TheFman said:

Flaws preventing be more commercial succesful:
B/W
He died, and did so in the most theatralic embarassing way
Music was a side-thing
Too typical humor (the Record Store wordplay was very awkward for many of us Europeans)
too many 'wait for it' moments

Warner Bros. preferring (as film studios invariably do) a happy ending, pushed him to conclude with Tracy reforming and heading off into the sunset with lover interest Mary (Scott-Thomas).

The alternative ending was shot, and publicist Howard Bloom, viewing a cut of the film where Tracy survives, found himself believing in the character's redemptive journey. "Warner Bros. insisted on him getting the girl at the end, and it really worked," Bloom remembered. "This little asshole character that was so hard to identify with, you bonded with by the end."

But Prince favored the original ending. In the final cut, Tracy died (the victim of an assassination) with the result, in Bloom's view, that any meaning in the film was also destroyed.

OldFriends4Sale said:

TheFman said:

Flaws preventing be more commercial succesful:
B/W
He died, and did so in the most theatralic embarassing way
Music was a side-thing
Too typical humor (the Record Store wordplay was very awkward for many of us Europeans)
too many 'wait for it' moments

Warner Bros. preferring (as film studios invariably do) a happy ending, pushed him to conclude with Tracy reforming and heading off into the sunset with lover interest Mary (Scott-Thomas).

The alternative ending was shot, and publicist Howard Bloom, viewing a cut of the film where Tracy survives, found himself believing in the character's redemptive journey. "Warner Bros. insisted on him getting the girl at the end, and it really worked," Bloom remembered. "This little asshole character that was so hard to identify with, you bonded with by the end."

But Prince favored the original ending. In the final cut, Tracy died (the victim of an assassination) with the result, in Bloom's view, that any meaning in the film was also destroyed.

It would be great if the alternative ending could be added to a special edition blu-ray of the movie.

his "bad acting" I think could have been worked with but it wouldn't have been an overnight thing, he often seemed ill at ease dealing with people, he did his live shows but it has been said that he would have been happy just making music and not doing all the visual stuff, I don't believe that entirely but I do think he was ambivalent about it all. if he wasn't he could have desperately millked every last sale off of the purple rain juggernaut instead of ending his tour, saying he'd never tour again and releasing a record right then. Anyway, by the time of the batman vids, he was very comfortable in front of the camera, it wasn't a speaking role but his mugging and enjoyment in partyman has me convinced that he could have done more. One more thing and this is speaking just for the soundtrack, vainandy pointed out correctly that kiss was a great single and great release but it left fans like andy dissapointed because nothing else on the album was like that, he had a point. I love the album but music biz 101 would tell you that the albums should have a consistent style and sound and a single should hint at a "product' that is roughly the same.

NouveauDance said:

callimnate said:

Prince was a bad actor, simple as.

And before you bring up Purple Rain...... That was a hit because of all the things surrounding Prince and his character. The music, the vibe, Morris, the music scene etc.
But even then his acting was embarrassing to say the least.

And it was more visible on UTCM and GB.

This is fair. He just about pulled it off in PR because there wasn't much acting and what their was his distant attitude was part of the story, but in UTCM and GB his standoffishness is unappealing to an audience. The humour also doesn't translate to many audiences. I've watched it with people who've sat stone-faced through a lot of the jokes because they just don't get Prince's humour. The jokes aren't so much the problem as the delivery, it just doesn't project on to the big screen.

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The music took a back seat in UTCM so that can't be used so much as a crutch, or as it was in PR, the selling point and real star. The story premise works and much of the cast is servicable. The setting is fantastic, it just needed more people experienced in the medium to really take Prince's raw ideas and tighten them up into a more professional package. Difficult when you have an untouchable megastar with a recently track record in proving naysayers wrong with cinema.

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Re: colour and b&w. I love the b&w theme of the era, but it was filmed in colour, so the movie looks washed out. When you see the colour stills, you see the beautiful costumes in all their glory. Maybe there could've been a compromise where the intro bar scene was in b&w, and then with the opening fanfare of CT's Parade it could've burst in to colour, something like that. You get the idea with regards to it's golden age of Hollywood influences, but you get the visual hit of Prince and crew in the South of France in all their flamboyant glory. Just spitballin' ideas.

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I will say regardless of final execution the ideas were solid and tried and tested movie archtypes. Additionally, these kind of vanity projects are just something you don't get unless you at that level of fame and in the eye of the storm as Prince was post-Purple Rain. You almost wouldn't want it any other way because you lose something when things are too ironed out of all their kinks and idiosyncrasies. It's fun to examine and pick at the threads, wondering about the what if's and could've beens (as we are here).

OldFriends4Sale said:

TheFman said:

Flaws preventing be more commercial succesful:
B/W
He died, and did so in the most theatralic embarassing way
Music was a side-thing
Too typical humor (the Record Store wordplay was very awkward for many of us Europeans)
too many 'wait for it' moments

Warner Bros. preferring (as film studios invariably do) a happy ending, pushed him to conclude with Tracy reforming and heading off into the sunset with lover interest Mary (Scott-Thomas).

