Little Richard (2000) (TV)

Director:

Robert Townsend

Writers (WGA):

Bill Kerby (written by) and
Daniel Taplitz (written by)

Release Date:

20 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

The story of Little Richard, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a black singer in the 50's, to his born-again phase & brief "retirement" from rock and roll. |

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Boxing | Elvis Presley | Kitchen | Church

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Leon	...	Little Richard
Jenifer Lewis	...	Muh Penniman
Carl Lumbly	...	Bud Penniman
Tamala Jones	...	Lucille
Mel Jackson	...	Bump Blackwell
Garrett Morris	...	Carl Rainey
Anthony Lee
Lahmard J. Tate		(as Lahmard Tate)
Alimi Ballard
Anthony Griffith
JoNell Kennedy		(as Jonell Kennedy)
Michael Mantell	...	Art Rupe
Reynaldo Rey
William James Jones	...	Billy Wright
Warren G.	...	Studio Musician

Also Known As:

The Little Richard Story (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min | Germany:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Davis Entertainment

Quotes:

Little Richard: [after a band mate complains of wearing sissy make-up] 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...

Leon terribly miscast as LR; film misfires entirely

I've seen enough of both Little Richard in interviews and in performances and enough of poor Leon pigeonholed into these 50s/60s musical bio pics to know that Leon was not the right actor for this role. Leon was so right as David Ruffin in The Temptations, but fails utterly to capture the essence of Little Richard in this film.

Actor Miguel Núñez who played Little Richard in "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" was a much more suitable choice, having pulled off the musician's powerful but effeminate persona.

If the performances are unconvincing then the film will be as well. And this is what has happened here. Glossed over or missed entirely are LR's forays into homosexuality and voyeurism. What "The Temptations" did so well in capturing the rise of the group, warts and all, this film misses by a wide mark.

What is going on with director Robert Townsend who started off so well with "The Hollywood Shuffle"? He's a talented, funny guy but hasn't delivered anything near that first effort.