popcorninhell Harlem Nights is an ostentatious late-eighties crime comedy written and directed by the affable Eddie Murphy during the apex of his career. The film details the rags-to-riches rise of a crime boss named Sugar Ray (Pryor) and his high swinging Harlem jazz club during the 1920's and 30's. Branding himself as a bit of a bon vivant, Ray willingly embraces illegal hooch, prostitution and gambling. To help him, he takes the young Quick (Murphy), a street tough-turned second-in-command, under his wing. Unfortunately years of easy success brings un-welcomed competition from New York mafia head Bugsy Calhoune (Lerner) and envious scorn from corrupt cops and the white establishment at- large.The plot then hinges on what the denizens of Harlem's bootlegger class will ultimately do to save face. Ray, a fair-minded and uncommonly cautious miscreant wants to gather his chips and skip town while Quick is itching for a fight. Much of the film's moral messaging is dropped in the fast-paced conversations between Ray and Quick - Ray of course being the voice of reason. "What are they gonna put on your tombstone? 'Here lies a man, 27 years old. He died, but he ain't no punk.' Hey man, that's bulls**t." Ray's words tower over the movie like a totem.The mood of Harlem Nights veers wildly from low-brow comedy to a fiery mobster film, even within the same scene. All the while, Eddie Murphy's motor-mouth delivery, Richard Pryor's innocuous bumbling and the gruff inclusion of Red Foxx, keeps the seams of this film from popping open with reckless abandon. It's an uneasy mix. One which nearly breaks its ability to transport in tone-deaf scenes that include Arsenio Hall as a bereaved hood and Della Reese as Sugar Ray's resident madam. It's easy to see why Harlem Nights was initially panned given three generations of comedic giants are on screen yet none go for the big titters.Yet what Harlem Nights accomplishes goes beyond a cursory look at the film's rocky production history (rumor is Pryor and Murphy did not get along). With this film comes a time capsule - a lovingly developed recreation of the Harlem Renaissance as told by those who have a stake in seeing that period on the big screen. Being enveloped by Harlem Nights means visiting the busy epicenter of a foreign country that no longer exists. It's overwhelming, jarring and even a little scary but you can't deny its vibrancy.Thus the language may be a little blue, but it does come with unfettered urgency. The humor may be too broad and mean but it dozily leans on some incredibly lush world-building. There are no big comedic payoffs in the traditional sense, but there is a heart to this picture that channels the oral-history, stubborn divergence and tumult of the Harlem Renaissance. Surely we can give a film a second chance based on that alone, cant we?

