Lets Do It Again Uptown Aturday Night and
| Uptown Saturday Night | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster past Jack Rickard | |
| Directed by | Sidney Poitier |
| Written by | Richard Wesley |
| Produced by | Melville Tucker |
| Starring | Sidney Poitier Pecker Cosby Harry Belafonte Flip Wilson Richard Pryor Paula Kelly Rosalind Cash Roscoe Lee Browne Johnny Sekka Calvin Lockhart |
| Cinematography | Fred J. Koenekamp |
| Edited by | Pembroke J. Herring |
| Music by | Tom Scott |
| Production | Starting time Artists |
| Distributed past | Warner Bros. |
| Release dates |
|
| Running fourth dimension | 104 minutes |
| Land | United states |
| Language | English language |
| Budget | $3 million (approx.) |
| Box office | $6.seven million(rentals) [one] |
Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 American action one-act crime film written by Richard Wesley and directed by and starring Sidney Poitier, with Beak Cosby and Harry Belafonte co-starring.[two] Cosby and Poitier teamed up again for Let'due south Practice Information technology Again (1975) and A Piece of the Action (1977). Although Cosby's and Poitier's characters take unlike names in each picture show, the three films are considered to be a trilogy. Uptown Saturday Nighttime premiered on June 15, 1974 at the Criterion Theatre in New York and opened to positive reviews.[three]
Plot [edit]
While enjoying themselves at Madame Zenobia'southward club on Saturday night, Steve Jackson and Wardell Franklin are held upwardly past robbers who raid the club and steal Steve'southward wallet. When they realize that a winning lottery ticket worth $l,000 is in the wallet, Steve and Wardell set out to find the crooks themselves with the help of gangster Geechie Dan Beauford, who wants to defeat his rival Silky Slim. Steve and Wardell devise a plan to recover the ticket.
Cast [edit]
Main Bandage
- Sidney Poitier as Steve Jackson, a steel-mill worker and tame family homo. He is confident and flirtatious, and he will ofttimes take up challenges posed by his best friend Wardell. His wallet was stolen by Silky Slim at Madame Zenobia'south.
- Bill Cosby equally Wardell Franklin, a taxi driver and Steve's best friend. He has a carefree attitude, and will often act impulsively when presented with thrilling and exciting situations. He persuades Steve to become to Madame Zenobia's, and afterward to visit Sharp Middle Washington.
- Harry Belafonte equally Dan "Geechie Dan" Beauford, a curt-tempered gangster. Although he is tough and stubborn, he is also easily persuaded when money is involved. His rival is Silky Slim.
- Calvin Lockhart as "Silky Slim", a lead gangster and rival of Geechie Dan. Driven past money, he and his coiffure rob everyone at Madame Zenobia'due south estate and steal greenbacks and jewelry, including Steve'southward wallet.
Supporting Cast
- Flip Wilson as The Reverend
- Richard Pryor as "Sharp Eye" Washington
- Rosalind Cash as Sarah Jackson
- Roscoe Lee Browne as Congressman Chesley Lincoln
- Paula Kelly as Peggy "Leggy Peggy" / Mrs. Lincoln
- Lee Chamberlin as Madame Zenobia
- Johnny Sekka as Geechie's Henchman
- Lincoln Kilpatrick as Slim'south Henchman #ane
- Don Marshall as Slim's Henchman #2
- Ketty Lester as Irma Franklin
- Harold Nicholas every bit Seymour "Niggling Seymour"
- Paul Harris as Law Officer
Background [edit]
Uptown Saturday Night was produced by Warner Bros. in the midst of the blaxploitation film era along with films such as Cleopatra Jones and Black Chugalug Jones.
