Javascript required
Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
Home / Sidney Poitier Piece of the Action Uptown Saturday Lets Do It Again

Sidney Poitier Piece of the Action Uptown Saturday Lets Do It Again

1975 motion-picture show past Sidney Poitier

Let's Do Information technology Again
Let's-Do-It-Again-Poster.jpg

Theatrical release poster by Jack Rickard
Directed past Sidney Poitier
Screenplay by Richard Wesley
Story past Timothy March
Produced past Melville Tucker
Starring Sidney Poitier
Neb Cosby
Calvin Lockhart
John Amos
Julius Harris
Denise Nicholas
Lee Chamberlin
Mel Stewart
Jimmie Walker
Ossie Davis
Cinematography Donald Thou. Morgan
Edited past Pembroke J. Herring
Music by Curtis Mayfield
Color procedure Technicolor

Production
companies

First Artists
Verdon Productions Limited
Distributed by Warner Bros.

Release engagement
  • October eleven, 1975 (1975-x-11)

Running time

 113 minutes
Country United States
Linguistic communication English
Box office $11.8 million (rentals) [1]

Let'due south Practise It Again is a 1975 American action criminal offense one-act moving-picture show directed by and starring Sidney Poitier and co-starring Bill Cosby and Jimmie Walker,[2] among an all-star blackness cast. The film, directed past Poitier,[2] is nigh blue-neckband workers who determine to rig a boxing match to raise money for their fraternal lodge. The song of the same name by The Staple Singers was featured every bit the opening and ending theme of the moving-picture show, and as a effect, the two have become unremarkably associated with each other. The product companies include Verdon Productions and The First Artists Product Company, Ltd., and distributed by Warner Bros. The movie was filmed in two cities, Atlanta, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana, where near of the plot takes place.[3] This was the second picture pairing of Poitier and Cosby following Uptown Saturday Night, and followed by A Piece of the Action (1977). Of the 3, Let's Do It Again has been the most successful both critically and commercially. Calvin Lockhart and Lee Chamberlin likewise appeared in Uptown Saturday Night. Co-ordinate to the American Pic Institute, Let's Practise Information technology Over again is not a sequel to Uptown Sat Dark.[3]

Plot [edit]

2 friends, Billy Foster (Neb Cosby) and Clyde Williams (Sidney Poitier), need to quickly find a way to enhance funds for their congenial lodge, the Sons and Daughters of Shaka.[4] It is incumbent on Baton to find the money because he is the treasurer of the struggling society. Subsequently Billy convinces Clyde that information technology is their best and quickest option, they decide to bring back a successful money-making scheme, hence the championship. Clyde'south special ability of hypnosis allows the two to set boxing matches so maximize profits by going all in on the underdog. Baton and Clyde have their talents to New Orleans to rig a boxing friction match. This is where Jimmie Walker's character, Bootney Farnsworth, comes into the fold. Bootney is lanky boxer that is overwhelmed in the initial sparring matches. His difficulty to print anyone, even his motorcoach, makes the odds of him winning lower past the day. After watching Bootney struggle, Baton and Clyde are encouraged to go through with their program. Before the match, they sneak into Bootney's hotel room and hypnotize him, earlier they hilariously escape. They utilize what's left of the lodge'due south budget to place their bets with local bookmakers, Kansas City Mack (John Amos) and Biggie Smalls (Calvin Lockhart). The hypnotized Bootney has transformed into a boxing miracle and easily defeats the champion, 40th Street Black (Rodolphus Lee Hayden), by KO. After collecting their coin and returning to Atlanta to celebrate at the lodge, they soon receive a visit from Kansas City Mack. Mack grew suspicious of the duo's conveniently-timed bet, and later finally catching on, he spent weeks searching for the two best friends. Once he arrives at the lodge, he makes a deal that would permit the two sides exist even. Billy and Clyde must perform exactly the aforementioned hypnosis on a boxer, but this time they must collude with Mack. Billy and Clyde agree to the initial bargain, only Clyde has a hard fourth dimension de-hypnotizing Bootney. Bootney, however nether hypnosis, has become far too quick for Clyde to keep upwards with and de-hypnotize. Unable to enter Farnsworth's grooming room to dehypnotize him, which in turn would cause him to lose the fight, Williams and Foster decide to bet on the lucifer beingness a depict, and place bets with both gangster groups by using their wives, who will not exist recognized. They decide to anesthetize Bootney'due south opponent, in society to capitalize on an outrageous bet no one would think of, a tie. Following the stunning upshot, Billy and Clyde are nowhere to be found. Outraged, Kansas City Mack and rival bookmaker, Biggie Smalls, team up in social club to rails the two down. Billy and Clyde lead them on a chase that ends upwardly at the local police section. Hither, the lead officeholder tells the two bookmakers that if he ever hears they have harassed Billy and Clyde or if the two come upwardly missing, they will be thrown in jail for a very long time. The movie ends with Billy and Clyde taking a car ride. Baton jokes that they should rig a fight involving heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr.