The alternative ending was shot, and publicist Howard Bloom, viewing a cut of the film where Tracy survives, found himself believing in the character's redemptive journey. "Warner Bros. insisted on him getting the girl at the end, and it really worked," Bloom remembered. "This little asshole character that was so hard to identify with, you bonded with by the end."

But Prince favored the original ending. In the final cut, Tracy died (the victim of an assassination) with the result, in Bloom's view, that any meaning in the film was also destroyed.

him living at the end wouldn't have fixed the rest of the film. I think Prince may have been saying that the character may not have deserved to live. I don't know, whatever the case, it's just one part of a pretty embarrassing project but it wasn't as bad as everyone said. Eddie Murphy was given a vanity project with Harlem Nights, it had a lot of stupid shit in it and he obviously needed advisors or more help, the result was it got lambasted by the critics, horribly and it left Eddie saying he'd never direct, write produce again and he hasn't. But.., for his black audience, i think it's a classic, people still post clips on it to their facebooks and quote parts of the movie. It was bad but it's not always about being really good, it's about speaking to your audience. Bruce Lee's films have aged horribly but they revolutionalized hong kong cinema and made him a worldwide legend. It's not always about being competitive with Citizen Kane. Sadly, Elvis tried to make some decent films and they all bombed while the stupid loverboy films with stupid music made a lot of money. Anyway, I wish that Prince had kept trying with film, i wish he would have accepted help too but that wasn't his way.

PeteSilas said:

sexton said:

How does “Sometimes It Snows In April” fit into the film if Christopher lives in the end?

well,I don't think that song would have been used if Christopher lives it would have had to be replaced with a 'happy' song

PeteSilas said:

by the time of the batman vids, he was very comfortable in front of the camera, it wasn't a speaking role but his mugging and enjoyment in partyman has me convinced that he could have done more.

Wholeheartedly agree with that, very good point about later video work like Partyman.

I don't knoiw......in my DVD player it is pretty brilliant idea too.

I have always loved UTCM, it is devoid of any hollywood interferance or pressure, and as a result is pure Prince, his unedited, unaltered visual expression of the album. I can't imagine it, nor would I want it to be, any other way.

[Edited 8/11/19 3:55am]

sexton said:

How does “Sometimes It Snows In April” fit into the film if Christopher lives in the end?

Would have to be replaced with Heaven maybe

OldFriends4Sale said:

sexton said:

How does “Sometimes It Snows In April” fit into the film if Christopher lives in the end?

Would have to be replaced with Heaven maybe

All My Dreams is my bet

i always thought prince was an elvis fan and that was even more confirmed after he died, the movies were his attempt at the elvis thing. the death scene was even like the corny scene elvis did when he died in love me tender, don't believe me go look at it.

TheFman said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Would have to be replaced with Heaven maybe

All My Dreams is my bet

it's fun to think of a song that could be used "All My Dreams" would work perfectly

AvocadosMax said:

Graffiti Bridge is the worst thing Prince has ever done

I have taken dumps better than Graffiti Bridge.

littlemissG said:

My main problem with UTCM moon Prince trying to be both romantic lead and comic relief. Yes keeps some of the humor like wrecks stow, but Tricky should have been the only one acting like a clown. I also agree that his wardrobe has too over the top and inconsistent with Christopher Tracey’s story of being poor.

People said similar about the Kid in Purple Rain.


My thoughts are that Christiopher made good money around France as a pianist and a gigolo.

Like someone else mentioned, and I've always thought was that Christopher should have been the artist that isn't a jerk, but totally believes in his music, almost the torch artist, who is a romantic. Calm down Tricky's comic relief. It can be annoying. Add a band of musicians. All noticed an pampered by the Bourgeoisie.

littlemissG said:

My main problem with UTCM moon Prince trying to be both romantic lead and comic relief. Yes keeps some of the humor like wrecks stow, but Tricky should have been the only one acting like a clown. I also agree that his wardrobe has too over the top and inconsistent with Christopher Tracey’s story of being poor.

People said similar about the Kid in Purple Rain.


My thoughts are that Christiopher made good money around France as a pianist and a gigolo.

Like someone else mentioned, and I've always thought was that Christopher should have been the artist that isn't a jerk, but totally believes in his music, almost the torch artist, who is a romantic. Calm down Tricky's comic relief. It can be annoying. Add a band of musicians. All noticed an pampered by the Bourgeoisie.

OldFriends4Sale said:

littlemissG said:

My main problem with UTCM moon Prince trying to be both romantic lead and comic relief. Yes keeps some of the humor like wrecks stow, but Tricky should have been the only one acting like a clown. I also agree that his wardrobe has too over the top and inconsistent with Christopher Tracey’s story of being poor.

People said similar about the Kid in Purple Rain.


My thoughts are that Christiopher made good money around France as a pianist and a gigolo.

Like someone else mentioned, and I've always thought was that Christopher should have been the artist that isn't a jerk, but totally believes in his music, almost the torch artist, who is a romantic. Calm down Tricky's comic relief. It can be annoying. Add a band of musicians. All noticed an pampered by the Bourgeoisie.

