Superfly (film)
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| Superfly | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Gordon Parks Jr. |
| Produced by | Sig Shore |
| Written by | Phillip Fenty |
| Starring | Ron O'Neal Sheila Frazier Julius Harris Charles McGregor |
| Music by | Curtis Mayfield |
| Cinematography | James Signorelli |
| Editing by | Bob Brady |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) |  July 1, 1972 |
| Running time | 93 min. |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | Superfly T.N.T. |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Superfly is a 1972 blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., and stars Ron O'Neal as Youngblood Priest, a drug dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business.
This film is known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul singer Curtis Mayfield (see Superfly (soundtrack)). In fact, Superfly is one of the only films ever to have been outgrossed by its soundtrack.
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[edit] Plot summary
Youngblood Priest (Ron O'Neal) is an up and coming, successful cocaine dealer in New York City. On his way to a meeting point in Harlem early one morning he is mugged by two junkies. Priest beats one off and gives chase to the other where he gets his money back and kicks him in an apartment. Priest then goes to meet Eddie, (Carl Lee) his partner in crime who is playing craps downtown, to discuss his future plans. The pair go back to Priest's apartment where Priest tells Eddie he wants out of the business but wants to make one last big score and to make $1 million dollars in four months. Eddie who tries to talk him out of it as he loves the lifestyle, reluctantly goes along with Priest's ambitions and the pair agree to make one last big score.
After Eddie leaves, Fat Freddie and Nate Adams (Priest's main dealers) turn up at his apartment to make their payments. Fat Freddie is short and doesn't have his money. Priest warns him that either he is going to get his money by robbing someone or he will put his wife out on 'whore's row'. Priest gives them a gun and the pair go out to rob a mafia member after they follow him to New Jersey.
Priest meets Eddie at Scatter's restaurant (Julius Harris). After watching the band play (The Curtis Mayfield Experience), the two go into the kitchen to discuss business with Scatter. Priest tells Scatter his plans and that he needs him to provide him with '30 kees' (30 kilos) of coke.
Scatter, who has retired from the cocaine business, gets frustrated at them and tells them he can not help. Eddie angers Scatter by threatening him and Scatter puts a gun to his head. Scatter then agrees to supply Priest the 30 kees. The trio agree to a meeting time and Priest and Eddie leave to meet Fat Freddie and Nate. Freddie has Priest's money from the successful holdup and the three of them talk over a beer. Priest accidentally reveals to Freddie and Nate that he is picking up one kee of coke from Scatter. Priest then goes home to a romantic evening with his girlfriend Georgia (Sheila Frazier).
The following day, Freddie is arrested in Harlem for assault and is questioned by narcotics detectives (cocaine was found on him) who beat him into a confession. Freddie rats out Priest and Eddie and tells the police that there is around 50 family members (dealers) and that Priest and Eddie are picking up a kee of coke that night from Scatter (who pays off the same detectives). Freddie is released but tries to escape outside the police precinct and is hit by a car and killed. Meanwhile Priest and Georgia are in Central Park discussing Priest's ambitions in getting out and leaving New York and taking her with him.
Later that night, Priest and Eddie go to pick up one key of coke from Scatter but the detectives are waiting. Alerted, Priest walks away but one of the detectives follows him down a dark street were Priest is ambushed and held a gun point with Eddie who was already arrested. The detectives make a deal with the pair and tell them they can operate but must make payments of $10,000 a month. Priest obviously is uncomfortable with this but Eddie happily agrees saying that 'the man' is on our side.
The pair then go on to sell their kilo of coke, which is shown in a classic photo montage scene with 'Pusherman' playing. Priest and Eddie arrive in a bar in Harlem to meet a potential buyer. As they are waiting three black activists approach them who are trying to shake Priest down for money for their cause. Priest demands they leave as he has a meeting and will not be lured into their scam. They buyer arrives and samples the cocaine and agrees to make a deal and to 'get it on!'.
Priest is at Cynthia's apartment, his other girlfriend who is from Manhattan and has corporate contacts. Priest is unsure about staying with her and the pair have an argument. Scatter arrives at the apartment with information about 'The Man' and asks Priest for $20,000 in cash as he must leave town. After Scatter leaves, he is arrested by the narcotics detectives. The police no longer need Scatter and dispose of him in his Rolls Royce with a large dose of heroin to shut him up. Priest learns of this and, suspecting something is wrong, meets with two mafia contractors in a café and discusses business. Although words are not said, it is clear that Priest is asking them for a contract for murder. This is his insurance policy.
