Customer Reviews

Harlem Nights

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

A very funny movie which will become a classic. I have seen the movie at least 10 times. Hopefully one day it will be on DVD. The television version takes away some of the comedic dialogue. This all star cast that includes comedy greats such as Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and celebrities such as Della Reese, and Arsenio Hall. It is almost certain to become a much sought after collectable.

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.

Though Amazon.com didn't think highly of this movie, I did, and thank goodness this movie was made!

Both Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx are not with us anymore, but this IS here. This film shows us the comedic talent of both these men, and to have stars like Eddie Murphy, Danny Aiello, and Della Reese is delicious icing on the cake.

Pryor as Sugar Ray and Murphey as Quick try to keep a vicious mobster from taking over their business. As you might think, they turn the tables on the bad buys!

Jasmine Guy stands out particularly as the mobster's girlfriend, and so does Della Resse as the hard-fighting madam with a heart of gold.

Thank-you, Eddie Murphy, for getting all these wonderful comedic talents together for us and prosperity! Because this movie exists we have them all forever.

Fans of the movie know what would come next in the title of this review. I don't know about the black/white humor thing - I'm white and my husband and I and another couple find this movie side splitting. The talented comedians in this film are great! We have quoted lines to each other from this film for at least the last ten years, anyway. So glad it's out in DVD. It will make a great Valentine's gift for dh.

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.

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.

Of course it may be a little hard for someone who was born and raised with a white picket fence to understand the humor in this movie, but this movie has all the urban wit and slang to make you laugh till tears come out.

This is one of the funniest movies if not the funniest movie ever made. You have got Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy in one film. What more could you ask for? The fight scene with Eddie and Della is hilarious. If you do not like this movie, you must be humorless or a racist.

Eddie Murphy makes his directorial debut with a lushly produced, light hearted, enjoyable period piece about 1930s Harlem club owners. The all star cast turns in a pleasant ensemble performance, with an emphasis on smoothness rather than hilarity.

Film critics cut Murphy no slack, they shredded him for not living up to expectations of a comic masterpiece. They should take a laxative. Yes, yes, I agree that the plot is routine, it's a remake of The Sting, there is profanity, it's not a masterpiece, Eddie is more smooth than funny, yadda yadda yadda.

OK, so maybe Harlem Nights didn't live up to the hype. So what? It's still an enjoyable film. It's very entertaining to watch so many great performers all in one movie, even if they do pull their punches. The costumes are Oscar-caliber, the Herbie Hancock soundtrack is superfine, and everyone looks good.

I notice that Hollywood routinely produces a veritable torrent of well-cast B movies (and far worse). I notice that plenty of mainstream comedians break stereotype and try on non-comedic movie roles. Surely some of our most talented black performers can be given the latitude to do the same? Relax, and enjoy the movie for what it is.

This movie is one of my all time favorites and I think the critics and others who scorn this movie have no sense of taste (must be the same critics and people who enjoyed The Blair Witch Project).
The comedic line up in this movie are legendary..Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy and they do a great job of ACTING in this movie. The critics and others seem to be disappointed that these Legendary Stand-Up comedians don't break charecter and go into a Stand-Up routine in the middle of the movie. This is a situational comedy and is as ever bit as funny as some of Eddie Murphys "praised" comedies like Beverly Hills Cop.
If you are looking for a Stand-Up routine this movie is probably not for you. If you enjoyed "The Blair Witch Project" (The worst movie I personally have ever seen) you probably wouldn't even understand this movie....BUT if you are looking for a great situational comedy that includes hilarious interactions with the absolute Greatest performers in Black Comedy...THIS MOVIE IS A MUST.
Redd Foxx as an Old Blind Stick-Man with an attitude on a craps table...I am in the Gaming Industry ...and trust me just that alone is Hilarious.