Throughout his career, Poitier was frustrated with Hollywood'southward portrayal of blacks in film and television, which motivated him to directly films during the blaxploitation era. The outset film that he directed was Buck and the Preacher, in which he starred with Belafonte. Poitier so directed Uptown Saturday Dark and its sequels, Let'southward Do Information technology Again and A Piece of the Action.[four]
Themes [edit]
The characters in the moving-picture show, while different in their motives and demeanor, take a sophisticated and swish appearance in the black customs (with the exception of Sharp Eye Washington). Poitier sought to represent blackness actors on screen in an elegant manner in contrast to the usual image of blacks in Hollywood. During his career, he refused roles that enforced negative stereotypes, and chose to play characters who were "dignified, proud, and ethical." Critics have noted this blueprint: "In all his films, [Poitier] was educated and intelligent. He spoke proper English language, dressed conservatively, and had the best of tabular array manners."[5]
Reception [edit]
Uptown Saturday Night grossed $seven,400,000 in the US, surpassing its product cost of $ii,500,000. It was on the list of top 50 highest-grossing films at #3, just iii months after its release.[half-dozen] The film received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release. Vincent Canby of the New York Times wrote that the motion-picture show "is substantially a put-on, only it'south so total of good humor and, when the sense of humor goes apartment, of such high spirits that information technology reduces movie criticism to the status of a about nonessential craft".[seven] Factor Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three stars out of 4, calling it "an old-mode comedy revue in which each role player has his chance to crack upwardly the audience with ane big scene ... [Poitier] derives natural comedy through the simplest of actions, simply because he's Sidney Poitier. Whether it'due south waiting for a double-decker or calmly listening to a exhibitionistic friend, Poitier grabs our attending by letting usa see him equally a regular guy."[eight] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "the funniest motion-picture show since 'Blazing Saddles' and surely one of the year's nearly enjoyable movies, the quondam-fashioned kind that leaves you feeling good when information technology's over."[9] Penelope Gilliatt wrote that Richard Wesley's script "has managed to say something farcical with courageous and truthful underpinnings nigh blackness means of escape into a world that is full of far more than fun than any that more privileged whites ever seem to create."[x]
Among negative reviews, Gary Arnold of The Washington Postal service wrote that "while the film is a welcomed change from the many blaxploitation films of recent years, neither the vehicle nor the performers are able to get off the ground."[xi] Paul D. Zimmermann of Newsweek wrote, "Poitier is non an inventive comic talent — he is erratic behind the camera and affable but not funny in front of it. When the funny prepare pieces terminate, the picture sputters — only non before delivering a carnival of fine comic characters."[12] Variety chosen the film "uneven", opining that "likewise much of the time 'Uptown Sat Night' just lies at that place, impatiently waiting for more than inventive comedy business and a zippier pace than the sober Poitier seems able to provide."[xiii] Walter Burrell of Essence magazine stated "ane walks away a bit dissatisfied...One is left with the feeling these great talents could accept used a vehicle more suited to their abilities."[12] David McGillivray of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "Everyone tries so difficult to touch on a happy-get-lucky air, simply the material is so feeble and Sidney Poitier'southward direction so uninspired that the performances of all only the urbane Roscoe Lee Browne look depressingly mediocre. It is difficult to see in Uptown Sabbatum Nighttime anything but a colossal waste of talent."[14]
Television airplane pilot [edit]
Soon after the picture's release, NBC commissioned a television receiver airplane pilot for a sitcom version of Uptown Saturday Night,[fifteen] starring Cleavon Fiddling and Adam Wade, playing the corresponding roles played by Cosby and Poitier in the picture. The pilot did non sell, though it was seen on NBC during the summer of 1979 as part of Comedy Theater, one of many showcases featuring unsold pilots.
Sequels [edit]
Although indirect, the sequels are Let'southward Do It Again (1975), and A Slice of the Action (1977). They also garnered mixed reviews from critics, partly due to the autumn of the blaxploitation era.
Allow'south Practice It Over again (1975) was written by Richard Wesley and directed by Poitier. The first sequel to Uptown Saturday Night features Poitier and Cosby over again on the same screen every bit Clyde Williams (Poitier) and Baton Foster (Cosby). Many members of the previous film return and play different roles, including Lee Chamberlin and Calvin Lockhart. The film relies primarily on slapstick comedy, compared to Uptown Sat Night which had verbal wit one-act.[12] The film was met with mostly negative reviews. Stephen Klain of Independent Film Journal wrote, "Equally he did in the previous film, Poitier had given himself relatively little to do as an actor, preferring to let the photographic camera linger on Cosby, who lets all stops out." Richard Eder of The New York Times stated "The movie's primary strength is Pecker Cosby, who looks like a starved sheep in wolf'due south clothing, every bit is shifty and woebegone at the same time." In spite of reviews, it grossed $xi,800,800 in North America, surpassing Uptown Sat Night in acquirement.[12]
A Piece of the Action (1977) was written past Charlies Blackwill and directed past Poitier. Poitier and Cosby return as Manny Durrell and Dave Anderson. Like its predecessor, information technology primarily uses slapstick comedy. It gained fairly positive reviews from critics. David Ansen of Newsweek wrote "Corny and hip, cynical and sentimental, formulaic and funky, A Piece of the Activeness may have a medicinal intent, but it goes downward like ice cream soda."[ citation needed ] It grossed $half-dozen,700,000 domestically.
