T, appeared, starring and directed by oneal with a script by alex haley. When tnt launched in october 1988, the channels original purpose was to air classic films and television series to which turner broadcasting maintained spillover rights through its sister channel superstation tbs. Superfly is the best movie of the shortlived 1970s blaxploitation boom which gave the world the better known, but less substantial shaft. The film is well known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul musician curtis mayfield.
Priest, socalled because the tip of the cross he wears is fasioned in the shape of a spoon, with which he frequently samples his wares. This is a loud slick noisy update of the 1972 blaxploitation super fly. Super fly is a cocaine dealer who begins to realize that his life will soon end with either prison or his death. Hes even better in the role of priest this time than in the original superfly. Super fly is one of the few films ever to have been outgrossed by its soundtrack. Super fly made a superstar out of ron oneal for a brief, shining moment anyway. Nba schedule teambyteam record predictions and playoff odds dear. In 1990, there was a sorry attempt to revive super fly in the return of super fly. Watch all 56 nba on tnt episodes from season 1,view pictures, get episode information and more. Super fly was one of those films where everything seemed to fall into place and everything that would have seemed to work against it became an asset. Super fly is super entertainment with an indelible message.
Youngblood priest, an africanamerican drug dealer who specializes in selling cocaine, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle in harlem. He wants to make that one big score and get out with his two girlfriends. Oneal presented an arrogant, enigmatic hustler who was careful not to reveal too much. The tunes lack the funk of the original and i welcomed the burst of curtis mayfields title track. In a jan 1973 preproduction article dv noted that warner bros, which released super fly, had put the filmmakers on a tight production schedule, as the company wanted to release the sequel on 15 jun.
This sequel to superfly has former drug dealer youngblood priest living in rome with his lover. Department of afroamerican research arts culture 12,306 views. His life has become peaceful and he is utterly bored, so when a gunsmuggling african revolutionary. A harlem drug dealer and his girlfriend retire to rome, where he joins an african revolution. But he truly redeems himself after super fly tnt, a few years later, with the excellent grindhouse classic the hitter, a film that received no attention, but is a million times better than this shallow vanity piece. Department of afroamerican research arts culture 59,145 views 1. Primarily a stage actor before this, oneal lights up the screen as the iconic antihero priest, and gave him enough clout to direct the sequel, 1973s super fly tnt.
Undeniably exciting is what leonard maltin calls this pioneering film that kicked off the entire blaxploitation action film genre of the 1970s. With a little suggestively violent persuasion the horse is suddenly good to go. Trevor jackson is cool but bland as the atlanta drug pusher youngblood priest. Super fly is a 1972 american blaxploitation crime drama film directed by gordon parks, jr. In a jan 1973 preproduction article dv noted that warner bros, which. Super fly, had put the filmmakers on a tight production schedule. Sig shore, the connecticutbased producer, had previously been an importer of foreign films including the 400 blows and hiroshima mon amour and had never produced a film before. O neal reprises his role of youngblood priest from the smash hit blaxploitation film super fly. Super fly 1972, ron oneal, shelia frazier, carl lee, julius harris duration. Check out the interesting superfly trailer this superfly is a reimagned version of the film super fly from 1972. This success was followed by the sequel, super fly t.
Oneal reprises his role of youngblood priest from the. Hes got a plan to stick it to the man super fly is a cocaine dealer who begins to realize that his life will soon end with either prison or his death. Oneal reprises his role of youngblood priest from the 1972 film super fly. The first season of the young william shakespeare drama permieres on tnt july 10, 2017 at 9. The film was released on vhs in 1998, but it has not been released on dvd or bluray. He decides to build an escape from the life by making his biggest deal yet. Super fly, a 1972 curtis mayfield soundtrack to the film superfly song, the albums title track superfly, a remake of the 1972 blaxploitation film super fly giant panda song, a 2005 single by giant panda superfly, a song by 4 non blondes on their only album bigger, better, faster, more. Director x in talks to helm sonys super fly remake deadline. He decides to build an escape from the life by making his biggest deal yet, converting the coke to cash and running off to start a new life. This sequel, the filmmakers attempt to address that criticism, is, at best, a. T marked oneals directorial debut and was the only. Ron was first married to carol tillery banks, november 1973 until 1980.
The film was clearly a lowbudget endeavor, and the resulting presentation cant hide that, especially the audio, which can be quiet or muddled a fault of the original source, not the new lossless track. The original superfly 1972 was excoriated in certain circles as the glamorization of a conscienceless huckster. Reviewed in the united states on december 18, 2016. The film was both a critical and commercial failure. One that is an exploitation of black people especially with regard to stereotype roles in other films. Youngblood priests life has become peaceful and he is completely bored, so when a gunrunning african revolutionary. With ron oneal, roscoe lee browne, sheila frazier, robert guillaume. The shaft series are incredibly entertaining movies, no argument there, but most of the films from this period starring richard roundtree, fred williamson, jim kelly,et al are essentially action movies which feature a black dirty harry, a black. Ron oneal, shelia frazier, roscoe lee browne, ferruccio brusarosco, ennio catalfamo, dan davis, minister dem, dominic barto, robert. She also appeared in the illfated 1973 sequel super fly tnt directed by oneal and has recently been seen in a recurring role on the cbs series n. Although the film garnered a mixed reception for its. Scully, pops old army nemisis, in the episode titled saving. I would encourage any fan of super fly and ron oneal to skip this lame sequel and search out the hitter instead. Ron oneal september 1, 1937 january 14, 2004 appeared as sergeant scully.