The film was shot by director of photography James Signorelli, who would go on to become the film segment director for Saturday Night Live. Although a Sep 1971 HR article listed Shores company Plaza Productions as the films intended production company, Superfly, Ltd. is listed onscreen and by copyright materials. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes, and lines from all your favorite films. Once Priest decides to pursue his last score, he seeks help from his mentor in crime, Scatter, played by an avuncular but cautiously sinister Michael Kenneth Williams. The powerless Reardon then watches as Priest walks away free, giving the policemen one final glare before driving off to join Georgia. Fat Freddie: Listen, Priest, that's my wife you're talking about, man. With such a big score, they will be able to retire comfortably and find other employment, although Eddie protests that crime is the only option left to them by The Man. Priest is determined, however, and that night, approaches Scatter, a retired dealer who started Priest in the business. Rapper Future produced alongside Joel Silver, as well as writing the film's original songs. https://www.quotes.net/movies/super_fly_142696, https://www.quotes.net/movies/super_fly_quotes_142696. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "The return of "Freeway" Ricky Ross, the man behind a crack empire", "Trevor Jackson & Jason Mitchell To Star In Sony's 'Superfly' Remake From Director X; Future & Joel Silver To Produce", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Super_Fly_(1972_film)&oldid=1136581494, United States National Film Registry films, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Lucky Scott as Himself (The Curtis Mayfield Experience), Craig McMullen as Himself (The Curtis Mayfield), Tyrone McCullough as Himself (The Curtis Mayfield), This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 01:45. Priest is an under-the-radar dealer working in virtual anonymity (he has no arrest record) and with a very small crewmainly his right-hand man and longtime friend, Eddie (Jason Mitchell), and his enforcer, Freddy (Jacob Ming-Trent). By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Super Fly (1972 film) is a television show that first aired in 1970 . Juju, a member of rival gang Snow Patrol, hits on Cynthia and, shooting at Priest, accidentally hits a bystander. And that robs Superfly of the dramatic flavor a good underworld drama needs. Priest diffuses the situation and persuades Scatter to help them, although Scatter warns that it will be the last time. He also has a run-in with the Snow Patrol, a rival crew of coke dealers who dress in white. Priest explains that as a child, he thought he wanted all the trappings of success and wealth, including a lover like her, but now wants a simpler life and will be ending their relationship. Nothing, nothing better happen to one hair on my gorgeous head. All rights reserved. The parents' guide to what's in this movie. The film was acquired and distributed by Warner Bros. and had a white producer (Shore). Now, if you don't get me my money *tonight*, I'm gonna put that young girl of your's out on whore's row. As an explanation for his desire to get out of the drug life, he says, All the power in the world cant stop a bullet. Superfly - Necessary Violence: Adalberto Gonzalez (Esai Morales) kills Scatter (Michael Kenneth Williams) after he realizes that he's been stealing from him. American Film Institute
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Los Angeles, CA 90027-1657. [6], At the time of its release, there were many African-Americans that were displeased with the images of themselves portrayed in films such as Super Fly, Sweet Sweetbacks Baadassssss Song, and Shaft. director of photography Film Editing by Bob Brady I remember Curtis Mayfields great music and the way Ron Neal carried himself. There is a 2018 remake of this movie. Reardon threatens Priest that he must continue selling drugs as long as he is ordered to, but when Priest replies defiantly, the policemen begin to beat him. After the men leave, Priest finds his partner, Eddie, and asks him how much cash they currently have. Priest, so-called because the tip of the cross he wears is fasioned in the shape of a spoon, with which he frequently samples his wares, yearns to leave the life and go straight, despite the money he makes. .st0{fill:#FFFFFF;} The hot-tempered Eddie threatens Scatter, demanding that he reveal his source if he will not supply them, but Scatter disarms Eddie and holds him at gunpoint. Nearly every character in the film, with the notable exception of his "main squeeze," tries to dissuade Priest from quitting; their chief argument being that dealing and snorting are the best he ever could achieve in life. After the police leave, Eddie is elated by the new situation, claiming that they are set for life, although Priest is still determined to quit after selling the thirty kilos. Georgia: Look maybe you should get out now now before something really bad happens. 2019 AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE. That character was a stand-in for white oppression, someone Priest finally contrives to walk away from, clean. "Future to Co-Produce Director X-Helmed 'Superfly' Remake", "What's filming in Atlanta now? Priest has anticipated Eddie's duplicity, however, and gives the briefcase carrying the money to a disguised Georgia in exchange for one full of rags. In commenting on the success of Super Fly at the box office, a Jan 1973 DV article reported that investors Allen and Jenkins had sold their 22 percent interest in the film profitably, and that the principals involved in the production were getting handsome payoffs. According to a 12 Mar 1973 NYT article, the picture had grossed $20 million in seven months, and modern sources added that despite the films controversial nature, it went on to gross more than $30 million by 2007. Within those cynically defined contemporary parameters, Youngblood Priest (Trevor Jackson, dressed to the nines and sporting what one character derides as Morris Day hair) is doing well. Additionally, according to the Jan 1973 DV report, Curtis Mayfield, the composer of the films score and hit songs, was estimated to be receiving about $5,000,000 from performance and royalties from the more than 