It's one of the most scandalous movies ever. I love the soundtrack and performances, but I hated how Woody Strode was cast. The producers financed the film with cocaine profits, and one of the producers was Roy Radin, a known fraudster, sexual sadist, cocaine addict, cultist, and possible snuff filmer. Who, before the movie's production, was accused of conducting an orgy where a young actress was recorded being gang r*&^%$. During the leadup to production, Radin was charged by his Cotton Club/cocaine producer of stealing profits from the movie when, in fact, he was thought to have stolen several kilos of cocaine. First, he was kidnapped and horrifically beaten, and finally, dynamite was placed in his mouth to destroy his body. It didn't work; his remains were found in the desert. His murderous killers were caught. Still, the movie introduced a lot of new actors and made Gregory Hines a star.
RIP Maurice Hines (December 13, 1943 - December 29, 2023), aged 80 And RIP Gregory Hines (February 14, 1946 - August 9, 2003), aged 57 You both will be remembered as legends.
No matter how far down the rabbit hole of debauchery our current entertainment culture tumbles, real talent like this has been forever captured in video. And it will never get old.
One of the best movies ever. Hines was one of the best dancers ever. I miss really good movies like this one. I miss Gregory Hines. Thank God for the technology that keeps them alive.
Hi Solange Silverman, This movie was so good, and still strangely flawed; the critics savaged it! Who cares? I'd watch it all day! Here are a couple of other jazzy links that you might like. I hope so! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f9nOjTbdPKQ.html And one more: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PQhuQRlNpwQ.html Best wishes, varadero
Did you know that Gregory Hines is on a stamp? If your local post office doesn't have them, you can purchase them online at www.usps.com. Click on the Buy Stamps link.
The magic of moviemaking. This beautiful scene was made in a hurry. Director Francis Coppola was under tremendous pressure to finish the picture. The song originally intended was "I Got Rhythm," but they couldn't secure the rights so "Crazy Rhythm" was tossed in as a last second replacement. With four cameras rolling the scene was captured in one take! The dancing, the playing, the emotions are all real.
I'm the poster, and I'm grateful for your info, insight and knowledge. Thank you! Knowing just a little of their history, watching this scene was happy and heart-breaking. The ultimate choice of "Crazy Rhythm" may have been "last minute," but still inspired! Thank You! varadero
@@varadero1839 Also, there was no script. The crew asked Francis for direction and he said, "They're broken up. They're brothers...they know how to come back together." That's exactly what they did. Masterful.
@@conradgraff2428 That kind of talent [like the Hines Bros & all the incredible dancers in the Cotton Club movie] either does not exist today or cannot find an avenue into the production company offices
I agree! I was drug to this movie as a 10 yr old by my mother and grandma. The next 3 times they went i voluntarily. This film had an effect on me and always will. Im an old soul though.
Watch the 2016 recut version done by Coppola himself. He wanted to "fix" the mess the studio made of his movie, so he recut it. It's called Cotton Club "Encore" & for rent & sale online. It's much better than the original studio version. Check it out!
Caught the "Hines,Hines and Dad" show at the old Tivoly Theatre in Chicago when I was younger. Didn't appreciate it as much as I certainly do now.......
Loved every elegant, graceful, touching moment. It's food, it's nourishment for those of us who moan the loss of this brand of entertainment for its truth, love and beauty. It assumes we are intelligent beings, it contains our humanity, it inspires, pleases and fully engages us on many levels. Thank you, John, for sharing these rich, wonderful moments on film!
I agree! They were wonderful here together, and their obvious love for one another was evident in the film! About 20 years earlier these 2 amazing brothers ruled the "dancing-brothers-genre" for a long time! Sure you've seen this, but if not, may I introduce you to "The Nicholas Brothers?" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HU-AfrNLHLU.html
@@williammitchell1804 Gregory Hines once said the same thing. He remembered being told as a child that he and his brother Maurice would be the "next Nicholas brothers." He said, "And then I saw the Nicholas brothers on film and realized, There wasn't never gonna be no next Nicholas brothers."
Cheryl Alexander Hi Cheryl, I posted this, and I'm grateful to hear from you! Families will always have issues; that's why we have them! I suspect these 2 had numerous problems. I can only hope that the sad situations had been resolved prior to Gregory's passing. Thanks so much for writing! varadero
Ty Firsching Hi Mr. Firsching, It was very kind of you to write, and I thank you! I'm sorry for the delay in my reply, but I've never been a quick learner, and G+ confounds me! When I first saw this I still had my own brother with me. He's gone now, and I miss him very much. Though your message doesn't say so, I suspect we've a loss in common. I'm grateful to hear from you. Best wishes, varadero
chardtomp Hi chardtomp, It wouldn't surprise me. Gregory seemed to fly into the @wiki/Ionosphere, while his brother, though still a success, seemed to remain semi-unknown. I may be wrong, but I'd heard that they "made-up" prior to Gregory's death. I hope so. No matter how you see it, it's still very sad.Thanks for writing. Best wishes, varadero
Hi Dale Mcilwain, Thanks for writing. Aside from this being one of the best tap sequences in history, it had other meaning for me. I lost my own brother some years ago, and though we'd had a sometimes contentious relationship over the years, we'd come together prior to his passing. I'm thankful that you wrote. Best wishes, varadero
This movie has always been one of my favorites ever though it did not do well at the box office. RIP Gregory Hines; you are gone way too soon; incredible tap dancer and human being.
