Hollywood Shuffle
Encyclopedia
Hollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes the racial stereotypes of African Americans in film and television. The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed vignettes and fantasies. Produced, directed, and co-written by Robert Townsend, the film is semi-autobiographical, reflecting Townsend's experiences as a black actor when he was told he was not “black enough” for certain roles.
) is a middle class black male aspiring to become an actor. He practices his lines in the bathroom, with his younger brother (Craigus R. Johnson) watching as he plays a stereotypical “jive” character for an audition. Bobby's grandmother (Helen Martin
) overhears the “jive talk” and shows her disapproval. His mother (Starletta DuPois), is more supportive, telling Bobby that he is going to be late for the audition. Bobby assures his mother that if he lands the part, everything will change. As Bobby is about to leave the house, he finds his grandmother on the couch. Playing on television is a commercial for “There's a Bat in my House” which poses the question “Can a black bat from Detroit find happiness with a white suburban family?” His grandmother wishes him luck, but still shows visible concern for the nature of the role.
On his way to the audition, he stops by his Uncle Ray's (David McKnight) barbershop where Uncle Ray shows him support by telling him to “do it.” He then stops by his workplace at the Winky Dinky Dog hot dog stand where he finds his co-workers Tiny (Lou B. Washington) and Donald (Keenen Ivory Wayans
). He asks to see his boss, Mr. Jones (John Witherspoon
), and lies about a toothache to go to the audition. On his last stop before his audition, he goes to his girlfriend's (Anne-Marie Johnson
) workplace at a salon where she gives him a scarf for good luck. Finally, he arrives at TinselTown Studios where he finds other aspiring black actors trying out for various roles in the film. There he meets another actor that comments on the degrading nature of roles offered to African Americans who only get to play slaves, butlers, or street hoods. He tells Bobby that only an "Uncle Tom
" would take this role.
This prompts one of Bobby's first fantasies. This fantasy involves an escape of black slaves. A butler, played by Robert Townsend, also makes an appearance and questions why the slaves are leaving when they are being treated well by their master. This segment is later revealed to be a promotion for “Black Acting School”, a school in which aspiring black actors can learn “jive” and how to “walk black” so that they can get roles such as pimps, muggers, and street punks.
After the audition, Bobby is talking to Mr. Jones, who is questioning Bobby's dedication to Winky Dinky Dog. A limo then pulls up and the man inside is revealed to be B.B. Sanders (Brad Sanders), who plays Batty Boy in “There's a Bat in my House.” Ecstatic, Bobby asks Sanders how to tell a good script. Sanders tells him that if his character does not die in the script, then it is good script. Sanders also says that it is not about art, it is about the sequel.
On the basketball court, Bobby is talking to his friends about acting and Bobby expresses his concern about critical reception. One of his friends states that critics do not know anything and that there should be “real brothers” critiquing movies. The leads in to another one of Bobby's fantasies, this one revolving around a film review television show called “Sneakin' in the Movies.” They review four movies: Amadeus meets Salieri, Chicago Jones and the Temple of Doom, Dirty Larry, and Attack of the Street Pimps.
After this vignette, Bobby is at home when he gets a call from his agent and learns that his audition went well, but they wanted an “Eddie Murphy
” type. Regardless, Bobby gets a callback. That night, he has a nightmare in which the director (Eugene Robert Glazer
), writer (Dom Irrera
), and casting director (Lisa Mende) hound him to be Eddie Murphy. Bobby wakes up in shock.
The next day, Bobby's co-workers, Donald and Tiny, belittle Bobby's career as an actor and his constant excuses for missing work. They tell Bobby that he will never make it as an actor. Frustrated, Bobby decides to quit his job at Winky Dinky Dog.
Later that night, Bobby visits Uncle Ray at the barbershop and expresses his doubts in pursuing his acting career. Uncle Ray encourages Bobby to try to follow his dreams. During his callback, the director, writer, and casting director are thrilled at Bobby's performance with the casting director calling it “very black.” At home, Bobby celebrates getting the part with his girlfriend Lydia, when his grandmother comes home early and the three watch a film noir
. Bobby has another fantasy of him playing the lead in his own film noir, called Death of a Breakdancer.
