Black face scene
Would they be able to do that in a film today I think people would go mad and call it racist.
shareI think its ok in Philly, ask Mac... He had a butt double
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MovieChat Forums > Trading Places (1983) Discussion > Black face scene
probably not. I for one thought it was hilarious. I'm black. AKroyd had a good Jamaican accent
shareThats because the whole world didnt have their panties in a bunch back in the 80's but nowadays everything is about Race!!! Im black myself but I find it highly ridicious to call racism on every little thing thats being done to blacks because I myself know when something is about comedy rather than to cause harm and blacks intimidate or make fun of whites all the time and the majority of times its all about comedy and not to cause harm..I mean just watch a black stand up comedian doing a performance on stage and watch how many times he talk about whites. I think this whole world needs to chill out and have fun!!!
shareWell said !! I agree totally don't you think the hole world has gone nuts
shareThats because the whole world didnt have their panties in a bunch back in the 80's
Very well said! Back then you could actually make a movie without being afraid you'll offend somebody or get sued, because people weren't a bunch of whiney, wussy crybabies like they are now. :]
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Thats because the whole world didnt have their panties in a bunch back in the 80's but nowadays everything is about Race!!!The whole world? PC to the point of insanity is an American preoccupation! Leave the rest of us out of it!
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America IS the whole world, Mikey.
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This post makes me wish this site had a rating system. 10/10. 5 stars. Two enthusiastic thumbs up...
shareNo they'd just have to have the scene as regular. But you can use a black voice though that's not racist
shareThey did it in Tropic Thunder.
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I don't see anything inherently wrong with a white human being wearing black makeup anymore than a black human being wearing white makeup (Eddie Murphy at least twice that I recall).
The whole crux of this is the context for which it's done.
Akroyd's blackfaced character wasn't created to demean blacks or Jamaicans, it was to fool (well, try) the private detective through costuming and of course comedic effect in the film.
Whether they would try that today is another story.
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.share
Hmmmmm... He could have dressed up any way- why 'black up'. Didn't really get that scene.
And it was kind of reminiscent of black and white minstrels and so on- stereotyped images of black people.
This could have been a really good and interesting film- funny but also with an interesting message about race and class. But it went too far in some scenes.
Hmmmmm... He could have dressed up any way- why 'black up'. Didn't really get that scene.
Because:
a) Winthorpe had to be disguised as far away from his own snobby white-bread priveleged persona to fool the very sharp Beeks.
b) An exchange was needed with Nenge Mboko (Murphy) to distract Beeks while the swap was made, so the Jamaican was perfect.
c) For comedic effect. Watching Akryoyd do the Jamaican stoner is very funny, and even funnier when he interacts with Murphy's native African student. (btw, the consensus amongst the black viewers seems to be that it wasn't offensive)
And it was kind of reminiscent of black and white minstrels and so on- stereotyped images of black people.
Totally wrong and uncalled for. I suggest reading up on constumed black faced minstrels and try to understand how demeaning that was, even in the context of the times in which it was done. To suggest to today's viewers that Trading Places' funny and clever Jamaican makeup scene is in any way analogous to the old minstrel days is insulting.
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.share
I said that it was reminiscent of the black and white minstrels, not that it was the same thing. I agree black and white minstrels much more offensive, but it reminded me of that a bit.
Still, I take your point.
However, I still think there was absolutely no need for this scene, (or for Jamie lee to be a dumb Swedish girl, or whatever she was. Although that's not quite as offensive as the 'blacking up'.)
They could have played it out in a different way. The film was funny, they didn't need to add scenes like that.
I know it was a different time, but I still don't think that makes it ok!
I quite like the film anyway, although it's whole premise doesn't really make any sense. It wouldn't hold up nowadays I don't think.
Here's the thing. In minstrel shows, the joke was on black people. In Trading Places, it's the opposite. If anything, the joke is on Beeks for falling for the ruse for more than two seconds. Plus it's humorously ironic to see Louis being a surprisingly good sport about the disguise, after having called Billy Ray a "terrible, awful negro." It's just another way of showing he's becoming less stuffy and snobby. Not to get too highfalutin, but much of the movie is about the growing pains of race relations.
Anyway, it's so obvious they're having fun in that moment, it's hard for me to not at least smirk. 😊
"Acting -- the best special effect there is." (Stuart Gordon on Re-animator commentary)
Watching Akryoyd do the Jamaican stoner is very funny
Going through YouTube clips, I noticed that "Lionel Joseph" seemed to make an early appearance in an SNL screen test, lol (starting around 2:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMyObb_KK1M
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Well it worked fine in Tropic Thunder.
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