Product Description

BUSINESS PARTNERS STING A WHITE MOBSTER TRYING TO TAKE OVER THEIR NIGHTCLUB IN 1930S HARLEM.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5977 in DVD
• Brand: Paramount
• Released on: 2002-01-29
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 115 minutes

Amazon.com
This is a supremely disappointing film, especially considering the talent involved. Indeed, the cast would seem to be the summit of African American comedians, starring the three most influential standups of the modern era: Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy. Murphy obviously was paying respect to his elders when he cast them as his father and grandfather in this story of Harlem in the 1930s. Written and directed by Murphy, the plot involves gangsters and rival nightclub owners but doesn't add up. What's a particular shame is that, with three comics as funny as Murphy, Pryor, and Foxx, there are so few laughs and so much misogyny. Do you really want to watch Della Reese get shot in the foot to shut her up? That's the level of the humor here. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

One of the Greatest Films Ever Made
Harlem Nights is one of the best movies ever made. It's a great period piece from the "roaring 20's". It has a cast of some of the greatest comic geniuses from every generation. Redd Foxx is classically funny in his usual manner paired with Della Reese; their exchange of witty banter throughout the entire movie leaves you cracking a smile. Eddie Murphy is as smooth as ever in one of his funniest films. Richard Pryor uses his subtle class to hold this one together. I know some of the language can be a bit much to some people who are not used to it being used as humor. A lot of critics did not think that this movie lived up to the cast involved in it. I am not sure what they were thinking that it should be. It couldn't have been any funnier. It has class, style, great costumes, good dialogue...great charisma between the actor/actresses. I think that if the critics didnt try to be so politically correct all of the time...they might have enjoyed this movie for what it is. Just good old fashioned fun.

Harlem Nights Reigns Supreme
Harlem Nights is without equal in the African American film list. It is a great story which pokes humour at the disparities in America. Who wouldn't find Eddie Murphy,Redd Foxx, and Richard Pryor funny? The movie is a classic. Even the scenes where they poke fun at the champ are hilarious. Della Reese is masterful. Harlem Nights is a great film. The language may be excessive at times but what else could you expect from Pryor and Murphy. Eddie Murphy continues to be a genius and one of the best comedians of all time. If you don't own a copy of Harlem Nights buy it, watch it and love it. It is wonderful.

One of my favorites
This is one of my personal top 5 movies. I have no idea how many times I've watched it, but its funny to me each and every time. What a star-studded cast -- and they all come through with great performances.

I wish they had kept this group together for another movie project. It is priceless to watch the alpha dog trailblazers in Black standup work together - Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy. Simply amazing.

I highly recommend this movie, if you haven't already figured that out.