During his morning routine before his first day on the set of Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge, he finds his little brother's homework assignment expressing his admiration of Bobby and his job as an actor. Bobby's mother and grandmother talk about Bobby's acting gig, with his grandmother disapproving of his career and stressing that he should get his life together and get a job at the post office. She does not like the fact that he is portraying a street hustler and putting out a negative image of African Americans. Bobby then has a vision of his little brother dressed in a pimp outfit.
On the set, Bobby runs into his rival at the audition who congratulates Bobby for getting the part of Jimmy. The rival tells Bobby that the movie is going to be picketed by the NAACP causing Bobby to have a vision of picketers calling Bobby an “Uncle Tom
” and a “coon
.” His little brother and his grandmother disown him. The vision ends when Lydia, the picketers, and news reporters take out guns and chant “Kill him!”
He begins shooting the film and Lydia, his brother, and his grandmother arrive to watch. As he plays his “jive” character, he looks over at his brother and is unable to finish the scene. The director encourages Bobby to “be more black.” Bobby tries again, but is still unable to complete the scene when he looks over at his brother. Unable to continue playing this degrading part, Bobby decides to quit. That night, Bobby dreams of the roles that he wants to play, from a Shakespearean king, to a black superhero, to Rambro. His final dream is that of him winning his fifth Oscar. In the final moments of the film, Bobby is shown acting as a spokesperson for the post office.
The script also levels some criticism towards black actors who are willing to take demeaning roles. This is highlighted in the protest skit, when an NAACP spokesman (played by Paul Mooney) states at a press conference, "they'll never play the Rambos
until they stop playing the Sambos." The film also offers an authentic glimpse into real middle-class African Americans in stark contrast to the roles they are offered in the film industry, and Bobby Taylor's final words in the movie's final scene can be seen as encouraging pride and respect in the community. With a budget of $
100,000, of which $60,000 was funded from Robert Townsend's own credit cards, and grossing over $5 million over the first ten months of release, the film was a resounding independent success, propelling Townsend into stardom.
reporting that 87% of 23 professional critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.5 out of 10. Roger Ebert
of the Chicago Sun-Times
called the film “an artistic compromise but a logistical triumph, announcing the arrival of a new talent whose next movie should really be something.” Richard Harrington of the Washington Post calls the film “a funny, poignant and technically proficient film.”
Some critics addressed Townsend's use of stereotypes as problematic in his depiction of women and homosexuality. Jami Bernard
of the New York Post
claims that Townsend is “passing the buck,”
addressing the misrepresentation of African Americans, but maintaining stereotypes of other groups of people, such as the image of the stereotypical homosexual hairdresser. Harriet Margolis claims that “Townsend ignores gender issues, thereby weakening certain aspects of his own attack on Hollywood's misuse of stereotypes.”
1988 Independent Spirit Awards
Plot
Bobby Taylor (Robert TownsendRobert Townsend
Robert Townsend is an American actor, comedian, film director, and writer.-Biography:Townsend was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Shirley and Robert Townsend. Raised by a single mom of four children on welfare, Townsend overcame his adversities to be at the top of the entertainment business...
) is a middle class black male aspiring to become an actor. He practices his lines in the bathroom, with his younger brother (Craigus R. Johnson) watching as he plays a stereotypical “jive” character for an audition. Bobby's grandmother (Helen Martin
Helen Martin
Helen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:...
) overhears the “jive talk” and shows her disapproval. His mother (Starletta DuPois), is more supportive, telling Bobby that he is going to be late for the audition. Bobby assures his mother that if he lands the part, everything will change. As Bobby is about to leave the house, he finds his grandmother on the couch. Playing on television is a commercial for “There's a Bat in my House” which poses the question “Can a black bat from Detroit find happiness with a white suburban family?” His grandmother wishes him luck, but still shows visible concern for the nature of the role.
