True Identity (1991)

In order to escape from the mob, an African-American man must disguise himself as a white man.

Director:

Charles Lane

Writer:

Andy Breckman

Stars:

Lenny Henry, Frank Langella, Charles Lane

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lenny Henry	...	Miles Pope
Frank Langella	...	Leland Carver
Charles Lane	...	Duane
J.T. Walsh	...	Houston
Anne-Marie Johnson	...	Kristi
Andreas Katsulas	...	Anthony
Michael McKean	...	Harvey Cooper
Peggy Lipton	...	Rita
Bill Raymond	...	Grunfeld
James Earl Jones	...	Himself
Darnell Williams	...	Tyler
Chris Latta	...	Frank LaMotta
Melvin Van Peebles	...	Taxi Driver
Ruth Brown	...	Martha
Fantasia Owens	...	Ruth

Storyline

True Identity is a comedy about a black actor named Miles Pope who wants to play a part in Othello. After a plane ride home from a failed acting job Miles meets a producer named Leland Carver who slips out his mob identity when the plane is about to crash but after all of that the plane does not crash. Now Miles is the only man who knows the past to this mob man. Miles gets the help of his best friend make-up artist Duane to turn him into a White man. As Miles is packing his stuff to get out of town, the hitman walks in and a struggle is in affect. Miles wins the fight and kills the hitman in an electrical fashion. Now Anthony (Leland Carver's top man) comes in to confirm that Miles is dead. Now Miles is mistaken as the hitman. Now Miles must assume a parade of identity's to get away from the Mob's guns hot on his trail.

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Plot Keywords:

mob | hitman | actor | makeup artist | box office flop | 

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Taglines:

Ever since the mob's been after him... Miles Pope hasn't been himself!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cambio d'identità

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$4,693,236 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sandollar Productions, Silver Screen Partners IV, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was designed as a vehicle for Lenny Henry as part of a 3-picture deal the actor signed with the Walt Disney Company, which thought that he had the potential to be a big star in the United States. When this film flopped at the box office, Henry's deal with Disney was canceled, and the other films were never made.

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Quotes

Miles Pope: Yo, Frankie, when you get to jail, you might want to talk to some of the brothers on your views of racial equality.

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Connections

Referenced in Showbiz Today: Episode dated 27 August 1991 (1991)

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Soundtracks

"The FBI Sting"
Written by Marc Marder and Bruce Nazarian

User Reviews

Why did it bomb? its not that bad at all!

Its the shame this movie bombed at the box office, it really not that bad at all! The script and direction is maybe so so, but as a first major role for Lenny Henry, he really should have got more movies out of this. Not forgetting that he had a great support cast who did the best with what they had, making a still amusing film at the right time of day. I thought the make up/transformation of Henry was quite amazing and funny and perhaps has been over looked under appreciated ?, (Then again its brilliance may have caused certain people some discomfort?). To sum up,great cast,dodgy script and slightly wobbly direction but still worth seeing.