Priest arrives at Eddie's apartment and discuss the murder of Scatter. Telling him the news that he was killed by the police, Priest suggests foul play and that the police were behind it in order to use him and Eddie to make larger buys and to stay in business. Priest demands his half of the money and wants to get out. Eddie tells him that he can't do anything else, especially pimpin' as he doesn't have the 'stomach' for it. Eddie gives him his share and then calls the detectives and tells them that Priest has left with a briefcase full of money. Priest then exchanges his briefcase in the elevator with Georgia who is in disguise. By the time he arrives to his car, the police have arrived. They detain him until the narcotics detectives come and then they all leave. Priest watches Georgia leave with his money knowing its safe.
Priest is then escorted to the waterfront where Deputy Commissioner Riordan (Sig Shore) is waiting for him. Riordan, who is running the extortion racket, chastises Priest for wanting to leave the business as tells him he will be nothing more than another two bit nigger junkie. A fight breaks out and Priest uses his karate skills to overcome the detectives. Riordan then pulls his gun and the fighting stops. Priest then explains he has placed a murder contract on Riordan and his family if any harm comes to him from the police. He tells him that he is smarter than those other 'niggers' and he has contracted the best killers there are 'white ones baby! white ones!'. Riordan claims that Priest doesn't have any money for something like that as they open his briefcase. Dirty clothes fall out and and Priest claims that doing his laundry will not help. Priest then leaves the police and hops into his tricked-out Cadillac and drives off.
[edit] Cast
- Ron O'Neal .... Youngblood Priest
- Carl Lee .... Eddie
- Sheila Frazier .... Georgia (as Shiela Frazier)
- Julius Harris .... Scatter
- Charles McGregor .... Fat Freddie (as Charles MacGregor)
- Nate Adams .... Dealer
- Polly Niles .... Cynthia
- Yvonne Delaine .... Mrs. Freddie
- Henry Shapiro .... Robbery Victim
- K.C. .... Pimp
- James G. Richardson .... Junkie (as Jim Richardson)
- Make Bray .... Junkie
- Al Kiggins .... Police
- Bob Bonds .... Police
- Fred Rolaf AKA Fred Ottaviano .... Police
- Alex Stevens .... Police
- Harry Manson .... Police
- Floyd Levine .... Police
- Mike Richards (actor) .... Deputy Commissioner Reardon
- Chris Arnett .... Coke Buyer
- Cecil Alonzo .... Militant
- Gene Chambers .... Militant
- John Williams .... Militant
- E. Preston Reddick .... Karate Instructor
- Lorraine Horn .... Mother In Apartment
- Nick Sands .... Contracted Man
- Bob Richards .... Contracted Man
- Nita Michaels .... Hooker
- Vicki McLaughlin .... Hooker
- Curtis Mayfield .... Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience)
- Master Henry Gibson .... Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience)
- Lucky Scott .... Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience)
- Craig McMullen .... Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience)
- Tyrone McCullough .... Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience)
- Sig Shore .... Detective Rairdon
[edit] Trivia
- Sig Shore who produced Superfly plays Deputy Commissioner Riordan or 'The Man'.
- Priest's car is a 1971 customized Cadillac Eldorado. The car belonged to K.C. who plays a pimp in the film. K.C. was an actual hustler and pimp from Harlem. He met Nate Adams in a hotel lobby and was asked if his car could be used in the film. K.C. agreed but later telephoned Nate Adams accusing him of lying and stating 'no niggers are making no movies'.
- The car was customized by Les Dunham Coachworks of New Jersey who modified the headlight covers, goddess hood ornament (Rolls Royce/Bentley style), lake pipes and circular porthole windows.
- The film helped start a trend for car customization in America known as the Pimpmobile. This type of Eldorado had the largest V8 ever used in a production vehicle an 8.2 L (500 in³) engine . Many aspiring drug dealers, gangsters and pimps modified their cars during the 1970s as a result of watching Superfly.
- The audio commentary on the DVD release with black pop culture expert Dr. Todd Boyd was voted the lowest rated audio commentary by the users at RateThatCommentary.com. [1]
- Nate Adams coordinated the fashion and wardrobe for the film. He had done several fashion shows prior to Superfly. He still owns many of the suits, shoes and fedora hats.
- Charles McGregor who plays Fat Freddie was released from prison before the film's production.
- The film was financed by two black dentists and Gordon Parks, Sr., who had just directed the cult classic Shaft.
[edit] Quotes
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Eddie "You gonna give all this up? Eight track stereo, color TV in every room, and can snort half a piece of dope every day. That's the American dream, nigga."
Scatter "Square up nigga!"
Priest "Now if you don't get my money tonight! I'm gonna put that young girl of yours out on whore's row"
Craps Player "Look at me when I'm talkin you white lookin mutha fucka!"
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Superfly at the Internet Movie Database
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