At least in PR he was largely playing himself so he didn't have to stretch too much and even when the acting missed the mark, for some reason it was fairly easy to overlook. You BOUGHT the character in Purple Rain.

In UTCM you mostly wanted to fucking SELL it.

Robbed of his rock star persona, his stage presence and the natural charisma he generated by mostly staying in his wheelhouse in his first film, the idea of Christopher Tracy as some sort of unstoppable, irresistable lady killer that was actually able to CHARGE women for sex was just fucking goofy and an incredibly hard sell.

He's supposed to be half broke and walks around dressed in I don't know what and driving this super cool car. He's also supposed to be super spiritual, above it all, down to earth, possessing insight and really great at pillow talk but he's mostly just an asshole with a really strange relationship with his roomate. UTCM just made no fucking sense, and not in a good way either like a strange art house movie. It;s just some weird vanity project.

I HATE that this film and GB suck as bad as they do primarily because they showcase so prominently what people who dislike Prince REALLY hate about him. It sucks that UTCM and GB have a bigger place in the zeitgeist of who is was instead of things like the blistering "Joy in Repetition" from the ONA box set of the tossed of UNdertaker DVD.

There's nothing in UTCM for most people to relate to, which is made worse by a complete lack of the ONE thing Prince kicks ass at: making and performing music.

herb4 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

People said similar about the Kid in Purple Rain.


My thoughts are that Christiopher made good money around France as a pianist and a gigolo.

Like someone else mentioned, and I've always thought was that Christopher should have been the artist that isn't a jerk, but totally believes in his music, almost the torch artist, who is a romantic. Calm down Tricky's comic relief. It can be annoying. Add a band of musicians. All noticed an pampered by the Bourgeoisie.

At least in PR he was largely playing himself so he didn't have to stretch too much and even when the acting missed the mark, for some reason it was fairly easy to overlook. You BOUGHT the character in Purple Rain.

In UTCM you mostly wanted to fucking SELL it.

Robbed of his rock star persona, his stage presence and the natural charisma he generated by mostly staying in his wheelhouse in his first film, the idea of Christopher Tracy as some sort of unstoppable, irresistable lady killer that was actually able to CHARGE women for sex was just fucking goofy and an incredibly hard sell.

He's supposed to be half broke and walks around dressed in I don't know what and driving this super cool car. He's also supposed to be super spiritual, above it all, down to earth, possessing insight and really great at pillow talk but he's mostly just an asshole with a really strange relationship with his roomate. UTCM just made no fucking sense, and not in a good way either like a strange art house movie. It;s just some weird vanity project.

I HATE that this film and GB suck as bad as they do primarily because they showcase so prominently what people who dislike Prince REALLY hate about him. It sucks that UTCM and GB have a bigger place in the zeitgeist of who is was instead of things like the blistering "Joy in Repetition" from the ONA box set of the tossed of UNdertaker DVD.

There's nothing in UTCM for most people to relate to, which is made worse by a complete lack of the ONE thing Prince kicks ass at: making and performing music.

hey great review, i like it anyway. i still think people miss the fact that the Prince/Morris character, which he got morris to act out, was actually created by him, the alter ego, he really was that character some of the time, Morris wasn't , no matter how more convincingly he played the role, Morris actually rebelled against the role, i still remember the quote of him saying "black people don't necessarily act this way". But he made a career out of a figment of Prince imagination, prince saw morris steal his movie with his own character and decided to give it a try. Personally, i always liked both sides of prince, the mysterious/mystic loner/genius and the pimp/clown/comedian/wierdo but I, like most favored the quiet mysterious guy more.

I remember an interesting comment that Prince said about UTCM in his 1990 Rolling Stone magazine cover story....

I don't regret anything about Under The Cherry Moon.I learned that I can't direct what I didn't write.

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

I remember an interesting comment that Prince said about UTCM in his 1990 Rolling Stone magazine cover story....

I don't regret anything about Under The Cherry Moon.I learned that I can't direct what I didn't write.

he also said in the previous rolling stone interview, that he was "bullheaded" that was maybe his biggest strength and his biggest weakness.

Buttox said:

Disagree...prince had an obsession with lounge pianists since the purple rain tour when he would pour cold ice over the energy of his shows to do a bunch of piano numbers as if he was a lounge pianist from Casablanca. Considering how Avant Garde he was musically this old school film and lounge singer idea didn't do his core musical brand any favours at all...but I agree that he should have left screen writing and directing to a pro... focus instead on cementing his acting chops like Gene Siskel recommended he should do.. [Edited 8/16/19 16:48pm]

you dind't like the piano part? I always liked it best because i'm a pianist, but honestly, you can't go full throttle in a live show, I mean you can but you have to pace the show, for the audience. So, you might start off with a couple fast tunes, then a ballad or what have you, it's not wise as a showman to stay in any one gear.

PeteSilas said:

PeteSilas said:

Buttox said:

Miitch said: