also works spanking, a common theme in his works, into the film, through a repeated segment featuring a black-and-white overhead view of someone administering an over-the-knee spanking to the bare-bottomed adult Barbie Karen. The meaning of this segment is never discussed, leaving it to the viewer's imagination and serving as a motif breaking any intention of normality in the film. Cast Gwen Kraus and Bruce Tuthill as Narrators Merrill Gruver as Karen Carpenter Michael Edwards as Richard Carpenter Melissa Brown as Mother Rob LaBelle as Father / Mr. A&M Nannie Doyle as Cherry Boone Cynthia Schneider as Dionne Warwick Larry Kole as Announcer Joanne Barrett Todd Haynes as Todd Donovan Michelle Manenti Moira McCarty Richard Nixon (archive footage) as himself Ronald Reagan (archive footage) as himself Songs "Superstar" – The Carpenters (Beginning credits) "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" – Dionne Warwick (which Karen sings along to) "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" – The Carpenters "We've Only Just Begun" – The Carpenters "(They Long to Be) Close to You" – The Carpenters "Top of the World" – The Carpenters "Sing" – The Carpenters (at the White House) "Alone Again (Naturally)" – Gilbert O'Sullivan (while Karen is talking on the phone) "Let Me Be the One" – The Carpenters (played straight after "Alone Again") "Native New Yorker" – Odyssey (restaurant scene) "Love's Theme" – The Love Unlimited Orchestra "Theme from A Summer Place" – Percy Faith "Philadelphia Freedom" – Elton John (played briefly as Richard discovers Karen unconscious) "Rainy Days and Mondays" – The Carpenters (at the end of the song, Karen collapses) "Love Will Keep Us Together" – Captain & Tennille (scene when naked body parts are shown) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – Elton John with Kiki Dee (Karen's housewarming party) "Angel of the Morning" – Juice Newton (Karen starts dieting again) "This Masquerade" – The Carpenters (Karen meeting Tom Burris) "For All We Know" – The Carpenters (New York/Recovery montage) "(They Long to Be) Close to You" – The Carpenters (ending) Reception and copyright lawsuit Upon its release, the film was a minor art hit, and was shown at several film festivals. However, shortly thereafter, Richard Carpenter viewed the film and became irate with its portrayal of his family and himself. It later emerged that Haynes never obtained music licensing from either Richard or the Carpenters' label, A&M Records, for the numerous songs used in the film.