On his way to the audition, he stops by his Uncle Ray's (David McKnight) barbershop where Uncle Ray shows him support by telling him to “do it.” He then stops by his workplace at the Winky Dinky Dog hot dog stand where he finds his co-workers Tiny (Lou B. Washington) and Donald (Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans is an American actor, comedian, director and writer known as the host and creator of the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color, which also starred Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, brothers Damon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, sister Kim Wayans, David Alan Grier, Tommy...
). He asks to see his boss, Mr. Jones (John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. As president of the College of New Jersey , he trained many leaders of the early nation and was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration...
), and lies about a toothache to go to the audition. On his last stop before his audition, he goes to his girlfriend's (Anne-Marie Johnson
Anne-Marie Johnson
Anne-Marie Johnson is an American actress and impressionist who has starred in film and on television. She is perhaps best known for her role as high school educator Althea Tibbs on the NBC/CBS television drama In the Heat of the Night. She is also known for her role as Nadine Hudson Thomas on...
) workplace at a salon where she gives him a scarf for good luck. Finally, he arrives at TinselTown Studios where he finds other aspiring black actors trying out for various roles in the film. There he meets another actor that comments on the degrading nature of roles offered to African Americans who only get to play slaves, butlers, or street hoods. He tells Bobby that only an "Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
" would take this role.
This prompts one of Bobby's first fantasies. This fantasy involves an escape of black slaves. A butler, played by Robert Townsend, also makes an appearance and questions why the slaves are leaving when they are being treated well by their master. This segment is later revealed to be a promotion for “Black Acting School”, a school in which aspiring black actors can learn “jive” and how to “walk black” so that they can get roles such as pimps, muggers, and street punks.
After the audition, Bobby is talking to Mr. Jones, who is questioning Bobby's dedication to Winky Dinky Dog. A limo then pulls up and the man inside is revealed to be B.B. Sanders (Brad Sanders), who plays Batty Boy in “There's a Bat in my House.” Ecstatic, Bobby asks Sanders how to tell a good script. Sanders tells him that if his character does not die in the script, then it is good script. Sanders also says that it is not about art, it is about the sequel.
On the basketball court, Bobby is talking to his friends about acting and Bobby expresses his concern about critical reception. One of his friends states that critics do not know anything and that there should be “real brothers” critiquing movies. The leads in to another one of Bobby's fantasies, this one revolving around a film review television show called “Sneakin' in the Movies.” They review four movies: Amadeus meets Salieri, Chicago Jones and the Temple of Doom, Dirty Larry, and Attack of the Street Pimps.
After this vignette, Bobby is at home when he gets a call from his agent and learns that his audition went well, but they wanted an “Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
” type. Regardless, Bobby gets a callback. That night, he has a nightmare in which the director (Eugene Robert Glazer
Eugene Robert Glazer
Eugene Robert Glazer is an American actor best known for his portrayal of "Operations" on the TV show La Femme Nikita. Glazer was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and worked at a variety of jobs before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue his acting career...
), writer (Dom Irrera
Dom Irrera
Domenick Jack Irrera , originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a stand-up comedian. Much of his material is in the form of stories about his life, especially his childhood years and growing up in an Italian-American family, which contributes to the "natural" feel of his...
), and casting director (Lisa Mende) hound him to be Eddie Murphy. Bobby wakes up in shock.
The next day, Bobby's co-workers, Donald and Tiny, belittle Bobby's career as an actor and his constant excuses for missing work. They tell Bobby that he will never make it as an actor. Frustrated, Bobby decides to quit his job at Winky Dinky Dog.
Later that night, Bobby visits Uncle Ray at the barbershop and expresses his doubts in pursuing his acting career. Uncle Ray encourages Bobby to try to follow his dreams. During his callback, the director, writer, and casting director are thrilled at Bobby's performance with the casting director calling it “very black.” At home, Bobby celebrates getting the part with his girlfriend Lydia, when his grandmother comes home early and the three watch a film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
. Bobby has another fantasy of him playing the lead in his own film noir, called Death of a Breakdancer.
