Super Fly (1972 film)
| Super Fly | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster by Tom Jung
|
|
| Directed by | Gordon Parks, Jr. |
| Produced by | Sig Shore |
| Screenplay by | Phillip Fenty |
| Starring |
Ron O'Neal Carl Lee Julius W. Harris Sheila Frazier Charles McGregor |
| Music by | Curtis Mayfield |
| Cinematography | James Signorelli |
| Edited by | Bob Brady |
|
Production
company |
Superfly Ltd.
|
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Under $500,000 |
| Box office | More than $30 million |
Super Fly is a 1972 blaxploitation crime drama film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr. and starring Ron O'Neal as Youngblood Priest, an African American cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business.
The film is probably best known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul musician Curtis Mayfield.
O'Neal reprised his role as Youngblood Priest in the 1973 film Super Fly T.N.T., which he also directed. Producer Sig Shore directed a second sequel, The Return of Superfly, released in 1990, with Nathan Purdee as Priest. A remake will be released in 2018.
Youngblood Priest, an African-American drug dealer who specializes in selling cocaine, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle in Harlem. Priest, so-called because the tip of the cross he wears is fashioned in the shape of a spoon, with which he frequently samples his wares, yearns to leave “the life” and go straight, despite the money he makes.
One day, Priest confronts Fat Freddie, one of his clients, about money that Freddie owes and threatens to force Freddie’s wife into prostitution unless he robs a competitor. Although the timid Freddie abhors violence, he agrees and accompanies a member of Priest’s “family” of lower-level dealers to commit the robbery. After the men leave, Priest finds his partner, Eddie, and asks him how much cash they currently have. When Eddie states that they have $300,000, Priest reveals his plan to buy thirty kilos of high-quality cocaine, which they can sell for $1,000,000 within four months. With such a big score, they will be able to retire comfortably and find other employment, although Eddie protests that crime is the only option left to them by “The Man.”
Priest is determined, however, and that night, approaches Scatter, a retired dealer who started Priest in the business. Scatter, who now runs a popular restaurant, initially refuses to help Priest, but Priest plays on his emotions, claiming that he wants to get out while he is young and before he has to endure the extreme hardships faced by Scatter. The hot-tempered Eddie threatens Scatter, demanding that he reveal his source if he will not supply them, but Scatter disarms Eddie and holds him at gunpoint. Priest diffuses the situation and persuades Scatter to help them, although Scatter warns that it will be the last time. Soon after, Priest and Eddie are joined by one of their low-level dealers and Freddie, who turns over the money he stole and agrees that “the beef” between the men is settled.
...
Wikipedia