Superfly (film)
| Super Fly | |
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International release film poster, design by Tom Jung
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| Directed by | Gordon Parks, Jr. |
| Produced by | Sig Shore |
| Written by | Phillip Fenty |
| Starring |
Ron O'Neal Sheila Frazier Julius Harris Charles McGregor |
| Music by | Curtis Mayfield |
| Cinematography | James Signorelli |
| Edited by | Bob Brady |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $58,000 |
| Box office | $6.2 million (rentals) |
Super Fly is a 1972 blaxploitation crime drama film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., starring Ron O'Neal as Youngblood Priest, an African American cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business.
This film is probably best known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul musician Curtis Mayfield. Super Fly is one of the few films ever to have been outgrossed by its soundtrack.
Leading man O'Neal reprised his role as Youngblood Priest and directed a sequel to the film titled Super Fly T.N.T. that was released a year later in 1973. Super Fly producer Sig Shore directed a second sequel in 1990, The Return of Superfly.
Youngblood Priest (Ron O'Neal) is an African-American cocaine dealer who has a strong desire to exit the drug business. Before he can exit the drug world, he has to earn enough funds to support his lifestyle as he feels that a regular nine to five job will not satisfy his needs. He creates a plan to sell thirty kilos of cocaine, and use the profits to sustain him while he searches for a job, which he assumes will be a difficult process due to his criminal background. Along the way Priest has several run-ins with corrupt law enforcement. He also experiences betrayal from his close friend, Eddie. In the end, Priest is able to escape from the drug business with Georgia, his girlfriend, and walk away unharmed. Despite the controversy surrounding the film’s drug use, Ron O’Neal insists that Super Fly “is not really about drugs”; in fact, he asserts that it is the “greatest anti-drug film”.
The film was financed by two black directors and Gordon Parks, Sr., who had directed the 1971 film Shaft. Sig Shore, who produced Super Fly, plays Deputy Commissioner Riordan, or "The Man".
Nate Adams coordinated the fashion and wardrobe for the film. He had done several fashion shows prior to Super Fly. He still owns many of the suits, shoes and fedora hats.
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Wikipedia