Which Way Is Up? (1977)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writers:

Lina Wertmüller (1972 screenplay Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore)
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay) ...
(more)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Richard Pryor is playing three different roles here. The first being a poor orange picker named Leroy...

Plot Keywords:

Remake Of Italian Film | Adultery | Jogging | Shower Scene | Remake

Cast

Richard Pryor	...	Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox Thomas
Lonette McKee	...	Vanetta
Margaret Avery	...	Annie Mae
Morgan Woodward	...	Mr. Mann
Marilyn Coleman	...	Sister Sarah
Bebe Drake	...	Thelma (as BeBe Drake-Hooks)
Gloria Edwards	...	Janelle
Ernesto Hernández	...	Jose Reyes (as Ernesto Hernandez)
Otis Day	...	Sugar
Morgan Roberts	...	Henry
Diane Rodriguez	...	Estrella Reyes
Dolph Sweet	...	The Boss
Tim Thomerson	...	Tour Guide (as Timothy Thomerson)
Daniel Valdez	...	Chuy Estrada (as Danny Valdez)
Luis Valdez	...	Ramon Juarez
Marc Alaimo	...	Frankie
Tony Alvarenga	...	Errand Boy
Victor Argo	...	Angel
Pat Ast	...	Hooker
Blair Burrows	...	Goon
Kathy Cronkite	...	Photographer
Ron Cummins	...	Photographer
Julie Dorman	...	Congregation Lady
Evelyn Dutton	...	Receptionist (as Evelyn J. Dutton)
Carmen Filpi	...	Wino
Darrell Giddens	...	Man at Picnic
Cheryl Harvey	...	Congregation Lady
Louise Johnson	...	Congregation Lady
Sidney Lanier	...	Rossi
Tanya Lynne Lee	...	Althea (as Tanya Lee)
Terence Locke	...	Assassin (as Terrence Locke)
Ted Markland	...	Goon
Ralph Montgomery	...	Goon
Paul Mooney	...	Inspector Caine
Shane Mooney	...	Alvin
Yvonne Mooney	...	Congregation Lady
Harry Northup	...	Chief Goon
Dennis O'Flaherty	...	Reporter
Korla Pandit	...	The Hindu
Clifford A. Pellow	...	White Boss (as Cliff Pellow)
Mark Robin	...	Reporter
Hank Robinson	...	Goon
Eddie Smith	...	Man at Picnic
Spo-De-Odee	...	Cripple
Bob Terhune	...	Goon
Carol Trost	...	Ms. Collins
Joe Turkel	...	Harry Boatwright (as Joseph Turkel)
Angela Wilson	...	Dawn Minetta
Hank Worden	...	The Flunky

Directed by
Michael Schultz

Writing credits
Lina Wertmüller		(1972 screenplay Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore) (as Lina Wertmuller)
Carl Gottlieb		(screenplay) and
Cecil Brown		(screenplay)
Sonny Gordon		uncredited

Produced by
Michael Chinich	....	associate producer
Steve Krantz	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Davis
Paul Riser

Cinematography by
John A. Alonzo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Danford B. Greene

Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Makeup Department
Mark Reedall	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist (as Robert Stevenson)

Production Management
Michael S. Glick	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director
Don Zepfel	....	second assistant director (as Donald Zepfel)

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator

Stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator

Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor (as John Caper)

Other crew
Mabel Collins	....	production associate
H. Bud Otto	....	script supervisor (as Bud Otto)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fabulous Films (2008) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• El Teatro Campesino  acknowledgement: participation

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Echo Park Lake, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The character "Reverend Lennox Thomas" is named after Richard Pryor, using two of his middle names.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Which Way Is Up?

Got to love the Richard

In my generation of comics there's Chris Rock and Martin Lawarence. When I was a 5 I was exposed to Eddie Murphy's Delirious, for my mother's generation, is where these three comics got there inspiration from along with Dave Chappelle, Who Richard has told Dave "the torch has been passed". Richard Pryor is the man and always will be in this movie and he has proved it. Playing three roles and everyone of the characters is funny to a T. This is where Eddie,Chris, Martin, and now Dave have their inspirations from; God bless Rich who has made me laugh through this movie and his stand-ups. One of my favorites characters he does on this movie is his "father".