A documentary on the 1972 "blaxploitation" movie 'Super Fly'. Re-uniting some of the cast and crew and examining the impact of the movie. RIP Ron O'Neal.
Apart from Superfly, Shaft and Trouble Man, there was Cleopatra Jones, Truck Turner, Coffy and Black Belt Jones, there is enough blaxpoltation classics, that's totally unforgettably memorable. RIP, Brother Gordon Parks, Brother Isaac Hayes and Brother Ron O'Neal.
OH, MAN!! Superfly was and still is one of the baddest flicks from 70's. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I watch it a half dozen times when it hit the theaters. Curtis Mayfield scored a grand slam with the music. Ron O'Neal, killed IT ! The Man was a brilliant actor. No one could've played the role as good as him. I get flashbacks just listening to C.M. music...
I didn't even know this existed, but I just decided to look it up as it came to mind. You have sold this film to me with your comment, I love 70s music.
CURTIS MAYFIELD SOUND TRACK TO SUPERFLY WAS A CLASSIC LP. EVERY SONG ON THERE HAD A MESSAGE. NEVER GOT ALL THE credit he deserved.R.I.P Job well done.R.I.P Curtis.
THE SOUNDTRACK WAS LISTED AS MAKING TWENTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS* SHAME MR.CURTIS MAYFIELD DIDN'T REAP THE MONETARY REWARDS FOR THE 2ND BADDEST SOUNDTRACK [ SHAFT WAS #1...] IN ANY ERA. R.I.P. MR.MAYFIELD.
This movie continues to be a "CLASSIC" in every sense of the word!!! This documentary should be included in every DVD or Blu-ray release of the movie!!!
I love watching these movies because they where made on the streets,no studio's,so when you watch them you see the streets how they were,the lotsfull of garbage,the cars,the clothes...damn i miss those days.
No one is laughing at the movie who was a young person in 1972...We identified with it all the way...Now it is a classic ...I made my son who now attends Harvard Law School watch it at age 12. In some ways it inspired my son. It definitely inspired me.
Stupid how this film got slated for 'glorified drug use' yet French Connection was also about drugs and won Best Picture in 1971. Hypocrisy? Double Standards?
hardtobeat84 hypocrisy? double standard? hell yes!!! what makes it more tragic is that the black media and black talking heads helped rip apart this movie. and even sadder ron oneal's career with it!
+hardtobeat84 French Connection was about stopping heroin dealers. At that time people were not use to films like Superfly in which just by showing the drug world and not making judgement they thought the filmmakers were glorifying it. The film shows the tragedy and the cost of it and most of all Mayfield's soundtrack does it as well (they literally work as point and counterpoint.). American Psycho and Wolf of Wall Street came into similar controversy which I found absurd. Nobody should be need to be told that drugs and criminal behavior are bad it's very obvious it is. However you need to see that the people involved are not just monsters who are beyond understanding they are you and me they just made that wrong step and no matter what they can't be saints when the world they live in deplores such morals and sentiment.
Ooh, I had such a crush on Ron O’Neal. Saw the movie at the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit 12 times. Curtis Mayfield’s soundtrack was what others would be measured by. And it still holds up as possibly the best of if it’s time.
I'm from the South and I used to visit family in New York/New Jersey in those days. I remember riding with my uncle through the streets of New York and being fascinated by all of the lights and Black people in the streets. It made a tremendous impact on me and it's still a part of me to this day. That (the 70's) will always be the New York that I fell in love with and no matter how modern the city is in comparison to the 70's, it will never be as beautiful as it was then. LED screens and lights are cool but the old light bulbs gave the city a look that cannot be matched with new technology. With all of the lights, there was still that dark backdrop that gave the perfect contrast and mystique. I actually get emotional when I see video and stills of that era in NY. I wish that I could go back to those days. Even-though the streets were very dangerous in those days, I could still feel the love and unity that existed in our community. Thank you to all who are responsible for capturing the "spirit" of this great time of awakening in our culture... cocaine, pimin' and all... It was what it was.
