| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| C. Thomas Howell | ... | ||
| Rae Dawn Chong | ... |
Sarah Walker
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| Arye Gross | ... |
Gordon Bloomfeld
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| James Earl Jones | ... |
Professor Banks
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| Melora Hardin | ... |
Whitney Dunbar
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| Leslie Nielsen | ... |
Mr. Dunbar
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Ann Walker | ... |
Mrs. Dunbar
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| James Sikking | ... |
Bill Watson
(as James B. Sikking)
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| Max Wright | ... |
Dr. Aronson
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| Jeff Altman | ... |
Ray McGrady
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| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | ... | ||
| Maree Cheatham | ... |
Mrs. Dorothy Watson
(as Marie Cheatham)
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| Wallace Langham | ... |
Barky Brewer
(as Wally Ward)
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Eric Schiff | ... |
Booey Fraser
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Ron Reagan | ... |
Frank
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Mark doesn't expect any problems in going to college: he and his friend have reserved places in Harvard and his parents have the money to pay for his education there. But suddenly his father's neurotic psychiatrist advises him to go on vacation in Hawaii instead of spending more money on his son. Since Mark wants to keep his lifestyle, including a fancy car and a flat shared with his friend, he seeks financial support. The only foundation which still accepts applications is for blacks only -- no problem, with lots of bronzing pills and "soul in his voice" he sets out to Harvard. Soon he has to realize that being black will cause some people to handle him differently. Written by Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
I remember watching Soul Man about twelve years ago when it was first aired on TV. Crazy, hilarious, sarcastic, emotional; what the hell I could go on forever describing this film.
This is the only film besides "The Outsiders" that C. Thomas Howell played a dual role of himself and a black student impersona. Okay I can agree with some comments that movie began to over step it's bounderies with the way African American culture was dealt with, but at the smae time I felt that it was stabalized with the humour adding that extra touch rather than people taking it more "Politically correct" way.
James Earl Jones and Rae Dawn Chong both did fabulous jobs as there acting really help give their characters' some edge that made it somewhat convincing.
Overall a brilliant film. If you can try to avoid the fact that it might be cliched of dealing with racial differences in a light hearted manner. Remember this is a comedy and not something to take "SERIOUSLY".
Another quality film from the 80's to add to the hitlist.