Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 03/20/1987(USA)
Release Date: 07/24/2001
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/Espanol
Sound: 5.1/1
Run Time: 81 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity
Distributor/Studio: MGM
This satirical look at the ambivalent relationship between Hollywood power brokers and African-American performers marked the writing, producing, and directing debut of
Robert Townsend. The filmmaker also stars as
Bobby Taylor, a struggling actor looking for his big break despite his family's and co-workers' reservations about his chosen career path. While working a day job flipping burgers,
Bobby heads out to insulting cattle calls where white casting agents pass judgement on whether he seems "black enough." Meanwhile, he imagines himself playing
Sam Spade,
Rambo, and other movie heroes rather than the stereotypical roles actually available to him. When
Bobby actually does win one such pimp-daddy part, however, he is forced to choose between accepting work that opens doors, but ultimately demeans him and returning to obscurity with his principles intact.
Hollywood Shuffle's enormous supporting cast includes a wealth of black actors, from then-unknowns such as
Damon Wayans to veterans such as
227 star
Helen Martin. Self-financed and filmed on scraps of hand-me-down celluloid, the film helped establish actor
Townsend as a director of note and also kick-started the career of co-screenwriter and co-star
Keenen Ivory Wayans, who would cast
Townsend in his own directorial debut the following year.
~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
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