Hate change to this day mainly because of the fly stuff that went on during this time period. When I saw the film never thought it was about glorifying drugs that is not what this is about at all. Will leave it at that! Gotta keep it mellow
@@plumjade4584 Me too....Watching these movies when I was a preteen...I wasnt caught up in the negativity.It was the swag, kick ass attitude and getting to see Pam Grier's breast that made my experience worthwhile.In my mid 50's and STILL have a crush on Pam...
This is a great documentary. Superfly is one of my favorite classic movies of all time. There is nothing like the 70's era, where the men and women dressed with class and style. And the music can't be matched with today's generation of music.
I had the biggest crush on Sheila Frazier when I was a teen. Seeing a shot of that bath scene again gave me goosebumps. And she still ain't lost it... Good lil' doc!
One of the best movies ever!One of the best soundtracks ever! & some of the best & underrated actors ever...Ron O'Neal,Sheila Frazier,Carl Lee,Julius Harris!
I actually worked with Ron O'Neal, on set on another Blaxploitation film that he starred in 2001. He was very nice to me when I asked him about my hometown of Cleveland, he even shared some memories of his childhood with me from there.
I love finding gems like this about things that were out when I was a kid. Because now as an adult I can truly understand and appreciate more what was going on then.
I was always in love with Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions and when this film came out in the 70's it was taken to another level!! This film was 1 of my favorites of that time. I would play the album over and over!!!!
Back in High School I had a T-shirt that read: "Smoking pot is good for the soul" and the text was written with the smoke that came out of the joint this guy was smoking. It made reference to this movie. Since I didn't understand English at the time I wore it to school not knowing what it said. It's Soundtrack is one of my very favorites of all times. There's a 2 cd special edition that contains some instrumental versions of the original songs. Highly recommended.
I remember this like it was yesterday. I went to my buddies house about a month or so after the movies release because he had the secret Curtis Mayfield album that very few kids were allowed to listen to let alone own. And we listened to that album about 20 times! As a musician I thought it was the newest coolest sounding soundtrack out. The best memories I have are of when I was able to buy a mini real-to-real that recorded about 1-1/2 to 2 Minutes of sound. So I used it to record little pieces of the soundtrack and then share it with my musician cousin. Of course this was way before the times were you could record endless hours of audio like now! It's times like that I think of as I watch this. Fantastic!!!
In a word, simply a Masterpiece! The clothes, the car, the music, the story, the star, his best friend, his girl, man this movie will Never be duplicated! Rest in peace those who are no longer with us, Peace Out
As a true fan of this movie and Mr. Mayfields music, I thank you for the upload of this. This was when it came out and still is a proven straight- up classic. R.I.P. to everyone involved with this film Thanks for a great moment frozen in time and a part of my life.
Much like The Mack which came out a year later, it is a cinematic wonder how Super Fly was able to even be made. With little monetary backing, putting together a cast so perfect for their parts was truly astounding. However the most important piece in this timeless film, was securing Curtis Mayfield to do the score and Soundtrack. Both movies will remain relevant because of the subject matter, but more so because of the brilliant performances.
Such a great documentary, man, thanks for sharing. To this day, this is one of THE baddest soundtracks ever made. I got it on my playlist now. This film was all about essence, and the beauty was that it wasn't overdone, overhyped nonsense. The performances were nuanced and refined, and with Mayfield's musical backdrop, it was magic. If you are over the age of 40, you know that in the 70s, no matter whose house you were at, they had that Superfly double-jacket album in the vinyl collection.
Respect. I grew up with a lot of aunts & uncles so the path was very wide for lifestyle diversity. We had everything from Black Panthers to street hustlers in our family..... and all things in between. So while I had Gil Scott Heron in one ear, Curtis Mayfield was in the other. The beauty is that we all come from different backgrounds, and one way or another, music is a thread. Conscious, sensual, whether you viewed certain types of music as positive or negative, it still transcends, whatever your personal preference. Peace.
Well stated Jazzy Moni...music is our thread! a strong one I might add. From my Great grandmother to my little nieces and nephews, are all linked one way or another by that thread. Once again your comment was brilliantly stated. Rather you be captain or oarsmen we are in the same boat
Unless you were there you can't imagine the clothes in real life AND let's not forget "The Shoes". They had strap across, open, PLATFORM SANDALS with 3" soles and 5" heels for the men, straight fly dudes. And the Super Fly Album by Mr. Mayfield WAS IT! If ya missed it, Too Bad, 'cause it won't be back 'round. A once in a lifetime era.