During his morning routine before his first day on the set of Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge, he finds his little brother's homework assignment expressing his admiration of Bobby and his job as an actor. Bobby's mother and grandmother talk about Bobby's acting gig, with his grandmother disapproving of his career and stressing that he should get his life together and get a job at the post office. She does not like the fact that he is portraying a street hustler and putting out a negative image of African Americans. Bobby then has a vision of his little brother dressed in a pimp outfit.
On the set, Bobby runs into his rival at the audition who congratulates Bobby for getting the part of Jimmy. The rival tells Bobby that the movie is going to be picketed by the NAACP causing Bobby to have a vision of picketers calling Bobby an “Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
” and a “coon
Coon
Coon may refer to:* Coon, a racial slur used in the United States to refer to black people* Coon, an abbreviation for fur from raccoons and racoon dogs* Coön , a Trojan warrior who fought in the Trojan War...
.” His little brother and his grandmother disown him. The vision ends when Lydia, the picketers, and news reporters take out guns and chant “Kill him!”
He begins shooting the film and Lydia, his brother, and his grandmother arrive to watch. As he plays his “jive” character, he looks over at his brother and is unable to finish the scene. The director encourages Bobby to “be more black.” Bobby tries again, but is still unable to complete the scene when he looks over at his brother. Unable to continue playing this degrading part, Bobby decides to quit. That night, Bobby dreams of the roles that he wants to play, from a Shakespearean king, to a black superhero, to Rambro. His final dream is that of him winning his fifth Oscar. In the final moments of the film, Bobby is shown acting as a spokesperson for the post office.
Cast
- Robert TownsendRobert TownsendRobert Townsend is an American actor, comedian, film director, and writer.-Biography:Townsend was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Shirley and Robert Townsend. Raised by a single mom of four children on welfare, Townsend overcame his adversities to be at the top of the entertainment business...
as Bobby Taylor, an aspiring young black actor who dreams of making it big in Hollywood. Townsend was also the producer, director, and co-writer of the film. Townsend appears in his daydreaming vignettes as Jasper, the butler; Speed, the film critic; Sam Ace, private investigator; Rambro, war hero. - Anne-Marie JohnsonAnne-Marie JohnsonAnne-Marie Johnson is an American actress and impressionist who has starred in film and on television. She is perhaps best known for her role as high school educator Althea Tibbs on the NBC/CBS television drama In the Heat of the Night. She is also known for her role as Nadine Hudson Thomas on...
as Lydia, Bobby's girlfriend who supports him and gives him a scarf for good luck. She also appears in the runaway slave segment of the film as Willie Mae and in Attack of the Street Pimps as a hooker. - Craigus R. Johnson as Stevie Taylor, Bobby Taylor's younger brother who admires Bobby and his career as an actor.
- Helen MartinHelen MartinHelen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:...
as Bobby's Grandmother. She disapproves with Bobby's willingness to depict degrading black stereotypes and would much rather him pursue a job at the post office. - Starletta DuPois as Bobby's Mother. She is supportive of Bobby even though she agrees with Bobby's Grandmother that degrading roles serve as poor examples for black youth.
- David McKnight as Uncle Ray. A former singer, Uncle Ray now works at a barbershop. Bobby comes to Uncle Ray with his doubts about his acting career. Uncle Ray serves as a guiding light, telling Bobby to follow his dreams.
- Keenen Ivory WayansKeenen Ivory WayansKeenen Ivory Wayans is an American actor, comedian, director and writer known as the host and creator of the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color, which also starred Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, brothers Damon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, sister Kim Wayans, David Alan Grier, Tommy...
as Donald, Bobby's co-worker at Winky Dinky Dog. He discourages Bobby from acting and thinks that Bobby will not make it in Hollywood. Wayans also plays Jheri Curl in the film noir segment of the film. - Lou B. Washington as Tiny, another one of Bobby's co-workers who discourages him from acting.