Cast [edit]

  • Sidney Poitier as Clyde Williams
  • Pecker Cosby as Billy Foster
  • Calvin Lockhart as "Biggie" Smalls
  • John Amos as Mack "Kansas City Mack"
  • Jimmie Walker as "Bootney" Farnsworth
  • Ossie Davis as Elder Johnson
  • Denise Nicholas as Beth Foster
  • Lee Chamberlin as Dee Dee Williams
  • Mel Stewart as Ellison
  • Julius Harris as "Bubbletop" Woodson
  • Billy Eckstine as Zack
  • Paul Harris equally Jody Tipps
  • Rodolphus Lee Hayden equally 40th Street Blackness

When the moving picture premiered, John Amos and Jimmie Walker were starring as father and son in the CBS sitcom Good Times. George Foreman makes a cameo advent as a factory worker who challenges Baton to a fight in the showtime of the movie. Jayne Kennedy also makes a cameo during the opening credits as the cute Girl at the Mill that Billy is looking at when he crashes his forklift.

Groundwork [edit]

The film's writer, Richard Wesley, also wrote the first film that featured Cosby and Poitier as co-stars, Uptown Saturday Night. Wesley's repertoire includes a range of black power films and plays. Wesley is responsible for a 1971 play Black Terror, which portrayed the story of a black revolution that was to take place in "the very near future" and a 1989 play The Talented Tenth which takes its proper name from Westward. E. B. Du Bois's article, "The Talented Tenth." Similar Wesley, the motion picture's producer, Melville Tucker, too worked on Uptown Saturday Dark. Tucker worked with Poitier prior to both films as well in The Lost Homo (1969). The Lost Man is black power pic about grouping of black militants that hatch a plan to finance their "revolutionary struggle." In social club to succeed in this mission, the group conspires to rob a factory.

The DVD contains a commentary characteristic that includes Richard Wesley and New York Press movie critic Armond White. Wesley mentions that the film was of import to Poitier's paradigm. The moving-picture show allowed Poitier to expand his now "afar" image and answer criticism from blackness militants and the younger generation.[v] Working with younger actors, similar Jimmie Walker, was an important gene in widening Poitier'southward audience. Jimmie Walker's character welcomed Poitier to "new black humor." Wesley too mentions that Bill Cosby and Sydney Poitier were not the original lead actors he had in mind when writing the script. Instead, he thought of casting Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. This did not come up to fruition, equally Warners Bros. wanted actors more than known to mainstream America. Pryor and Foxx had some success only Poitier was seen every bit a more viable atomic number 82 player. In the finish, Wesley was pleased with the actors that lead the film, because Poitier and Cosby worked then well together. Wesley points out that the friendship off-screen translated to the film. Though, Poitier and Cosby had 2 very different acting styles, their chemistry was what additional the script. Cosby and Poitier were joined past other actors that worked together previously. John Amos, Jimmie Walker, and Mel Stewart had all worked with an actor, producer or director prior to Permit'due south Do Information technology Once more.

