Harlem Nights (1989)

Director:

Eddie Murphy

Writer (WGA):

Eddie Murphy (written by)

Release Date:

17 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They're up to something big.

Plot:

"Sugar" Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and...

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Police | Gangster | New York City | Villainess

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 8	8:00 PM	MAX
Mon. Dec. 14	3:00 PM	MAX

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Quick
Richard Pryor	...	Sugar Ray
Redd Foxx	...	Bennie Wilson
Danny Aiello	...	Phil Cantone
Michael Lerner	...	Bugsy Calhoune
Della Reese	...	Vera
Berlinda Tolbert	...	Annie
Stan Shaw	...	Jack Jenkins
Jasmine Guy	...	Dominique La Rue
Vic Polizos	...	Richie Vento
Lela Rochon	...	Sunshine
David Marciano	...	Tony
Arsenio Hall	...	Crying Man
Thomas Mikal Ford	...	Tommy Smalls (as Tommy Ford)
Uncle Ray Murphy	...	Willie (as Uncle Ray)
Michael Goldfinger	...	Man
Joe Pecoraro	...	Joe Leoni
Robin Harris	...	Jerome
Charles Q. Murphy	...	Jimmy
Miguel A. Núñez Jr.	...	Man with Broken Nose
Desi Arnez Hines II	...	Young Quick
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Toothless Gambler
J. Kennedy Horne	...	Gambler
Bobby McGee	...	Gambler
Reynaldo Rey	...	Gambler
Nick Savage	...	Gambler
Johnny Lee Smith	...	Huge Man (as Johnny Smith)
Robi Reed-Humes	...	Woman Employee (as Robin Lynn Reed)
Ty Granderson Jones	...	Crapshooter (as Tyrone Granderson Jones)
Dan Tullis Jr.	...	Crapshooter
Don Blakely	...	Crapshooter
Chris Jackson	...	Crapshooter
Roy L. Jones	...	Crapshooter
Howard 'Sandman' Sims	...	Crapshooter
Roger E. Reid	...	Crapshooter
Rudy Challenger	...	Patron
Steve White	...	Patron
Dexter A. Wilkins	...	Patron
Nona Gaye	...	Patron
Bill Bateman	...	Orderly
Kathleen Bradley	...	Lady
Clarence M. Landry	...	Old Man
Carmen Filpi	...	Doorman
Alvin Silver	...	Headwaiter
Clifford Strong	...	Man at Front Seat (as Cliff Strong)
Margaret Wheeler	...	Elderly Woman
Joe Littlefield	...	Elderly Man
Rick Aiello	...	Man #1
Donald Nardini	...	Man #2
Robert Vento	...	Bartender
Mike Genovese	...	Desk Sergeant
Dennis Lee Kelly	...	Cop
William Utay	...	Cop
Michael Buffer	...	Announcer
Marc Figueroa	...	One of Calhoune's Boys
George Kyle	...	Man at Bugsy's
Eugene Robert Glazer	...	Detective Hogan (as Eugene R. Glazer)
Michael Stroka	...	Detective Simms
Eddie Smith	...	Driver
Gene Hartline	...	Michael Kirkpatrick
Karen Armstead	...	Bennie's Girlfriend
Lezley Price	...	Nurse
Randy Harris	...	Todo La Noche
Woody Omens	...	Ringside Announcer
Don Familton	...	Referee
Dennis Kemper	...	Bathroom Attendant
Larry L. Johnson	...	King Blue
Prince C. Spencer	...	Prince Spencer
Roberto Durán	...	Roberto
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Kennedy Horne	...	Gambler (as J. Kennedy Horne)

Directed by
Eddie Murphy

Writing credits (WGA)
Eddie Murphy		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Lipsky	....	producer
Eddie Murphy	....	executive producer
Ray Murphy Jr.	....	associate producer
Ralph S. Singleton	....	co-producer
Robert D. Wachs	....	producer

Original Music by
Herbie Hancock

Cinematography by
Woody Omens

Film Editing by
Alan Balsam
George Bowers

Casting by
Robi Reed-Humes

Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull

Art Direction by
Russell B. Crone
Geoff Hubbard		(as Martin G. Hubbard)

