Tougher Than Leather (1988)

Legendary hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. stars in this cross between a blaxploitation film and a spaghetti western. They must find and punish the evil drug lord-record company executive who ... See full summary »

Director:

Rick Rubin

Writers:

Bill Adler (story, credit shared with Lyor Cohen), Ric Menello

Stars:

Darryl McDaniels, Daniel Simmons, Jason Mizell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Darryl McDaniels	...	Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels
Daniel Simmons	...	Prison Warden
Jason Mizell	...	Jason 'Jam Master Jay' Mizell
Joseph Simmons	...	Joseph 'Run' Simmons
Richard Edson	...	Bernie Carteez
George Godfrey	...	Nathan Burdette
Rick Rubin	...	Vic Ferrante
Ric Menello	...	Arthur Ratnor
Steven N. Williams	...	Vic's Bodyguard No. 2
Russell Simmons	...	Himself
Adam Yauch	...	Himself
Mike D	...	Himself
Adam Horovitz	...	Himself
Jenny Lumet	...	Pam
Raymond White	...	Raymond 'Runny Ray' Walker

Storyline

Legendary hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. stars in this cross between a blaxploitation film and a spaghetti western. They must find and punish the evil drug lord-record company executive who murdered their friend. Along the way, they encounter racist bikers, blonde bimbos, and the Beastie Boys!

---

Plot Keywords:

hip hop | oldsmobile cutlass | oldsmobile | chevrolet corvette | chevrolet | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Music

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ciudad sangrienta

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,582,760

Company Credits

Production Co:

Def Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in late 1986 for a small budget of under $300,000 then the producers raised some more money(a few hundred thousand more) to put into post production thus the delay in the release. The Spike Lee timing should be more like Russell offered him the film in early 1986 prior to production later in the year meaning he probably saw She's Gotta Have it and Spike turned it down and did School Daze.

---

Quotes

Vic Ferrante: Don't worry about Russel. We'll be nice to him now because it pays to be. But pretty soon I'll show him who carries the biggest dildo.

---

Alternate Versions

Although the cinema release was uncut, the UK video was cut by 33 seconds to remove Steve getting his fingers broken.

---

Connections

Featured in Run-DMC: Together Forever - Greatest Hits 1983-2000 (2000)

User Reviews

Not an oscar nominee, but for its time...

I was a rap fan back from the beginnings with kurtis blow, this was all part of the phenomenom that russell simmons, and rick rubin started with their def jam recordings studio...i remember being like 14 yrs old going to see this movie with my dad, and even at that easily entertained age, i was let down...but...looking back now..they did the best with what they had, the budget had to be a spaghetti string..im sure...so with what they were given....it was the first RAP movie...and ushered us in to the age of tupacs,biggie smalls,redmans,wutangs...opened doors for the movies like friday,house party...they were the FRONT RUNNERS!!! and deserve better ratings then the people rating the show here.... AMEN thank god for run dmc

mackdaddyspliffs AKA a white boy who fell in love with those FUNKY BEATZ