When a Teen Star Didn’t Recognise Michael Caine On Set
A teenage actress on the set of Blame It On Rio in the 1980s had no clue who Michael Caine was, leading to an awkward encounter that exposed Hollywood’s age and exploitation issues.
By the time the 1980s rolled around, you’d reckon just about everyone in the film industry would know Michael Caine. He’d already made a name for himself in Britain with roles in Zulu and Alfie, and his thick glasses and Cockney accent were hard to miss. After his Oscar nod for Alfie, he made the jump to Hollywood, popping up in everything from Dressed to Kill to Hannah and Her Sisters. He was working with big-name directors and picking up awards, so his reputation was well and truly set.
But for one of his co-stars, none of that meant a thing. Michelle Johnson, who played his love interest in Blame It On Rio, was just 17 at the time and had never heard of him. Hollywood’s always had a bit of an issue with age gaps, so it’s not exactly shocking that a teenager was cast opposite a much older bloke. The film, directed by Stanley Donen of Singin’ in the Rain fame, was a romantic comedy with a controversial twist – it centred on an affair between a middle-aged man and his mate’s teenage daughter. You’d hope they’d cast an adult for a role like that, especially since it involved nudity and plenty of bikini scenes, but they went with an actual teenager. Johnson needed legal and parental sign-off to appear nude, and it’s a bit grim how little protection she got from the adults around her. That sort of thing was all too common back then.
Thrown In the Deep End
Johnson’s role was highly sexualised, and it was her first go at acting. Donen spotted her in a magazine and decided she was right for the part, which ended up launching her career. Still, it’s hard not to feel a bit off about the whole situation, considering she wasn’t even out of school yet. It’s no wonder she didn’t know who Caine was. She had to do some homework to catch up. As she told The Oklahoman,
“I didn’t even know who Michael Caine was. This was so embarrassing. So I called a friend who’s older than me. She goes to movies a lot. And she said, ‘Oh, that’s that Kung Fu guy.’ She was getting him mixed up with David Carradine.”
Eventually, Johnson figured it out and went to see some of Caine’s earlier work.
“I immediately went out and saw Alfie and The Man Who Would be King and Sleuth. I was very nervous at the audition, especially after seeing those movies.”
Controversy and Consequences
Despite her nerves, Johnson nailed the audition and managed to hold her own alongside Caine, even though she’d never acted before and was fresh out of high school. It’s a bit wild to think how normalised this sort of casting was, even in the 1980s. You’d think the industry might have moved on from that by then, but Hollywood’s always been a strange place. Johnson soon got to know her co-star, and their performances ended up sparking plenty of debate.
Unfortunately for Johnson, her debut didn’t exactly win over the critics. She copped a nomination for ‘Worst New Star’ at the Golden Raspberry Awards, which wasn’t the best start to her career. Blame It On Rio didn’t do any favours for Caine or Donen either, and most would probably rather forget it ever happened.