Carbon Copy is a 1981 comedy-drama directed by Michael Schultz that has a wealthy white businessman Walter Whitney (George Segal) discovering he has a black son named Roger Porter (Denzel Washington) and soon things start falling apart for him.
The movie also stars Susan Saint James, Jack Warden, Dick Martin, Paul Winfield, Macon McCalman, Vicky Dawson, and Doug Laird.
It was released on September 25, 1981.
Tropes for the film:
- The Alleged Car: The movie has one of these. Roger purchased it for 14 dollars and a record player, leading his father to reply, "you were overcharged". It has no horn, no brakes, no paint job, coughs black smoke everywhere it goes, and becomes an Instant Convertible by the end of the film.
- Alliterative Name: Walter Whitney.
- Alliterative Title: Carbon Copy.
- Luke, You Are My Father: Roger reveals to Walter that they are father and son, much to Walter's incredulity.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Walter's boss Nelson Longhurst is a notorious bigot who years ago forced Walter to terminate a love affair with a woman named Lorraine (who was black) and later renders Walter an outcast when it is discovered that the latter has an illegitimate black son (who came from his relationship with Lorraine).
- Riches to Rags: When it is discovered that Walter has an illegitimate black son, his wife divorces him and his boss fires him, rendering Walter homeless and penniless with the aid of Roger (the aforementioned son) being the only thing he has.
- "Signature Sport" Stereotype: Subverted: Walter bets a white father-and-son a few bucks on a 2-on-2 playground game of basketball, implicitly assuming that his African-American son Roger is a whiz at it. He even whispers something like "Don't slam dunk right away...". Turns out that Roger could not play at all, losing the bet.
- Sexless Marriage: Walter's wife has no interest in him, and he perpetually has to nag her if he wants physical affection.
- Tagline: "Any resemblance between Father and Son is purely hysterical."