Hollywood Shuffle
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| Hollywood Shuffle | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Robert Townsend |
| Produced by | Robert Townsend |
| Written by | Robert Townsend & Keenen Ivory Wayans with Dom Irrera (uncredited) |
| Starring | Robert Townsend Anne-Marie Johnson Helen Martin John Witherspoon Dom Irrera Roy Fegan Keenen Ivory Wayans Starletta DuPois Craigus R. Johnson |
| Music by | Udi Harpaz |
| Cinematography | Peter Deming |
| Editing by | W.O. Garrett |
| Distributed by | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
| Release date(s) | October 17, 1986 (USA) |
| Running time | 78 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100,000 (estimated) |
| Gross revenue | $5,228,617 (USA) |
| IMDb profile | |
Hollywood Shuffle is a movie released in 1987 that depicts the stereotyping of African Americans in both film and television. It was directed and produced by Robert Townsend, and written by Robert Townsend and Keenan Ivory Wayans. Comedians featured in this film include Robert Townsend, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Dom Irrera, Don Reed, and John Witherspoon.
[edit] Production
Hollywood Shuffle was created on a very tight budget. Townsend personally financed the movie with his own credit cards, and, in order to avoid obtaining permits, he asked his crew to wear college sweatshirts to pose as students.
The film's trailer (included on the MGM DVD release), which is hosted by Townsend, jokes about the lack of funds. As the trailer ends, Townsend begs the audience to see the film as the set's furniture is repossessed. The trailer ends as Townsend is forced to use a disposable lighter when the electricity is turned off.
[edit] Storyline
The movie focuses on Bobby (Townsend) and his quest to succeed as a Hollywood actor. He is stuck working at a fast-food stand with some hilarious and demented characters who consistently try to destroy his plans for the future.
When he finally gets a break, he is forced to question his own morality. Should he join the system and play stereotypical roles? Or should he refuse, risking his dream of becoming an actor?
As he travels, he frequently has terrifying visions of the consequences of playing stereotypes. In one vision, Bobby is a detective pursuing a murderer with a Jheri curl. In another, he is Uncle Tom with an angry mob after him. Yet another vision shows Bobby in an audition for an Eddie Murphy type, while a final vision shows Bobby playing a King in a Shakespearean play.
The film's most famous vignette involves a parody of Siskel and Ebert's television show, re-titled Sneakin' in at the Movies. This vignette features two African Americans named Speed and my homie, Tyrone. These characters are dressed in street clothes and bump into each other at a movie theater. However, they run into trouble since they did not purchase the tickets.
They review movies using street dialect to express approval and disapproval. While reviewing Amadeus and Salerius, Speed's entire review consists of yelling "Bullshit" at the screen. When the two critics disagree about the movie Chicago Jones and the Temple of Doom, Tyrone threatens Speed with the words, "Im'o bust yo' ass". The two disapprove of Dirty Larry; instead of giving it a thumbs-down, the two give it the finger. Finally, the duo give lavish praise to the film Attack of the Killer Street Pimps, giving the movie a high five. The show ends when Speed and Tyrone are caught sneaking into the theater and are forcibly ejected.