John Smith talk about this with my husband all the time..... the style of the cars, clothes, shoes, etc from the 60’s and 70’s were probably some of the best most stylish fashion ever! Breaks my heart when you look at the beautiful women in their dresses from the 60/70’s getting out of a gorgeous “real” car and knowing we’ll NEVER EVER have that again. The cars and clothes now are nothing compared to what was 😥
May Ron O'Neal R.I.P., as well as others involved with the movie who've also passed on R.I.P. Superfly 's a fantastic classic! Thanks for posting this documentary on the making of the movie Superfly!
During the latter years of the 1960's, the expression, "fly" became popular among young people in New York. Anything very nice, or exceptionally pretty was described as, "fly." A pretty girl was, "fly." A gorgeous knit sweater might be, "fly." If something was, "Superfly," that of course was the ultimate. Gordon Parks Jr. apparently capitalized on the use of this popular expression and it worked.
OMG Sheila Frazier still looks good in her 60's! And the BEST movie soundtrack ever! Curtis Mayfield wrote frighteningly realistic songs about life on the urban streets that has not unfortunately changed to this day!
The impact of this masterpiece on the black community inspired pride,unity,and hope for those whose story was finally being told!!!Bravo to ALL involved!!!
Yes, the clothes and some of the street language may be dated; but so is everything in history. However, the Super Fly movie can be seen as a study or critique of Black culture. I see the same things going on right now. Different actors, same script. Curtis Mayfield's music score for this movie is just as relevant today as it was thirty plus years ago. Wise up naysayers. I loved and love this movie because of the theme. The actors and acting were superb! Great job!
I really loved the movie whe it came out in the early 70s. I even had a set of superfly headlights on my car back then . To this day I currently have a 71 eldorado superfly car like the one in the movies . I built it myself to resemble the superfly car. it can be seen on youtube under superfly car. my car gets a lot of looks . I know that someone will put my car in a movie or rap video soon . I just want to say thanks for a great film and rest in peace anyone that passed on . Ralph Severino
i love that movie me and my homies went to see it when it first came out and we where blown away and i feel the same way today when i see it great movie
Remember this time in New York where I was born in the Bronx but hung out in Harlem went to Baby Grand café, Lenox ave Bar and Grill, Smalls Paradise, Josephine's etc. Miss it all, Later.
My pops used to watch this shit religiously.. I was born in 81.. But my dad still was watching this shit.. When He cleared that fence in pimp boots... I KNEW HE WAS THE MAN.
if you have seen the movie superfly watch this documentary about how it got made and how popular the film is, and has some of the actors talking about this classic movie.
Loved this background piece - I had never seen before.Loved the movie, for the movie itself - for real...I understood what it was about and I was 17 when I saw it..
Charles McGregor great act even if he only had a few films to his credit. ...Superfly and Blazing Saddle what a career. He turned his life around and reached out to others.
Thanks so much for creating and posting this documentary for it (as well as seeing Mr. Sexy O'Neal's interview about the film) really helped me to put this profound era defining movie into its proper context. As an alumna of a single gender HBCU, I was taught to see this movie with disdain especially as it relates to how the women were dipicted in the film; howerver, I am glad that I have a different prospective and appreciation for the film thanks to this video and O'Neal's interview.
I came for the music! My dad had the records. I have the CD set. I remember the day I recieved it. I played it for weeks. It reminded me of those Saturday's full of music on the record player.
Superb cast ! Julius Harris as Scatter and Carl Lee as Eddie always stand out to Me when ever I watch it . While most My age were drawn to Scareface (a great picture) , Me and the guys I grew up with always gravitated towards SuperFly.
I was two years old when this came out and it's still being talked about. Love it!!! Fuck the haters aint shit you can say to take away from that time.
I loved the movie and still have the VHS tape version. I am just saddened by some of my people trying to live that lifestyle minus the clothing, of course loving the ghetto life weakening us as a people.
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