Soundtrack [edit]
The music for Uptown Sabbatum Night was written by composers Tom Scott and Morgan Ames. Information technology was produced and arranged by Van McCoy.[xvi] It was released in late 1974, with a duration time of 6 minutes and 23 seconds. The opening song, performed by Dobie Gray, is very upbeat, with themes of self-preservation and happiness. The recurring song throughout the flick and credits convey self-determination, a motive that reflects the Black Power movement, with the lyrics "I gotta hold on".
Remake [edit]
In 2002, information technology was announced that Volition Smith and his production company, Overbrook Amusement, had secured the rights to the trilogy for remakes to star Smith and to be distributed by Warner Bros. Smith stated that he hoped to get Eddie Spud, Martin Lawrence and other famous African-American stars to be in the films.[17] [xviii] In 2012, information technology was reported that Adam McKay will directly the remake, based on a script by Just Become with It screenwriter Tim Dowling, with Smith and Denzel Washington in the leads.[xix] In that location accept been no updates since early 2014, when Nicholas Stoller was re-writing the screenplay, with McKay, Smith and Washington still attached.[twenty] In 2018, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Kevin Hart would star in the remake with a script written by Blackness-ish creator Kenya Barris.[21]
See also [edit]
- List of American films of 1974
References [edit]
- ^ "All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. 7 January 1976. p. 44.
- ^ "Uptown Sabbatum Dark". TCM.com. Atlanta: Turner Archetype Movies (Time Warner). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ^ "Uptown Saturday Nighttime". Los Angeles Lookout. June 20, 1974.
- ^ Fain, Kimberly (2015). Black Hollywood: From Butlers to Superheroes, the Changing Role of African-American Men in the Movies. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. ISBN9781440831904.
- ^ Bogle, Donald (2001). Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks . New York, NY: Continuum. ISBN082641267X.
- ^ "Uptown Saturday Night". Atlanta Daily World. September 27, 1974.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (June 17, 1974). "Motion picture: Poitier in 2 Roles". The New York Times: 25.
- ^ Siskel, Gene (June 24, 1974). "Poitier'southward 'Uptown Sat Night'". Section ii. Chicago Tribune. p. fourteen.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (July 21, 1974). "'Saturday Dark': Black Is a Cute One-act". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 28.
- ^ Gilliatt, Penelope (June 17, 1974). "The Electric current Cinema". The New York Times: 89.
- ^ Arnold, Gary (July 23, 1974). "'Uptown Sat Night,' Crying in the Dark". The Washington Post: B7.
- ^ a b c d Parrish, James Robert (1989). Blackness Activity Films: Critiques, Cast, and Credits for 235 theatrical and made-for-television releases. McFarland. ISBN0899504566.
- ^ "Uptown Sabbatum Night". Variety: xviii. June 12, 1974.
- ^ McGillivray, David (May 1975). "Uptown Saturday Night". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 42 (496): 117.
- ^ Uptown Saturday Night (1979) (Idiot box) at IMDb
- ^ "Uptown Saturday Night". soundtrackcollector.com.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (March 28, 2002). "Will Smith Secures Rights To Sidney Poitier / Bill Cosby Flicks". VH1.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "Uptown Saturday Dark (1974) - News". IMDb.com.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2012-04-26). "Adam McKay Signing On To Direct 'Uptown Saturday Nighttime' Remake; Will Smith, Denzel Washington Eyed To Star". Borderline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-04-05 .
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (2014-04-24). "Nicholas Stoller Talks Adam McKay'southward UPTOWN Saturday NIGHT Remake with Will Smith and Denzel Washington". Circuitous. Complex Media Inc. Retrieved 2016-04-05 .
- ^ Galuppo, Mia. "Kevin Hart to Star in 'Uptown Sat Night' Remake From Volition Smith, Kenya Barris". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
External links [edit]
- Uptown Saturday Night at IMDb
- Uptown Sat Night at AllMovie
- Uptown Sabbatum Dark at Rotten Tomatoes
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uptown_Saturday_Night
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