Themes [edit]

The attire in the film resembles much of what is seen in the Blaxploitation era. In the DVD's commentary, film critic Armond White points out that the suits were worn past Kansas Metropolis Mack and co. to parody Blaxploitation. Improvident, if non gaudy, suits and golden jewelry are Blaxploitation staples.[6] White likewise mentions that Pecker Cosby satirizes the attire of Blaxploitation in just i scene. Cosby wears a flamboyant cherry-red and pinkish suit in an attempt to impress prominent bookmaker Kansas City Mack (John Amos). Author Chris Laverty went into more particular nigh clothing and their importance in a journal for Arts Illustrated stating, "In a sense it was social progression, the essence of the self-made man; readable entirely by what he wears. Narrative was indirectly powered by the coveting of clothes as visual representation of having 'fabricated it.'"[seven] It is likewise worth noting that Mack's entourage has either relaxed hair or a shaved caput. Afros are not often seen on the heads of elite African-American businessmen. Afros are Blaxploitation staples and is seen on the head of Neb Cosby, while Sidney Poitier has a lower cut.

The function of women in the moving-picture show was a priority of Wesley. He admitted, in the moving picture's commentary, that women were "underutilized" in Uptown Saturday Night. In Let'southward Do information technology Over again, the significant others of Billy and Clyde are more visible throughout the movie and play a larger office in the denouement of the picture show. Women are more visible in their relations to other characters as well. Wesley points out that an antagonist, Biggie Smalls, has a female head honcho. Mature relationships between blackness men and women that may have been "soured" past the fourth dimension was another reason for Wesley increasing the role of women in the film. Richard wanted to meliorate the image of black customs. To him, this comeback began in the portrayal of the household. Let's Exercise It Again came at when films that starred powerful, blackness female leads, such equally Coffy and Foxy Brown, were beingness released. Wesley decided to have a different road and use black, female person characters every bit companions to male leads.

Cocky-determination is some other theme nowadays in the film. The pic showed characters taking charge of their own lives. This idea that each individual controls their own life is some other mutual theme in the Black Ability movement and was key to lectures by Black Ability leaders such as Malcolm 10 and Martin Luther Male monarch Jr.[eight] [9]

Soundtrack [edit]

The soundtrack to the film was put together by world-renowned musician Curtis Mayfield. Mayfield, also responsible for the highly-successful soundtrack in Super Fly (1972), wrote the music and The Staple Singers performed the songs. The championship rails for this movie entitled, "Let'due south Do Information technology Once more," was a number one hit on both the R&B and Popular charts.[3] Wesley credited much of the pic'due south success to the success of the song, which was released prior to the motion picture's debut. The music too resembles much of what is seen in Blaxploitation. Upbeat funk with horns and syncopated drum beats are heard in black cinema films throughout the 1960s-1970'due south.

  1. "Let'due south Do It Again"
  2. "Funky Dear"
  3. "A Whole Lot of Love"
  4. "New Orleans"
  5. "I Want to Thank Y'all"
  6. "Big Mac"
  7. "After Sex"
  8. "Chase" (Quinton Joseph, Phillip Upchurch, Gary Thompson, Floyd Morris, Joseph Scott, Mayfield)

Influence in popular culture [edit]

  • The late Brooklyn rap artist The Notorious B.I.One thousand. took his alias, Biggie Smalls, from Calvin Lockhart's character in this film. However, the alias could non exist used as his name due to ownership problems.
  • East Coast rap group Camp Lo named their second anthology "Permit's Do It Again" after their debut anthology was named "Uptown Saturday Night," a reference to the two Cosby and Poitier movies.
  • Musician/MTV personality Fonzworth Bentley took his stage proper name from Jimmie Walker's character, Bootney Farnsworth.[10]

Reception [edit]

The acquirement is listed at $xi.8 million and was i of the highest-grossing films of 1975.[11]

Roger Ebert gave it three out of 4 stars, saying that it "isn't a terribly ambitious comedy, but within its limitations it works well."[12] Gene Siskel also awarded 3 stars out of four and wrote, "After making 'Uptown Sat Night,' Cosby said that he wasn't satisfied with the picture fifty-fifty though it was selling well. He said he wanted to employ the same gang and do it over again, but meliorate. That'south been achieved, and at that place'south no reason to stop at ii. Cosby and Poitier accept broad humor down pat; I'd similar to run into them get witty."[13] Richard Eder of The New York Times wrote that the activeness "is familiar stuff, but some of it is pretty funny," and found Cosby in particular "hilarious."[14] Variety wrote, "The gang from 'Uptown Sabbatum Night' encores successfully in 'Let's Practice It Once again,' a funny, free-form farcical revue reminiscent in substance of classic Hal Roach one-act."[15] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times stated, "At 112 minutes, 'Let'south Do It Over again' is extraordinarily long for a comedy, yet its humor is sustained throughout, thanks to Wesley'south ingenuity and to the fine ensemble playing of a large cast under Poitier's affectionate direction."[16] Jonathan Rosenbaum of The Monthly Film Message wrote, "Despite a frankly nonsensical plot total of formula antics and an unnecessarily protracted running fourth dimension, Permit'southward Practice It Again is a healthy reminder of the relative verve, energy and talent to be constitute nowadays in the so-called 'black exploitation' film—a somewhat loaded term considering the fact that no one ever speaks of 'white exploitation,' and particularly inappropriate in relation to such a high-spirited nonetheless unassuming entertainment equally this."[17]