2,000,000 albums and singles sold to that point. Review: Superfly Adds Bling to an Old Tale, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/movies/superfly-review.html. It features 13 new and previously released songs, as well as guest appearances from Miguel, Lil Wayne, Khalid, Ty Dolla Sign, Young Thug, PartyNextDoor, H.E.R., Gunna, Sleepy Brown, and Yung Bans, among others. Kaalan "KR" Walker as Juju, a member of the Snow Patrol, a rival drug outfit, who takes an immediate dislike to Priest and plots to kill him. One of the groups formed specifically to fight the film and other similar exploitations films, according to a Sep 1972 Var article, called itself Blacks Against Narcotics. At one point I do give him a jacket that has color in it, to show his confidence. If this wing can do ok in 10-12mph winds, I'm in. Reardon threatens Priest that he must continue selling drugs as long as he is ordered to, but when Priest refuses, the policemen begin to beat him. The movie opens with Priest paying a visit to another dealer, his debtor, named Litty (Allen Maldonado), and being greeted at the door by an assault weapon. Youngblood Priest: Don't argue with me, man, I'm trying to give you a chance. Anyone can read what you share. Some contemporary and modern sources list the films title as Superfly, although the opening title card and copyright records list it as two words. His position was opposed by numerous physicians and medical groups, who also spoke out against the film, according to Filmfacts. But you kill me, and you and your whole f***in' family die. The unit publicist on the film, David Parks, was Parks, Jr.s brother. In Jan 1973, trade papers reported that although it previously had been announced as under consideration as a nominee, Mayfields song Freddies Dead had been ruled ineligible for entry in the Best Original Song category because it appeared in the film only as an instrumental. This looks like a good compromise for motor/prop placement. Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Chase Michael Jordan for Nike in First Air Trailer, A Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Movie in the Works at Universal, The Popes Exorcist Finds Russell Crowe as the Vaticans Demon Slayer. While controversial among civil rights groups for its portrayal of African Americans as negative and antiheroes, this film has stood the test of time as a classic of the "blaxploitation" genre. After leaving Cynthias apartment, however, Scatter is captured by the corrupt policemen, who give him a fatal overdose of drugs and leave his body in Priests car. "[12] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Diawara, Manthia. Now man I ain't puttin you down. He is inside listening to Curtis, his sapphire ring he brings the moon with him, this cat, and his eyes glow like mellow stones at my superfly threads. Killed while trying to hunt down Priest. Both enraged and scared, Priest gives the information on Reardon and an envelope of cash to two mafia men and takes out a $100,000 contract on "the Man's" life. Outcry against the film prompted several groups in Los Angeles, notably the Coalition Against Blaxploitation (CAB) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), to assert that a separate ratings and review board for black films should be set up and overseen by CORE, according to the Jan 1973 LAT article. Snow Patrol members led by Juju shoot up Priest's mansion. Priest further explains that the men with whom he met were contract killers, whom he hired to murder Reardon and his entire family should anything happen to him. Parents need to know that Super Fly is a 1972 movie about a cocaine dealer attempting to make a deal large enough to retire and get out of the business. Thats how hungry the audience was for a new screen mythology of African-American manhood. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. Shot in a functional, slammed-together manner thats less sensually stylish than youd expect from a music-video auteur, the film is a competent yet glossy and hermetic street-hustle drug thriller, less a new urban myth than a lavishly concocted episode. Priest explains that he hired contract killers to murder Reardon and his entire family should anything happen to him. Youngblood Priest: [while Reardon's pointing a gun at him] Kill me, Reardon! You really shouldn'tve f***ed with my money, Freddy. Eight Track Stereo, color T.V. All rights reserved. Its initial success transcended the African American audience it was made for at a time when African American actors were hardly ever given lead roles in movies. Super Fly (1972 film) Quotes Charles McGregor as Fat Freddie (Charles McGregor) "Listen, give me one of them joints . Priest turns to Scatter (Julius Harris), an older and retired dealer who now runs a popular bar and grill, for help in getting Scatter's supplier. Priest spends the rest of the film dancing among a trio of forces who are out to put the screws on him: the cartel, led by the always lively actor Esai Morales; the thugs of Snow Patrol; and a pair of corrupt white officers, played by Brian F. Durkin and Jennifer Morrison, who shake him down for a million dollars. | A remake was released in 2018. According to a 17 Sep 1972 NYT article, the project was initially brought to Shore by first-time screenplay writer Philip Fenty after Fenty and actor Ron ONeal, a longtime friend, had worked together to develop the story. Those released in the previous decade could probably be counted on one hand. Priest is then picked up by the lieutenant and taken to the waterfront, where he is confronted by Reardon. Photograph by Quantrell D. Colbert / Sony Pictures Entertainment, The New Yorker Interview with David Remnick, Everything Is Cinema: The Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard. Frequent profanity, including the "N" word, "motherf----r," and "f--k." Lead character uses the word "f--got." The National Catholic Office gave the film a C, or condemned, rating, stating: This kind of black liberation serves only to deceive the brothers and play upon the fears of black audiences. Many African-American groups and critics targeted the film, asserting that it glorified drug usage, violence, obtaining wealth through crime and sexual stereotypes about black men.
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