Hi Karl Bullard, Honored to hear from you! This is one of the very best scenes of this film! I can watch it over, and over again! Thanks so much for your kind mention. I'm almost always astounded that Gregory's gone. I still don't believe it! Thank You! varadero
If you haven't checked it out yet, track down the 2019 re-edited version COTTON CLUB ENCORE put out for the 35th Anniversary of Cotton Club. Believe it or not, even Stormy Weather ended up on the editing floor the first go-round!
Thank you for posting this video. I originally saw this movie in a preview before its release in 1984 and was absolutely dazzled by the photography, the period production values, the great jazz soundtrack and the acting was great. But the hoofing was fantastic and some of the best I've seen since the heyday of Robinson and the Nicolas Brothers! Only later did I learn there was some real backstage jealousy at play here, if so they certainly channeled it well. The film was a box office flop mainly because it seemed to abruptly shift gears from gangster flick to musical numbers to family melodrama in ways that seemed too random, like it was slapped together in the editing room. It was only after several viewings that the true kaliedoscopic nature of the film became clear and I really GOT it. The film may be a flawed gem, but still dazzles and is definitely worthy seeking out. Kudos to everyone involved in making it.
Hi mark60123, You're welcome! Whatever personal issues were taking place at the time, you nailed it when you said they hid it! Superb dancers both! As for its having an identity crisis bouncing from gangster flick to musical, who knows? It was kind of disjointed, but still so intriguing; I loved it! Grateful to hear from you, and here's another tiny clip: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PQhuQRlNpwQ.html Best wishes, varadero
My mother and grandmother took me to see this movie twice when i was 10 in 1984. I loved evey bit of it. The music the style the dancing the history the violence. It was then that i also fell in love with Diane Lane lol She was sooo sharp in that movie.
The DVD 'Encore' version is a huge improvement over the theatrical release. It restores the film editorially to what Francis Coppola originally meant it to be. Not expensive, and well worth your time!
❤Super Talented and underrated artists. Things were good when I was a child back in the 80's. Now is the time of the musical disabled and the bad taste era as never. Look that subumans of reggaetton like bad bunny idolatred by masses, saying that is the heritage of Frank Sinatra...imagine Frankie hearing that ...
I found this scene so emotional ! It makes the point of family IS and will always be family, and nothing , no dollar amounts should ever come between them !! Very well acted out Hines brothers !!!
This movie had SO MANY great scenes.This being one of them.The scene when " Frenchy" ( Fred Gwynne) makes his 1st appearance and says his 1st words ( "AND ME").When I went to see this in the theaters all you could hear were multiple whispers of: " Herman Munster", " That's Herman" , " Herman".It was funny as hell.Also the scene where " Dutch Shultz" ( James Remar should've gotten some type of award by the way) pulled the knife out the turkey and stabbed the guy in the neck caught EVERYBODY off guard.And my final favorite is when Frenchy gets released by Mad Dog Dwyer and thought Owney Madden was nickel and diming on the ransom money and SMASHED Owney's pocket watch......only to reach into his pocket and pull out a gift wrapped pocket watch and give to Madden......CLASSIC.One of the most underrated movies and in MY top 10.
One of the reasons I love this movie - there are many - is that it gave audiences who thought of Gwynne only as 'Herman Munster' a glimpse of how deep his talent really went. He was a fine stage actor, including playing Big Daddy in a revival of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof", and Col. JC Kinkaid in "The Texas Trilogy". On the big screen he was in both prestige and popular films and who, having seen it could forget his final movie performance as the exacting Judge Haller in "My Cousin Vinny"? "That would explain the hostility."
I'm the poster, and I agree with you! This film was seriously flawed but somehow managed to present some of the finest productions ever! This is one of them. Thanks for your message.
Check out the 2016 recut version by Coppola as he intended the movie to be shown ... called Cotton Club ENCORE. It's much better & definitely works better!
R.I.P. Maurice Hines, please spread some love and heartfelt condolences to his family. The Broadway dancer, choreographer and actor famously showcased his skills alongside his late younger brother, Gregory Hines, in a Nicholas Brothers-like act featured in Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club.
