Which Way Is Up? (1977)

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writers:

Lina Wertmüller (1972 screenplay Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore)
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay) ...
(more)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Richard Pryor is playing three different roles here. The first being a poor orange picker named Leroy...

Plot Keywords:

Richard Pryor | Labor Union | Jogging | Racial Slur | African American

Cast

Richard Pryor	...	Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox Thomas
Lonette McKee	...	Vanetta
Margaret Avery	...	Annie Mae
Morgan Woodward	...	Mr. Mann
Marilyn Coleman	...	Sister Sarah
Bebe Drake	...	Thelma (as BeBe Drake-Hooks)
Gloria Edwards	...	Janelle
Ernesto Hernández	...	Jose Reyes (as Ernesto Hernandez)
Otis Day	...	Sugar
Morgan Roberts	...	Henry
Diane Rodriguez	...	Estrella Reyes
Dolph Sweet	...	The Boss
Tim Thomerson	...	Tour Guide (as Timothy Thomerson)
Daniel Valdez	...	Chuy Estrada (as Danny Valdez)
Luis Valdez	...	Ramon Juarez
Marc Alaimo	...	Frankie
Tony Alvarenga	...	Errand Boy
Victor Argo	...	Angel
Pat Ast	...	Hooker
Blair Burrows	...	Goon
Kathy Cronkite	...	Photographer
Ron Cummins	...	Photographer
Julie Dorman	...	Congregation Lady
Evelyn Dutton	...	Receptionist (as Evelyn J. Dutton)
Carmen Filpi	...	Wino
Darrell Giddens	...	Man at Picnic
Cheryl Harvey	...	Congregation Lady
Louise Johnson	...	Congregation Lady
Sidney Lanier	...	Rossi
Tanya Lynne Lee	...	Althea (as Tanya Lee)
Terence Locke	...	Assassin (as Terrence Locke)
Ted Markland	...	Goon
Ralph Montgomery	...	Goon
Paul Mooney	...	Inspector Caine
Shane Mooney	...	Alvin
Yvonne Mooney	...	Congregation Lady
Harry Northup	...	Chief Goon
Dennis O'Flaherty	...	Reporter
Korla Pandit	...	The Hindu
Clifford A. Pellow	...	White Boss (as Cliff Pellow)
Mark Robin	...	Reporter
Hank Robinson	...	Goon
Eddie Smith	...	Man at Picnic
Spo-De-Odee	...	Cripple
Bob Terhune	...	Goon
Carol Trost	...	Ms. Collins
Joe Turkel	...	Harry Boatwright (as Joseph Turkel)
Angela Wilson	...	Dawn Minetta
Hank Worden	...	The Flunky

Directed by
Michael Schultz

Writing credits
Lina Wertmüller		(1972 screenplay Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore) (as Lina Wertmuller)
Carl Gottlieb		(screenplay) and
Cecil Brown		(screenplay)
Sonny Gordon		uncredited

Produced by
Michael Chinich	....	associate producer
Steve Krantz	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Davis
Paul Riser

Cinematography by
John A. Alonzo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Danford B. Greene

Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Makeup Department
Mark Reedall	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist (as Robert Stevenson)

Production Management
Michael S. Glick	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director
Don Zepfel	....	second assistant director (as Donald Zepfel)

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator

Stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
James Plannette	....	gaffer

Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor (as John Caper)

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver

Other crew
Mabel Collins	....	production associate
H. Bud Otto	....	script supervisor (as Bud Otto)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Fabulous Films (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Flashback Home Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• El Teatro Campesino  acknowledgement: participation

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R | UK:X | Australia:MA15+

Filming Locations:

Echo Park Lake, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

At the beginning of the film Leroy (Richard Pryor) listens in on his father Rufus (also Richard Pryor) having sex in the other room. The sounds of his father and the woman - "Don't do that baby. Sock it to me. [moaning]" - was sampled in 2 Live Crew's 1989 hit "Me So Horny" on the album 'As Nasty As They Wanna Be'. That song also features a sample from Full Metal Jacket (1987).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Small Change (1978)

Soundtrack:

Which Way Is Up?

Mr. Pryor did multiple characters FIRST!

I saw this movie at the theater when I was 12 or 13 and it took me from a naive child-woman to an aware black woman through comedy! I never laughed so hard in all of my life! Richard Pryor not only portrays three different characters flawlessly, he spins a story that has a moral and a conscious. The great soundtrack featured music from a group named STARGUARD who sang the title "Which Way is Up" and it was a big hit on urban radio in the 1979-80! This movie is a must-see for any and all fans of Richard Pryor - just to see how his comic-acting genius was as unique as it was effective. I know more people may have seen "Silver Streak" or "Blazing Saddles" (which he co-wrote the screenplay) but WHICH WAY IS UP is by far his best movie! It is unforgettable!