WHICH WAY IS UP?
US, 1977, 94 minutes, Colour.
Richard Pryor, Margaret Avery, Lonette Mc Kee.
Directed by Michael Schultz.
Which Way is Up? is a star vehicle for Richard Pryor. Besides playing the central role, he does two guest sketches of his father and of the lascivious Reverend. In his cameo roles he tends to overplay compared with his performance in the central role as Leroy Jones.
The film is based on Lina Wertmuller's The Seduction of Mimi, an Italian success of the early '70s with Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato. The film screenplay adapts the Italian original quite well and incorporates it into Arizona fruit factory workers, the unions, the gangster chiefs.
Richard Pryor was at the beginning of a-short-lived successful career in films at this time. A stand-up comic, he was very successful on stage and in film and video versions of his concerts. His career-'n the '80s was mixed.
The film is set in the black community, and offers a black perspective on American life. Direction is by Michael Schultz (Car Wash, Greased Lightning, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Carbon Copy).
1. Portrait of Leroy Jones, relationships, work, self-centredness, his future?
2. The American towns, cities, work-places, factories, hopes? Musical score? A black perspective on American life?
3. The adaptation from the Italian original? Parallels, comparisons and changes? Richard Pryor's performance, in the central role, his tour de force in the cameo roles?
4. Leroy, fruit-picker, accidentally falling, in the photo with the union leader, seeing the rings flashing and knowing the enemy wore rings? At home, wife and children, his being ousted? Going to the city, writing letters and glamorising what was happening?
5. The workers, his being used, getting various jobs? Seeing Vanetta, following her, the jogging, the relationship, his pledge of fidelity to her? The pregnancy and the birth of the child, his response to the new life? The workers' movements and his involvement? Their admiration of hill because of the photo? His playing it up? The baptism ceremony, his going to get the champagne, foiling the assassination attempt? The interrogation by Mr Mann?- His being sent back?
6. Vanetta, her work, the attraction towards Leroy, demanding the pledge, the birth of the child, returning with him to the town?
7. Leroy and his wife, her change (and the irony of her letters and what had really happened to her)? Becoming glamorous and sexy, the family, Leroy's resistance to her, her fears that he was homosexual? His moving from one household to the other?
8. At work, helping his friends, being the boss? His relationship with the bosses?
9. The friends telling him of his wife's pregnancy, his anger, fighting with her? Getting the truth? Going to the Reverend Thomas, listening to his sermon? Reverend Thomas and the satire on the black preaching style?
10. His decision for revenge, his meeting of the Reverend's wife, asking for piano lessons, his style and seduction, using her? Her reaction? Her strong revenge? Forcing him for the pregnancy? His going to the church,. denouncing the Reverend? His wife's denunciation? His being run over?
11. The funeral, Mr Mann and his presence there, the flashing of the ring? Leroy hurt by his accurate accusations? Defying him? Their speeches?
12. His wife not wanting to reconcile? Vanetta taking their son and lying about his self-centredness? Sister Sarah and her reaction? His decision to go on the road? At the bottom, which way could be up?
