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)

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

"Society Ball"
Written by Ib Glindemann (as Dan Kirsten)

User Reviews

Fantastically Funny Farce

This one movie and the BBC Television series CHEF are my only connection with Lenny Henry, however I am a fan of his work on both projects.

I haven't seen this movie on DVD as it is not released on Region 1 discs as of yet, I truly hope it is planned as I would love to own this title on DVD.

My remarks are based on the VHS version, tattered and torn as it is.

This film will keep you laughing and engaged from beginning to end, there are enough SNL-ish interactions between the characters to have caused a copyright infringement suit ;)(just kidding).

The first time I watched this film it was truly ground breaking in a sense of character and timing, at least in my opinion (not having had much exposure to BBC TV/Celebs). His (Lenny Henry) off beat characters and persona(s) throughout the film are engaging and remarkably funny.

Miles Pope seems to be the sort of guy you would not mind helping should he require it, although knowing ahead of time what kind of help he would need with regards to this film would surely have slowed my response time.

However from the beginning plane ride on through the ending sequence this movie keeps me interested and laughing, a must see comedy for all ages based upon my perspective.

Please, if anyone has any pull with the powers that be, have this title released on Region 1 DVD as soon as possible, thanks.