Rotten Tomatoes gives it a rating of 63% based on reviews from eight critics.[18] The film also won all five NAACP Image Awards for which it received a nomination. The film earned $half-dozen million in theatrical rentals in North America.[19]

References to Richard Wesley's Life [edit]

In the DVD's commentary, Wesley admits that several scenes and characters are references to his life, more specifically his childhood. 40th Street Black was the nickname of a kid at a camp Richard'south brother attended. Jimmie Walker's graphic symbol, "Bootney" was some other reference to his life. Wesley grew up knowing 2 brothers named "Lil Bootney and Big Bootney." Wesley mentions the two were known as fighters within the community.

Remake [edit]

Will Smith and his product company, Overbrook Entertainment, secured the rights in 2002 to the trilogy for remakes to star Smith and to be distributed by Warner Bros. Smith stated that he hoped to go Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and other famous African-American stars to exist in the films.[20] [21]

See also [edit]

  • List of American films of 1975

References [edit]

  1. ^ Peak 20 Films of 1975 by Domestic Acquirement. Box Office Study via Cyberspace Archive. Retrieved September eighteen, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Let's Practice It Again". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com . Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  4. ^ "http://www.blackclassicmovies.com/lets-practice-it-again/". blackclassicmovies.com . Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  5. ^ Allow's Do it Once again Film Commentary
  6. ^ "Costuming the Blaxploitation Hero | Apparel on Motion-picture show". CAMARA DIA HOLLOWAY. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  7. ^ "Blaxploitation Clothes Codes in 1970s Cinema". Apparel on Film. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  8. ^ "Malcolm X Preaches Black Self-Empowerment". PBS LearningMedia . Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  9. ^ "Martin Luther Male monarch Jr.: Leader of Millions in Irenic Bulldoze for Racial Justice". nytimes.com . Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  10. ^ "The Bro's Code Interview: Fonzworth Bentley" Archived 2008-ten-07 at the Wayback Auto, The Bro's Lawmaking, July ix, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  11. ^ "Box Function Report - Revenue Database - 1975". 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  12. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Permit'southward Do Information technology Again Pic Review (1975) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com . Retrieved 2017-12-08 .
  13. ^ Siskel, Gene (October 14, 1975). "'Practise It Again': One time more... but better". Chicago Tribune. Section 3, p. 5.
  14. ^ Eder, Richard (October 13, 1975). "Poitier and Cosby in 'Allow's Practise It Once again,' Blackness Activeness Comedy". The New York Times. 31.
  15. ^ "Film Reviews: Allow'southward Practice It Again". Variety. October 8, 1975. p. xvi.
  16. ^ Thomas, Kevin (October 13, 1975). "Cosby, Poitier Dorsum in 'Again'". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. ane.
  17. ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (August 1976). "Permit's Exercise It Again". The Monthly Film Message. 43 (511): 166.
  18. ^ "Let'southward Do It Again". Retrieved 2018-12-08 .
  19. ^ "All-fourth dimension Film Rental Champs", Variety, 7 Jan 1976 p 46
  20. ^ VH1.com : Will Smith : Volition Smith Secures Rights To Sidney Poitier/ Beak Cosby Flicks - Rhapsody Music Downloads
  21. ^ Uptown Saturday Night (1974) - News

External links [edit]

  • Let's Do It Once again at IMDb
  • Let's Do It Once again at the TCM Movie Database
  • Let's Practice It Again at AllMovie
  • Permit'south Do Information technology Once again at Rotten Tomatoes Edit this at Wikidata

stockdillgolou1940.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Do_It_Again_(1975_film)