Soul Man (1986)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Steve Miner

Writer:

Carol Black (written by)

Release Date:

24 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy with heart and soul.

Plot:

To achieve his dream of attending Harvard, a pampered teen poses as a young black man to receive a full scholarship.

Plot Keywords:

Role Reversal | White Male Pretending To Be Black | Racial | White Pretending To Be Black | Interracial

Cast

C. Thomas Howell	...	Mark Watson
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Sarah Walker
Arye Gross	...	Gordon Bloomfeld
James Earl Jones	...	Professor Banks
Melora Hardin	...	Whitney Dunbar
Leslie Nielsen	...	Mr. Dunbar
Ann Walker	...	Mrs. Dunbar
James Sikking	...	Bill Watson (as James B. Sikking)
Max Wright	...	Dr. Aronson
Jeff Altman	...	Ray McGrady
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Lisa Stimson
Maree Cheatham	...	Mrs. Dorothy Watson (as Marie Cheatham)
Wallace Langham	...	Barky Brewer (as Wally Ward)
Eric Schiff	...	Booey Fraser
Ron Reagan	...	Frank
Mark Neely	...	Brad Small
David Reynolds	...	Ernie (as Dave Reynolds)
Wolfe Perry	...	Leon
Jerry Pavlon	...	Bruce Wizansky
Laurel Green	...	Zendel
John David Bland	...	Seth
Jonathan 'Fudge' Leonard	...	George Walker
Felix Nelson	...	Mr. Walker
Betty Cole	...	Mrs. Walker
Bo Mancuso	...	Bundy Dunbar
Donald Hotton	...	Mr. Wicher
Linda Hoy	...	Mrs. Sherwood
Robert Burleigh	...	Bouchard Man
Jonathan Wise	...	Andrew
Amy Stock-Poynton	...	Girl in Bed (as Amy Stock)
Paul O'Brien	...	Officer Schkolnick
M.C. Gainey	...	Man in Cell
Freddie Dawson	...	D.J.
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott L. Treger	...	Harvard Basketball Player (uncredited)
John William Young	...	Banker (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Miner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Carol Black		written by

Produced by
Carol Black	....	co-producer
Bernie Goldmann	....	associate producer (as Bernhard Goldmann)
Neal Marlens	....	co-producer
Donna Smith	....	line producer
Steve Tisch	....	producer
Stephen Vaughan	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Tom Scott

Cinematography by
Jeff Jur		(as Jeffrey Jur)

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Production Design by
Gregg Fonseca

Art Direction by
Don Diers
John Krenz Reinhart Jr.		(as John Reinhart)

Set Decoration by
Dorree Cooper

Costume Design by
Sharon Simonaire

Makeup Department
Enid Arias	....	hair department head
Devora Fischa	....	makeup artist (as Devorah Fischa)
Melissa Tucker	....	makeup artist: Rae Dawn Chong

Production Management
Donna Smith	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stuart B. Hagen	....	second second assistant director (as Stuart Hagen)
Josh King	....	second assistant director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kirk Corwin	....	property master
Carol Lee Davis	....	scenic artist (as Carole Davis)
Lisa Dean	....	set dresser
Elizabeth Flaherty	....	art department coordinator
Larry Fulton	....	set designer
John Krenz Reinhart Jr.	....	construction coordinator (as John Reinhart)
Michael Reinhart	....	construction foreman
Gene Serdena	....	set dresser
Jonathan Smart	....	art patrol
Anne Tamrazi	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Gary Blufer	....	sound effects recordist
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gordon Ecker	....	supervising sound editor
John Leveque	....	sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gregg C. Rudloff)
Steve Sollars	....	boom operator
Becky Sullivan	....	adr editor
Don Summer	....	sound mixer (as Donald Summer)
Shawn Sykora	....	assistant sound editor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Sherman Waze	....	sound editor
Claus Wedemann	....	consultant: Dolby (as Claus Wiedemann)
Claus Wedemann	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Claus Wiedemann)
David A. Whittaker	....	sound editor (as David Whittaker)
Karen G. Wilson	....	sound editor (as Karen Wilson)
Richard E. Yawn	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects

Stunts
David Burton	....	stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davison)
Kimberly Epper	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunt coordinator
Pat Romano	....	stunts (as Patrick Romano)

Camera and Electrical Department
Karen Bean	....	gaffer
Michael Becker	....	still photographer
Robert L. Blatman	....	first assistant camera (as Rob Blatman)
Clarence Brown	....	grip
Donne Daniels	....	key grip
Scott Davis	....	best boy grip: Boston
Barbara Delpuech	....	electrician (as Barbara Way)
Nick Gioiosa	....	general operator: Boston
Stephen Girouard	....	grip: Boston unit
Khan Griffith	....	dolly grip
Gregory K. Hoffman	....	best boy grip (as Gregory Hoffman)
Kelly Elder McGowen	....	second assistant camera (as Kelly McGowen)
Paul McIlvaine	....	best boy electric
Rick Perez	....	electrician (as Richard Perez)
Brian A. Pitts	....	electrician: Boston (as Brian Pitts)
John Rappaport	....	grip
Maureen A. Ryan	....	grip: Boston (as Maureen Ryan)
Michael Winik	....	second camera assistant: Boston unit
William M. Weberg	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jill Alman	....	extra casting: Boston unit
Edie Cornell	....	casting assistant
Reatha Grey	....	extras casting
Melissa Skoff	....	casting
Glenn White	....	extra casting: Boston unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lesley B. Fenton	....	wardrobe assistant: Boston unit
Cecil Kramer	....	wardrobe assistant
Sara Markowitz	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Jack Garsha	....	color consultant (as Jack Garshia)
Spencer Gross	....	assistant film editor
Neil Silver	....	apprentice film editor
Lois Trent-Bring	....	negative cutter

