Robert Townsend first and greatest music film was about the fictional 60s soul group, the Five Heartbeats. But I made this thread about his two films featuring real artist. Little Richard and Natlie Cole.

He did a another musical film, (2 more actually) Jackie's Back and Carmen: A Hip Hopera.

Which was a better film, Little Richard (I believe a BET movie) and Living for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (I believe a HBO film?)

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Robert Townsend first and greatest music film was about the fictional 60s soul group, the Five Heartbeats. But I made this thread about his two films featuring real artist. Little Richard and Natlie Cole.

He did a another musical film, (2 more actually) Jackie's Back and Carmen: A Hip Hopera.

Which was a better film, Little Richard (I believe a BET movie) and Living for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (I believe a HBO film?)

Easily "Little Richard." Fabricated as fuck, but it had some classic moments in that one. "Living For Love: The Natalie Cole Story" was actually a NBC miniseries film that came out to promote Natalie Cole's 2000 autobiography and greatest hits compilation. I remember it aired a couple of weeks before the Christmas holiday. It was a big deal back then, given the different stories about Natalie's drug episodes. That one was good too, but it was way too sappy and samey. Theresa Randle did a hell of a job as her, but when Natalie portrayed herself in the second half, I was like.... .

silverchild said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Robert Townsend first and greatest music film was about the fictional 60s soul group, the Five Heartbeats. But I made this thread about his two films featuring real artist. Little Richard and Natlie Cole.

He did a another musical film, (2 more actually) Jackie's Back and Carmen: A Hip Hopera.

Which was a better film, Little Richard (I believe a BET movie) and Living for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (I believe a HBO film?)

Easily "Little Richard." Fabricated as fuck, but it had some classic moments in that one. "Living For Love: The Natalie Cole Story" was actually a NBC miniseries film that came out to promote Natalie Cole's 2000 autobiography and greatest hits compilation. I remember it aired a couple of weeks before the Christmas holiday. It was a big deal back then, given the different stories about Natalie's drug episodes. That one was good too, but it was way too sappy and samey. Theresa Randle did a hell of a job as her, but when Natalie portrayed herself in the second half, I was like.... .

This. The "Little Richard" (with Leon right?) was really good. I think I watched it more than once, but the Natalie Cole one just wasn't interesting to me. And it didn't help that they couldn't have had Teresa Randle play the role ALL THE WAY THROUGH....there wasn't no need in Natalie popping up to play herself.

I wasn't a fan at all of the Carmen: A Hip Hopera.

Besides, "The Five Heartbeats" trumps all of these movies. "Can't nobody sang like Eddie Kannng, Jr.!!!!!!"

Little Richard deserves a Taylor Hackford-esque treatment. He's a progenitor of

rock n roll and his six degrees of separation is really interesting.

I was disappointed with both. Little Richard's, like ducci just mentioned, should've gotten the Taylor Hackford treatment. Natalie's would've been better if Natalie didn't play herself in the second half and interrupting the story with anecdotes.

Both Little Richard's and Natalie Cole's bios were on NBC.

Timmy84 said:

I was disappointed with both. Little Richard's, like ducci just mentioned, should've gotten the Taylor Hackford treatment. Natalie's would've been better if Natalie didn't play herself in the second half and interrupting the story with anecdotes.

That annoyed the hell out of me.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

I was disappointed with both. Little Richard's, like ducci just mentioned, should've gotten the Taylor Hackford treatment. Natalie's would've been better if Natalie didn't play herself in the second half and interrupting the story with anecdotes.

That annoyed the hell out of me.

Yeah I didn't think how that was even needed.

Timmy84 said:

silverchild said:

That annoyed the hell out of me.

Yeah I didn't think how that was even needed.

Her autobiography is even more juicy. That whole situation of her performance at Buddy's in Chicago is totally fabricated in the movie. In reality, she was horrible during that performance, high on heroin.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah I didn't think how that was even needed.

Her autobiography is even more juicy. That whole situation of her performance at Buddy's in Chicago is totally fabricated in the movie. In reality, she was horrible during that performance, high on heroin.

Also ain't no way she dressed that hot in the scene shown above. That was Theresa basically putting on Natalie's wig and wardrobe from 2000 not '75. Natalie was still rocking the 'Fro when that incident occurred and probably singing another song.

Little Richard

Timmy84 said:

silverchild said:

Her autobiography is even more juicy. That whole situation of her performance at Buddy's in Chicago is totally fabricated in the movie. In reality, she was horrible during that performance, high on heroin.

Also ain't no way she dressed that hot in the scene shown above. That was Theresa basically putting on Natalie's wig and wardrobe from 2000 not '75. Natalie was still rocking the 'Fro when that incident occurred and probably singing another song.

That pissed me off. How can't you not have the 'Fro....

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Also ain't no way she dressed that hot in the scene shown above. That was Theresa basically putting on Natalie's wig and wardrobe from 2000 not '75. Natalie was still rocking the 'Fro when that incident occurred and probably singing another song.

That pissed me off. How can't you not have the 'Fro....

I agree. All throughout 1975, Natalie was seen with the 'Fro in one form or another. She changed it in '76 true but she was rockin' that 'Fro in '75.

Dang, they both were on NBC?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Dang, they both were on NBC?

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Dang, they both were on NBC?

Yep. I believe they both came out the same year.

Memorable scene in "Little Richard:"

Little Richard: Being pretty ain't never bothered me. Ain't that right, Lucille?
Lucille: 'Bout the prettiest boy I've ever seen.
Little Richard: Now, sneaking in the back doors so the white folks don't see us 'til we're on stage, eating in a parking lot of some restaurant that I wouldn't even pay to eat at the counter at, now *that* bothers me. Being called a sissy?
[pause]
Little Richard: You look-a here! Them white kids, they're dancing to *our* music! Okay, they may have Pat Boone on their record player in case their parents walk in, but they got *my* record underneath their pillow. You know which show we're playing here? You know how many colors have played here? None! You know why? 'Cause they can't! I am the first! I am the only! So if you wanna call me a sissy, go ahead! Knock yourself out boy! But you make sure you call me a rich sissy. And you do as I do, you all gonna be rich sissies, too. Now, where my eyeliner?

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Yep. I believe they both came out the same year.

Memorable scene in "Little Richard:"

Little Richard: Being pretty ain't never bothered me. Ain't that right, Lucille?
Lucille: 'Bout the prettiest boy I've ever seen.
Little Richard: Now, sneaking in the back doors so the white folks don't see us 'til we're on stage, eating in a parking lot of some restaurant that I wouldn't even pay to eat at the counter at, now *that* bothers me. Being called a sissy?
[pause]
Little Richard: You look-a here! Them white kids, they're dancing to *our* music! Okay, they may have Pat Boone on their record player in case their parents walk in, but they got *my* record underneath their pillow. You know which show we're playing here? You know how many colors have played here? None! You know why? 'Cause they can't! I am the first! I am the only! So if you wanna call me a sissy, go ahead! Knock yourself out boy! But you make sure you call me a rich sissy. And you do as I do, you all gonna be rich sissies, too. Now, where my eyeliner?

Hehehe I liked that line too. Leon played it well. I just got disengaged by the way the story was handled. Plus there was a girl in Richard's life like Lucille but her name was actually Lee Angel.