jcbutthead86 Harlem Nights is an excellent,hilarious and underrated Comedy/Crime Drama that combines great direction,a terrific cast,wonderful laughs and a fantastic score and soundtrack. All of those elements make Harlem Nights a memorable film that is Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor at their best.Set in Harlem,New York during the late 1930s,Harlem Nights tells the story of Quick(Eddie Murphy)and Sugar Ray(Richard Pryor)who both run the nightclub Club Sugar Ray and the club is doing well until Gangster Bugsy Calhoune(Michael Lerner)and corrupt cop Phil Cantone(Danny Aiello)want to embezzle money from the club. With their backs against the wall Quick and Sugar Ray come up with a plan to rob Bugsy Calhoune of his money and try to survive on the streets of Harlem.During the period between Coming To America in 1988 and The Nutty Professor in 1996 Eddie Murphy's career was at a crossroads with two categories of movies that were not critical successes but Box office hits(Boomerang,Another 48 Hrs,The Distinguished Gentleman)and movies that were critical and Box Office failures(Beverly Hills Cop III and Vampire In Brooklyn). A film that falls into the former category is Harlem Nights in 1989,a terrific and memorable Comedy/Crime Drama that was the directorial debut of Eddie Murphy that was a passion project for Murphy and was the first and only film with his idol Comedian Richard Pryor. While Harlem Nights was a Box Office success it was panned by critics which is a shame because Harlem Nights is one of Murphy's best and most underrated movies and is a movie that Eddie should be proud of. Harlem Nights is an hilarious movie and one of the funniest films I have ever seen that is entertaining from start to finish a movie that combines laughs,period piece and a Crime genre all in one film a movie that mixes jokes and laughs with violence and intrigue. The Comedy and laughs in Harlem Nights are funny and amazing mixing silliness and black humor with some scenes and dialog that are over the top that is done like a Coen Btothers film or A Rage In Harlem. But while the Harlem Nights has a lot of funny and over the top moments there is also a lot of serious and dramatic moments to the movie thanks to the atmosphere and Crime Drama/Gangster elements that make the movie work. Murphy gives Harlem Nights the right tone and feel for the film with a great balance without making the movie feel uneven. What I also enjoyed about Harlem Nights is the photography(Woody Omens),production design(Laurence G. Paul),Costume Design(Joe I. Tompkins,who received on an Academy Award nomination for his work on the film). All of those elements make Harlem Nights feel authentic and accurate making viewers feel like they are in Harlem during that time in the 1930s and giving the movie a beautiful and glossy look. As stylish as Harlem Nights looks there is plenty of substance especially with the two main characters Quick and Sugar Ray who are great characters while they are both business partners they are very much like Father and son. While there is differences between the two(Quick is young and ambitious,Sugar Ray is older and more patient)Quick and Sugar Ray find common ground when the Mob decides to come after them the to come together against all odds and defeat their enemies. The relationship between Quick and Sugar Ray is fascinating and is one of the many things that drives the film. The ending of Harlem Nights is wonderful and is filled with laughs and surprises that will greatly satisfy viewers. A terrific conclusion.The cast is amazing. Eddie Murphy is is excellent,hilarious and at his best as Quick,with Murphy bringing laughs and playing it straight. Richard Pryor is outstanding and at his best as Sugar Ray,Quick's Father figure and has great scenes with Murphy. Redd Foxx(in his last movie role)is terrific and funny as Bennie,a man in charge of Dice games. Danny Aiello is amazing as Phil Cantone,a corrupt cop. Michael Lerner is fantastic as Bugsy Calhoun,a vicious Gangster. Della Reese is delightful as Vera,a madam who works at Club Sugar Ray's. Jasmine Guy is terrific and beautiful as Dominique La Rue,Calhoun's mistress. Arsenio Hall is very funny in his small role as Crying Man. Vic Polizos(Richie),Lela Richon(Sunshine),Stan Shaw(Jack Jenkins),Berlina Tolbert(Annie),David Marciano(Tony),Thomas Mikal Ford(Tommy Smalls),Miguel A. Nunez Jr.(Man With Broken Nose) and Desi Arnez Hines II(Young Quick)give good performances as well. Also,Lookout for cameos by Robin Harris(Jerome)and Charlie Murphy(Jimmy)The direction by Eddie Murphy is fantastic and stylish,with Murphy moving the camera and giving the movie a visual stunning look and pace. Great direction,Murphy.The score by Herbie Hancock is outstanding,intense and beautiful and truly adds to the film. Wonderful score,Hancock. There is also plenty of great Jazz songs on the soundtrack including Drop Me Off In Harlem by Louis Armstrong and Dike Ellington.In final word,if you love Comedies,Crime Dramas,Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor,I highly suggest you see Harlem Nights,an excellent,hilarious and underrated Comedy/Crime Drama that is Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor at their best. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

Harriet Deltubbo The setup: "Sugar" Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and corrupt policemen who want to see him go out of business. In the world of organized crime and police corruption in the 1920s, any dastardly trick is fair.The verdict: HARLEM NIGHTS is plagued by plot holes and inane dialog. Many scenes do not feel believable, but great performances help to enhance this amazing story. All the characters struggle against a system that has perpetuated falsehoods, and there are verbal fisticuffs back and forth. I think it is still a reasonable film. This film is not as bad as they say.

wadelove4 There has never been a film have so many African American classic comedians, actors and celebrities in one film. I really respect and appreciate Eddie Murphy doing this film. It is really good to see so many of these actors looking so good (Robin Harris, Richard Pryor, Redd Fox, etc.). A lot of them or no longer with us. I loved the fact that he put Roberto Duran in for a brief cameo. I loved what Arsenio Hall did as well. It was good to see blacks in a film figuring out how to get their piece of the pie in an already corrupt environment. It was double bad for blacks in that time period. Nice to see that their was a group like this that managed to live well and do their own thing. I hadn't seen anything like it until I saw this film. I feel like there were definitely stories coming out of Hollywood that avoided these kinds of topics.