Music Department
David Anderle	....	music supervisor
Christopher Brooks	....	supervising music editor
Gary Lubow	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Ronnie Baker	....	driver
William C. Bratton	....	driver: Boston unit (as William Bratton)
Jackie Crane	....	driver: Boston unit
Joseph Cuggino	....	driver: Boston unit
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	driver (as Jeffrey Dashnaw)
Chester Ferreria	....	driver: Boston unit
Patrick Gordon	....	driver
Gregory Landis	....	driver
Hal Lary	....	transportation captain
John McBride	....	driver: Boston unit
Richard Murry	....	driver: Boston unit
Mike Padovich	....	transportation coordinator
Richard Robinson	....	driver: Boston unit
Martin Rossendahl	....	driver
James Russell	....	driver
Anthony Smith	....	driver
Michael Winn	....	driver: Boston unit
Timothy Winn	....	driver: Boston unit
William Winn	....	transportation captain: Boston unit (as Billy Winn)

Other crew
Rocky Alan	....	production assistant
Lori A. Balton	....	craft service: Boston unit (as Lori Balton)
Stan Cohen	....	caterer
Joseph Foley	....	location manager: Boston unit
Phyllis Gardner	....	publicity coordinator (as Phyllis Gardner-Hirsen)
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Charles Harrington	....	production assistant: Boston unit (as Charlie Harrington)
Debbie Hayn-Cass	....	assistant: Steve Miner (as Deborah Hayn)
Jim Kent	....	production assistant: Boston unit
Karen Anne Kershaw	....	production coordinator: Boston
Joseph A. Liuzzi	....	location manager (as Joe Liuzzi)
Kool Lusby	....	production coordinator
Dianne Mapp-Cheek	....	production accountant (as Dianne L. Cheek)
Michael McGinn	....	production assistant
Leo Murphy	....	production assistant: Boston unit
Lisa Niedenthal	....	production secretary: Boston
Vanessa Norris	....	assistant: Steve Tisch
Timothy O'Connor	....	production assistant: Boston unit
Warren Oliver	....	craft service
Regi Plummer	....	extras coordinator
Deborah Ross	....	main title sequence designer
Nina Saxon	....	main title sequence designer
Michelle Solotar	....	production coordinator
Brian Spire	....	production assistant
Philip E. Thomas	....	production secretary
David Urik	....	catering: Boston unit
Chino 'Fats' Williams	....	set security

Production Companies

• Balcor Film Investors
• Steve Tisch Company, The

Distributors

• Succéfilm AB (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Aquarius TV (1993) (Greece) (TV)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Look Filmes (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• New World Pictures
• Roadshow Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Transvídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance provided by (as Albert G. Ruben & Co.)
• Arrangment, The  catering (as The Arrangement Caterers)
• Compact Sound Services  sound by
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  opticals (as C.F.I.)
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  processing by (as C.F.I.)
• Film Finance  completion services
• First Run Catering  catering: Boston unit
• Grey Images  extra casting
• IDC Payroll Services Inc.  payroll services provided by (as IDC Services)
• Segue Music  music editing
• Stellar Artists  extra casting: Boston unit

Also Known As:

The Imposter (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 ([#28314]) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 (video rating) (uncut) (1987) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Wheaton College - 26 E. Main Street, Norton, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Balcor Film Investors

Trivia:

In the scene where Mark first approaches Gordon as a black man, Gordon was originally supposed to believe Mark was going to mug him. An entire scene was filmed in which Mark played along with it and made Gordon sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". It was taken out because it was thought, that although funny when filmed, it was inappropriate and racist.

Quotes:

Mark Watson: Mom! Dad! There's something I have to tell you... I'm black.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Totally Awesome (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

California Girls

a awesome but misunderstood film

In this day of PC rubbish this film probably would cop a lot of flak if it was re released. People actually picketed this film in its day and it has been given the needle from Spike Lee and Eddie Murphy. Well, I am black and didnt find it offensive at all, in fact if people want to attack it and say it is they might want to look at more deserving features that are released nowadays . I personally find most of the stereotypes in the aforementioned directors films quite insulting but that doesnt mean I will hate their work. This movie, although a little awkward in its delievery is obviously made with good intention and should be commended for telling a story with very truthful elements to it. If you cannot see that then you are missing the point. The best and most significant scene is when Mark watson sits down with his rich white girlfriends family for dinner. the scenes they evision are absolutely hilarious and painfully real ...especially priceless is Leslie Nielsens thoughts. a very very funny but misunderstood film (by the wowsers anyhow). relax and enjoy a great teen flick with a real message underlying, if nothing else enjoy the scenery chewing by James Earl Jones, Rae Dawn Chong , Leslie Nielsen and a early Julia Louis-Dreyfus. excellent fun.