Set Decoration by
George R. Nelson

Costume Design by
Joe I. Tompkins

Makeup Department
Bernadine M. Anderson	....	makeup artist
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	assistant makeup artist (as Marie Carter)
Klexius Kolby	....	makeup artist
Tony Lloyd	....	assistant makeup artist (as Anthony S. Lloyd)
Don Lynch	....	assistant hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ralph S. Singleton	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan B. Curtiss	....	first assistant director
Karen Ginsberg	....	second second assistant director
John Rusk	....	second second assistant director (as John C.M. Rusk)
Dorothy A. Steinicke	....	second second assistant director
Barry K. Thomas	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ron Ashmore	....	paint foreperson
Robert J. Carlyle	....	construction foreperson (as Robert Carlyle)
Mike Carroll	....	plasterer
Craig Edgar	....	assistant art director (as Craig D. Edgar)
Gerry Gates Sr.	....	paint foreperson
Jim Greenspan	....	property person
Carey Harris Jr.	....	assistant property master
Jimmy Herron	....	property master (as Jimmie Herron)
Harold D. Hinzo	....	signwriter
Mentor Huebner	....	primary production illustrator
Jack Jennings	....	assistant art director (as Jack B. Jennings)
Alan S. Kaye	....	set designer
Mark Konkel	....	paint foreperson
Renita Lorden	....	assistant property master
Robert Maddy	....	set designer
W. Scott Mason	....	construction foreperson (as Scott Mason)
Todd McKibben	....	construction foreman
Marc Meisels	....	set dresser
Clarence Lynn Price	....	construction coordinator
Douglas W. Randall	....	construction foreman
Ray Rarick	....	construction foreperson
David Russell	....	storyboard illustrator
Neil Saiger	....	construction foreperson
Ron Schroeder	....	labor foreperson
Fred Seibly	....	signwriter
Ron Sica	....	property person
Wayne Smith	....	paint foreperson
Craig Staley	....	property person
William Timmerman	....	property person
Dennis J. Vannatta	....	lead person
Ward Welton	....	paint foreperson
Ronnie Sue Wexler	....	property person
Ron Ashmore	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
Randy L. Childs	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Drew Struzan	....	poster artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Pamela Bentkowski	....	foley editor
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	sound mixer
Steve Cantamessa	....	boom operator
Michael C. Casper	....	supervising re-recording mixer (as Michael Casper)
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr editor (as Juno Ellis)
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist
Bruce Fortune	....	sound editor
David W. Gray	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Cecelia Hall	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Howard	....	sound editor
Mark Jennings	....	cable person
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Daniel Leahy)
Victoria Martin	....	supervising foley editor
F. Hudson Miller	....	sound editor
Donald Ortiz	....	assistant sound editor
R.J. Palmer	....	sound editor
Craig Sims	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Stafford	....	supervising adr editor
Beth Sterner	....	sound editor
Tom Gerard	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
John Morris	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Albiez	....	special effects foreperson (as Peter H. Albiez)
Kenneth C. Clark	....	special effects technician
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects supervisor
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects technician
Karl Nygren	....	special effects technician (as Karl Eric Nygren)
Mike Wever	....	special effects technician
Jeffrey A. Wischnack	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Rocco Gioffre	....	matte artist

Stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bryn Boyd	....	dolly grip
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator
Edward Cooper	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joseph Cosko Jr.	....	second assistant camera
Tom Embree	....	set lighting technician
Jon Falkengren	....	dolly grip
Norman Glasser	....	chief lighting technician
Lloyd Gowdy	....	set lighting technician
Lindsay P. Hill	....	video assistant
Bud Howell	....	first company grip (as Carmon 'Bud' Howell)
Frank Jones	....	set lighting technician
Norman G. Langley	....	camera operator
Donald Lewis	....	set lighting technician (as Don Lewis)
Burton Lindemoen	....	second company grip
Art Mack	....	grip
Scott McKnight	....	set lighting technician
Richard A. Mention III	....	first assistant camera
John Nettles	....	grip
Rick Robinson	....	second assistant camera (as Ricardo Robinson)
Steve Shaver	....	chief rigging electrician
Roger Spurgeon	....	lighting technician: musco light
John Szajner	....	first assistant camera
Bruce W. Talamon	....	still photographer (as Bruce Talamon)
Francis X. Valdez III	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Kip Wurl	....	grip
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
Michael Douglas Middleton	....	still photographer: props (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Chemin Sylvia Bernard	....	casting associate
Marc Brandin	....	extras casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Maria Marten	....	casting assistant
María Martín	....	casting assistant
Dawn Robinson	....	extras casting (as Dawn Tshombe)
Eddie Smith	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James 'Mike' Balker	....	wardrober
Ed Burza	....	wardrober
Norman A. Burza	....	key costumer
Roberto Carneiro	....	wardrober
Theresa Conant	....	wardrober
Richard W. Flores	....	wardrober
Darlene Jackson	....	wardrober
Violette Jones-Faison	....	assistant costume designer
Betty M. Nowell	....	wardrober
Loring I. Spicer	....	wardrober
Aida Swinson	....	wardrober (as Aida M. Swinson)
Theresa Volpe Laursen	....	wardrober
Andrea E. Weaver	....	key costumer
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joseph Gutowski	....	stand-by editor
James C. Johnson	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Christopher Koefoed	....	associate editor
Bob Noland	....	color timer
Rodney Sharpp	....	apprentice editor
Kelly Tartan	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
Garnett Brown	....	conductor
Garnett Brown	....	orchestrator
Lise Richardson	....	assistant music editor
Robert Schaper	....	music recording consultant (as Bob Schaper)

Transportation Department
Edward Baken	....	transportation captain
Steve Bonner	....	picture car captain
Thomas J. Hoke	....	transportation coordinator
Mitch Friedman	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor (as Pamela M. Alch)
David Blumberg	....	creative assistant to Mr. Hancock
Rene Botana	....	location manager
Stanley Brossette	....	unit publicist (as Stan Brossette)
Caryn E. Campbell	....	production secretary
Fetteroff Colen	....	production assistant
Desiree DaCosta	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Stephen C. Dawson	....	location manager
Yvonne Bonitto Doggett	....	assistant: Mr. Wachs and Mr. Lipsky
Diane Farrington	....	production assistant (as Dianne Farrington)
Karen Ginsberg	....	period researcher
Michael Green	....	production assistant
Nicholas Gross	....	production assistant
Randy Harris	....	production assistant
Jerome Holmes	....	production assistant
Jennie Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Pryor
Tom Jones	....	craft service
Harry Knapp	....	assistant production auditor
Kim McLaren	....	accounting assistant
Carolyn McLaurin	....	production assistant
Julie McNulty	....	production assistant
James M. Morris	....	location manager
Leroy Murphy	....	officer manager: Eddie Murphy Productions
Tom C. Peitzman	....	assistant production office coordinator
Don Petrie	....	production auditor
Barbara Rosing Hoke	....	production office coordinator (as Barbara A. Rosing)
Anthony J. Saenz	....	location manager
Neal Thompson	....	title designer
Matt Unger	....	production assistant (as Matthew Unger)
Jeanine Wilson	....	assistant production auditor
Jack Wood	....	coordinating motor officer: LAPD
Monika Woodward	....	production assistant
Greg Knapp	....	set medic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Eddie Murphy Productions
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (Austria) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (UK)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Cinema Research  opticals
• Color Me Bright, Unlimited  musco light technician
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Record Plant Scoring  music recorded at
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (Certificate #29895) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Eddie Murphy Productions

Trivia:

"Harlem Nights" was also the working title for Ralph Bakshi's film, Coonskin (1975). Both films feature the crime racket in Harlem as a plot point. Star Richard Pryor was also believed to be a fan of "Coonskin."

Goofs:

Continuity: After Jack Jenkins leaves Sugar Ray's and Quick's table in the restaurant, they talk about the 3 to 1 odds they will receive on Jenkins for the upcoming fight. When Phil and Bugsy are talking in the sauna, They say the odds for Jenkins' opponent, Kirkpatrick are 3 to 1. They are saying that the odds on both fighters are the same.

Quotes:

Vera: Kiss my ENTIRE ass!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Life (1999/I)

Soundtrack:

Allegro from Quartet in C Major K 157

Bullets and Blue Language, But Laughs, Too

A lot of people have commented on the violence and profanities in this movie. I guess it could have gotten by without so many foul words. But this movie is still funny! The most hilarious scenes are Eddie Murphy's fistfight with Della Reese, and his shootout with Arsenio Hall. Say what you will about Eddie Murphy, but he can still crack you up!