- Brad Sanders as Batty Boy, the wealthy star of the television sitcom, “There's a Bat in my House.”
- John WitherspoonJohn WitherspoonJohn Witherspoon was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. As president of the College of New Jersey , he trained many leaders of the early nation and was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration...
as Mr. Jones, Bobby's boss at Winky Dinky Dog. Tries his best to keep Bobby a steady employee but becomes exasperated by Bobby's constant need to attend auditions. - Eugene Robert GlazerEugene Robert GlazerEugene Robert Glazer is an American actor best known for his portrayal of "Operations" on the TV show La Femme Nikita. Glazer was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and worked at a variety of jobs before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue his acting career...
as Director of Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge. He also appears in the “Black Acting School” segment as an instructor, as Amadeus in Amadeus Meets Salieri, as Chicago Jones in Chicago Jones and the Temple of Doom, and as Dirty Larry in Dirty Larry. - Lisa Mende as the Casting Director who constantly demands “more black” from the actors.
- Dom IrreraDom IrreraDomenick Jack Irrera , originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a stand-up comedian. Much of his material is in the form of stories about his life, especially his childhood years and growing up in an Italian-American family, which contributes to the "natural" feel of his...
as Mandrill Man Vacuum, the writer of Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge and who claims to have learned about African Americans only through film and television.
Significance
Hollywood Shuffle brings into light the lack of substantial roles for black actors and the misrepresentation of people of color in film and television. Through satire, the film is able to use negative stereotypes put out by mass media and turn them against Hollywood. The film's plot reveals the perceived racism behind the camera that has relegated black actors to take demeaning roles for money and a chance at stardom. This point is personified in the casting director's constant demand for actors to “be more black.”The script also levels some criticism towards black actors who are willing to take demeaning roles. This is highlighted in the protest skit, when an NAACP spokesman (played by Paul Mooney) states at a press conference, "they'll never play the Rambos
John Rambo
John Rambo is an iconic fictional character and the basis of the Rambo saga. He first appeared in the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell, but later became more famous in the film series, played by Sylvester Stallone...
until they stop playing the Sambos." The film also offers an authentic glimpse into real middle-class African Americans in stark contrast to the roles they are offered in the film industry, and Bobby Taylor's final words in the movie's final scene can be seen as encouraging pride and respect in the community. With a budget of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000, of which $60,000 was funded from Robert Townsend's own credit cards, and grossing over $5 million over the first ten months of release, the film was a resounding independent success, propelling Townsend into stardom.
Reception
The film was generally well-received, with review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reporting that 87% of 23 professional critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.5 out of 10. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
called the film “an artistic compromise but a logistical triumph, announcing the arrival of a new talent whose next movie should really be something.” Richard Harrington of the Washington Post calls the film “a funny, poignant and technically proficient film.”
Some critics addressed Townsend's use of stereotypes as problematic in his depiction of women and homosexuality. Jami Bernard
Jami Bernard
Jami Bernard is an author and media consultant, an award-winning film critic for The New York Post and The New York Daily News, and the founder of Barncat Publishing . She has appeared in documentaries as herself, including the Independent Film Channel's Indie Sex series , on which she was a...
of the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
claims that Townsend is “passing the buck,”
addressing the misrepresentation of African Americans, but maintaining stereotypes of other groups of people, such as the image of the stereotypical homosexual hairdresser. Harriet Margolis claims that “Townsend ignores gender issues, thereby weakening certain aspects of his own attack on Hollywood's misuse of stereotypes.”
Awards and nominations
1987 Deauville Film FestivalDeauville American Film Festival
The Deauville American Film Festival is a yearly film festival devoted to American cinema, taking place since 1975 in Deauville, France. It was established by Lionel Chouchan and André Halimi....
- Grand Special Prize (Critics Award) — Robert Townsend (winner)
1988 Independent Spirit Awards
- Best First Feature — Carl Craig, Robert Townsend (Nominated)