a writer for the sitcom ''Mork & Mindy''. Filmmaker Howard Zief ...

and produced by

Marvin Worth Marvin Worth (June 6, 1925 – April 22, 1998) was an American film producer, screenwriter and actor. His efforts to bring the biography of Malcolm X to the big screen started in 1967, when he purchased the rights to ''The Autobiography of Malco ...

. While the film was a box office failure (mostly due to mixed reviews over its gratuitous sex scenes, including one involving S&M), it is best remembered for its soundtrack, which was produced by

Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...

and

Bernard Edwards Bernard Edwards (October 31, 1952 – April 18, 1996) was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the ...

of the group

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick. Etymology '' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...

, who performed the title track.

Plot

Allan, a cable television producer in New York City, is determined to find the perfect woman, and he would even go so far as having a description of what she would look like done on an artist sketch. But before he can encounter the girl of his dreams he finds himself encountering a series of disastrous dating roadblocks. He finally meets Maria, who seems to be his perfect woman, and tries to make the relationship work.

Cast

Saul Rubinek Saul Hersh Rubinek (born July 2, 1948) is a German-born Canadian actor, director, producer, and playwright. He is widely known for his television roles, notably Artie Nielsen on '' Warehouse 13,'' Donny Douglas on ''Frasier'', Lon Cohen on ''A N ...

as Allan Martin *

Marcia Strassman Marcia Ann Strassman (April 28, 1948 – October 24, 2014) was an American actress and singer. She played Nurse Margie Cutler on ''M*A*S*H'', Julie Kotter on ''Welcome Back, Kotter'', and Diane Szalinski in the film ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kid ...

as Maria Giannini *

Gerrit Graham Gerrit Graham (born November 27, 1949) is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a scriptwriter and songwriter. He is best known for his appearances in multiple films by Brian De Palma as well as appearances in two '' Star Trek' ...

as Brian Reed *

Teddy Pendergrass Theodore DeReese Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010) was an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. He was born in Kingstree, South Carolina. Pendergrass spent most of his life in the Philadelphia area, and initially rose to musi ...

as Night Club Singer *

Richard Libertini Richard Joseph Libertini (May 21, 1933 – January 7, 2016) was an American stage, film and television actor. He was known for playing character roles and his ability to speak in numerous accents. His films include ''Catch-22'' (1970), '' The I ...

as Angelo Giannini *

Andrea Martin Andrea Louise Martin (born January 15, 1947) is an American-Canadian actress, singer, and comedian, best known for her work in the television series '' SCTV'' and ''Great News''. She has appeared in films such as '' Black Christmas'' (1974), ''W ...

as Concord Seductress *

Mordecai Lawner Mordecai Lawner (June 9, 1928 – November 27, 2014) was an American film and theater actor. His film credits included Woody Allen's ''Annie Hall'' in 1977, ''Raw Deal (1986 film), Raw Deal'' in 1986, ''Ghostbusters II'' in 1989, and ''A Fish in t ...

as Furniture Salesman *

Lewis J. Stadlen Lewis J. Stadlen (born March 7, 1947) is an American stage and screen character actor. He is best known for playing Ira Fried in '' The Sopranos''. Career Born in Brooklyn, New York, to voice actor Allen Swift, Stadlen studied acting with S ...

as Allan's Father *

Joanna Merlin Joanna Merlin (born Joann Ratner; July 15, 1931) is an American actress and casting director who has worked with Stephen Sondheim and starred in the original Broadway production of ''Fiddler on the Roof''. She has written two acting guides and is ...

as Allan's Mother *

Christine Baranski Christine Jane Baranski (born May 2, 1952) is an American actress. She is a 15-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, winning once in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Maryann Thorpe in the sitcom ''Cybill'' ...

as Blonde in Bar * Ellen March as Blind Date *

Maury Chaykin Maury Alan Chaykin (July 27, 1949 – July 27, 2010) was an American–Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of detective Nero Wolfe, as well as for his work as a character actor in many films and television programs. Personal lif ...

as Dr. Wexler * Deborah Offner as Girl in Neon Bedroom *

Michael Jeter Robert Michael Jeter (; August 26, 1952 – March 30, 2003) was an American actor. His television roles included Herman Stiles on the sitcom ''Evening Shade'' from 1990 until 1994 and Mr. Noodle's brother, Mister Noodle, on the '' Elmo's World'' ...

as Mr. Kelp *

Anna Deavere Smith Anna Deavere Smith is an American actress, playwright, and professor. She is known for her roles as National Security Advisor Dr. Nancy McNally in ''The West Wing'' (2000–06), hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus in the Showtime series ''Nur ...

as Deborah * Laura Dean as Linda * Marley Friedman as Zak *

Andrew Friedman Andrew Friedman is an American baseball executive. He is currently the President of Baseball Operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously served as the general manager for MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, where '' ...

