Harlem Nights (1989)

Director:

Eddie Murphy

Writer (WGA):

Eddie Murphy (written by)

Release Date:

17 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They're up to something big.

Plot:

"Sugar" Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and...

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Police | Gangster | Italian American Cop | African American

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Quick
Richard Pryor	...	Sugar Ray
Redd Foxx	...	Bennie Wilson
Danny Aiello	...	Phil Cantone
Michael Lerner	...	Bugsy Calhoune
Della Reese	...	Vera
Berlinda Tolbert	...	Annie
Stan Shaw	...	Jack Jenkins
Jasmine Guy	...	Dominique La Rue
Vic Polizos	...	Richie Vento
Lela Rochon	...	Sunshine
David Marciano	...	Tony
Arsenio Hall	...	Crying Man
Thomas Mikal Ford	...	Tommy Smalls (as Tommy Ford)
Uncle Ray Murphy	...	Willie (as Uncle Ray)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (Certificate #29895) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Eddie Murphy Productions

Trivia:

This film was made because Eddie Murphy always wanted to direct and act in a period piece.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Jack Jenkins leaves Sugar Ray's and Quick's table in the restaurant, they talk about the 3 to 1 odds they will receive on Jenkins for the upcoming fight. When Phil and Bugsy are talking in the sauna, They say the odds for Jenkins' opponent, Kirkpatrick are 3 to 1. They are saying that the odds on both fighters are the same.

Quotes:

Sugar Ray: I'm gonna take this boy home to his mother.
Young Quick: My mama's dead.
Sugar Ray: Well, your daddy?
Young Quick: My father's dead, too.
Sugar Ray: Did you kill 'em?
Young Quick: No, they just dead.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Life (1999/I)

Soundtrack:

Just One More Chance

Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor

A period drama whereby you are allowed to engage with the black community in America post World War One and pre-World War Two. Although there is no significant storyline, it was interesting watching all the research that went into getting each detail correct in the film. One thing that Murphy as actor/director on the project is that it is way too exhausting to act and direct. You either direct a production to get a good overview, or you get someone who you can trust to direct the picture. To do both is to commit suicide.