Harlem Nights: A Gambling Film Review

Eddie Murphy starred in a fun look at gambling in the 1930’s.

Eddie Murphy wrote, directed and starred in “Harlem Nights”, which is a throwback to 1930’s gangster films. The film, costing only USD 30 million, produced USD 60 million in the box office. At the well-known Golden Raspberry Awards, “Harlem Nights” won the “Worst Screenplay” award and was nominated for worse director. Since it was Murphy’s first and last time working as a director, he deserves a little forgiveness.

• Murphy wrote, directed and starred
• Murphy idolized co-star Richard Pryor
• Scene with Murphy’s friend Arsenio Hall

Murphy’s driving desire for making this film was his ambition to work with comedy legend Richard Pryor, a comedian whom Murphy idolized as a child. After several attempts to coax Pryor into collaboration, he finally agreed to the project. Along with the legendary Red Foxx, who died in 1991 this film is worth watching for the cast alone. Also, the scenes of illicit gambling give a historical perspective quite different from the mobile casino gambling witnessed today.

Sugar Ray and Quick build up a collaboration

Sugar Ray, played by Pryor, operates a dice game in Harlem, a borough in New York. Harlem was considered the Mecca for Black American’s who wanted a more prosperous life. In 1918, during one of his dice games, an irate customer nearly kills Ray, but is instead shot by Quick, a young orphan Ray took in. Twenty years later, Ray and Quick, played by Murphy, operate a nightclub called “Club Sugar Ray.”

The back of the establishment is a brothel that is run by Madame, Vera, played by Della Reese. A small time gangster named Tommy Smalls, works for Boss Bugsy Calhoun. Smalls, along with Calhoun’s mistress Miss Dominique LaRue enter Club Sugar Ray to look at the amount of money the establishment is taking in. Although Quick first meets LaRue and develops an interest in her, Ray warns him of “crossing the line” with Calhoun.

Upon hearing from Smalls how well Club Sugar Ray is doing, Boss Calhoun is concerned about the threat Ray’s club poses for his nightclub “Pitty Pat.”
Calhoun decides to first try to send a more “veiled” threat in the form of a visit from police detective Phil Cantone. Detective Cantone, a corrupt officer working for Calhoun, visits Club Sugar Ray.

While there, Cantone uses his position to suggest shutting down Ray’s club unless he gives a healthy percentage of the profits to Calhoun. Even though Ray and Calhoun are operating against US gambling laws, Calhoun is too well connected to get arrested. Ray, seriously considering quitting the business and shutting down the club, is dissuaded by Quick who wants to create a plan of action against Calhoun.

Sugar Ray and Quick retaliate against Boss Calhoun

Ray decides that the best way to fight Calhoun back is by earning some money before shutting down his club. A major heavyweight championship bout is coming up between Kirkpatrick and Jack Jenkins, based on the actual heavyweight champ Jack Johnson. Ray decides to take advantage of all of the money that the fight will draw by convincing Calhoun that Jenkins is going to throw the fight.

In addition, Ray plans to steal from all of Calhoun’s booking houses and assigns “Sunshine”, one of Madame Vera’s prostitutes to make advances towards Ritchie Vinto, Calhoun’s bag man. Quick pays Smalls a visit after he is killed by Calhoun for shortchanging him. Small’s brother Reggie notices him leaving the crime scene and accuses him of the murder. In one of the more memorable scenes, Reggie, played by Murphy’s well known friend Arsenio Hall, chases Quick and engages in shoot out.

After the shootout, Quick leaves Reggie and his men dead. In retaliation, Calhoun sends his mistress LaRue to seduce and kill Quick. Quick ends up killing LaRue before she can complete her mission. Calhoun burns Club Sugar Ray down. Once a relationship is established, Ritchie decides to bring Sunshine with him on his money delivery to Calhoun.

Detective Cantone watches Ray and Quick intercept Ritchie’s vehicle and attempt to take the money. Upon watching two white officers interrupt the transaction, Cantone drives off. As two of Ray’s men blow up Cantone’s club, Calhoun realizes that Jenkins isn’t “taking a dive” and upon hearing the gambling news, loses a lot of money as a result. Cantone follows Ray and Quick into the bank vault of a closed bank.

Ray and Quick lock Cantone inside and seal the vault. Determined to have revenge, Calhoun learns from Madame Vera where Ray and Quick are hiding. After Bugsy and his men arrive to the location, one of his men sets off a bomb that destroys everyone. Later Ray and Quick collect the money from the two white officers, gives them their share and ride off in separate directions into the night.