as Zak * Jessica James as Miss Farr *

Kate Lynch Kate Lynch (born June 29, 1959) is a Canadian film, television and stage actress, drama teacher, theatre director and playwright. Biography In 1980 she won the Genie Award for Best Actress for '' Meatballs''. She was notably adept at improvisatio ...

as WPCP Receptionist *

Suzzy Roche Suzzy Roche ( ; born September 29, 1956) is an American singer and actress best known for her work with the vocal group The Roches, alongside sisters Maggie and Terre. Suzzy is the youngest of the three, and joined the act in 1977. She is the aut ...

as Girl #1 *

Claudia Cron Claudia Cron is an American actress and model who, while attending Parson's School of Design was discovered by Eileen Ford and signed to Ford Models. She appeared in ''Vogue'', and from 1979–1986 was under contract with Estee Lauder as the f ...

as Girl #2 * Cheri Jamison as Girl #3 *

Hilary Shepard Hilary Shepard (born Hilary Shapiro on December 10, 1959), alternately billed as Hilary Shepard-Turner, is an American actress and singer. She began her career in the mid 1980s, as co-lead singer and percussionist in the girl group American Girls ...

as Girl #4 * Libby Boone as Girl #5 * Catherine Lee Smith as Girl #6 * Marisa Smith as Concord Dental Assistant * Jaime Tirelli as WPCP Announcer * Cristina San Juan as WPCP Weathergirl *

James Rebhorn James Robert Rebhorn (September 1, 1948 – March 21, 2014) was an American character actor who appeared in over 100 films, television series, and plays. At the time of his death, he had recurring roles in the series '' White Collar'' and ''Hom ...

as Lawyer * Ron Faber as Man with Video Tapes * Gloria Cromwell as Mrs. Franken * Thomas Quinn as Police Officer * Rick Lieberman as Sketch Artist * Ellie Covan as Concord Registration Woman * Bo Rucker as Man in Washington Sq. Park *

Jack Chandler ''Peyton Place'' is an American prime-time soap opera that aired on ABC in half-hour episodes from September 15, 1964, to June 2, 1969. Loosely based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 ...

as Stoned Cameraman * Michael Pearlman as Young Allan * Lauren Sautner as Young Rhonda * Karen Werner as Receptionist *

Maggie Wheeler Margaret Emily Wheeler (née Jakobson) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Janice on the television sitcom ''Friends'' (1994–2004), and Anita on ''Ellen'' (1994–1996). Early life Wheeler was born Margaret Emily Jakobso ...

as Nurse * Max Gulak as Italian Waiter * William Cuellar as Chief Running Brook * Mitchell Jason as Judge * Sherrie Bender as Topless Girl at Door *

Kim Chan Kim Chan (December 28, 1917 – October 5, 2008) was a Chinese–American actor and producer. He was most notable for his roles as Lo Si, a.k.a. The Ancient, in '' Kung Fu: The Legend Continues'' and Mr. Kim in ''The Fifth Element''. Early ...

as Harold the Cook * Linda Ray as Sally in Pool * Lisa Parker as A Girl in Pool * Merwin Goldsmith as Mr. Blum * Olivia K. Le'Aauanae as Fire Knife Dancer * Victor Truro as Man at Cellmates * Anthony Cesare as Man at River Cafe * Marvin Beck as Wedding Guest (uncredited) * Jennifer Delora as Girl at Bar (uncredited)

Soundtrack

In addition to "Soup for One" (Pop #80, R&B #14), Chic also performed and produced four other cuts from the soundtrack: "Open Up", "Tavern on the Green", "I Work for a Living", and "Riding". "I Want Your Love" (Pop #7, R&B #5) which is also included, was a 1979 recording. Rodgers and Edwards also wrote and produced three songs for the film, one by

("Dream Girl"; he performs this in a cameo as a night club singer), another by

Sister Sledge Sister Sledge is an American musical vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1971, the group consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge. The siblings achieved international success at the height of the disco era. ...

("Let's Go on Vacation") and one for

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...

Why Why may refer to: * Causality, a consequential relationship between two events * Reason (argument), a premise in support of an argument, for what reason or purpose * Grounding (metaphysics), a topic in metaphysics regarding how things exist in v ...

") (UK #10). Debbie Harry contributed a song to the soundtrack as well, called "Jump Jump". The album, released on

WEA The Wea were a Miami-Illinois-speaking Native American tribe originally located in western Indiana. Historically, they were described as either being closely related to the Miami Tribe or a sub-tribe of Miami. Today, the descendants of the ...

/Mirage Records, was released in 2015 on compact disc.

External links

* * * {{1980s-US-film-stub 1982 films 1982 romantic comedy films American sex comedy films Films about television Films set in New York City Warner Bros. films 1980s sex comedy films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films