TRUE IDENTITY

US, 1991, 93 minutes, Colour.
Lenny Henry, Frank Langella, Charles Lane, Melvin Van Peebles, James Earl Jones.
Directed by Charles Lane.

True Identity is an entertaining comedy, a star vehicle for stage and television comedian Lenny Henry. It gives Henry the opportunity to mime a number of characters, do enjoyable voices as well as be transformed into a white man. The screenplay focuses on an ambitious actor, his womanising friend, the tangle that the actor gets into when a plane is about to crash and a Mafia boss tells him the truth about himself and his identity. The plane doesn't crash - and an assassin is set on Henry. However, he accidentally kills the assassin and is mistaken for the killer. An enjoyable number of twists ensue.

Director Charles Lane (Sidewalk Stories and an acting part in Posse) moves the familiar material along with an enjoyable flair. Frank Langella enjoys himself as the villain. Andreas Koutselas, a villain in a wide range of films including Someone To Watch Over Me and The Fugitive, gives an entertaining variation on his Mafia type. James Earl Jones appears as himself in an enjoyable cameo. The film has an atmosphere of New York, the world of the theatre - as well as a great range of amusing variations on a familiar theme.

Michael McKean? appears as Henry's agent and J.T. Walsh appears as an FBI agent.

1.The reputation of Lenny Henry as a comedian, stand-up comic, mimic, parodist? The screenplay utilising all these talents?

2.The title, the focus on Miles Pope in himself, as an actor with a variety of parts, the black man and his white disguise?

3.New York settings, the world of the affluent, the black world, the FBI, the theatre? Musical score?

4.The black perspective on the comedy: writing, acting, direction? The focus on black characters, inbuilt prejudice? The work of Charles Lane - and his performance as Dwayne?

5.Lenny Henry's style, the initial play and his being expected to act in an exaggerated black manner (and the director overjoyed at this)? Arguing with his agent, thinking he was going to perform in A Raisin in the Sun? A raisin - literally? His friendship with Dwayne, Dwayne and his women? Going to Florida, the flight back - and the difficulties of getting on the plane, his pretending to be the doctor of the boxing champion? The clash with Frank? The imminent crash - and being told the truth by Frank? The aftermath of the safe flight and landing? His escape?

6.Dwayne and his attitude, nonchalant, Miles being shot at, wanting to be transformed? Dwayne changing him into a white man? The cabs refusing to stop for black passengers? The woman in the cab trying to be friendly - and his gay routine? His impersonation of white style - walking, talking?

7.The killer and the confrontation, the apartment, the killer being electrocuted? Anthony's mistake? Taking him to see Frank? The parody of the Las Vegas gangster? Going to his house, searching for evidence? The attraction to Kristy? Going to see her and his James Brown impersonation? Proving himself? Searching the house - and the interview with Frank? Proving to Anthony that he was dead - and the prosthetics of the dismembered body?

8.Houston and the opening of the film, the FBI, converging on Frank, the explosion? Five years later and his working in files? Not believing Miles, finally agreeing to meet him, trying to persuade the authorities, the actors as FBI agents, the set-up in the theatre?

9.Frank, criminal background, in the plane, snobbish towards Miles, his theatrical identity? The plane crash and his calm, boasting? The safe arrival and his chasing Miles? At home, his wife, redecoration? His reliance on Anthony? Importing the killer? The encounters with Miles and his thinking him the assassin? The discussions? The final awareness of the truth? The set-up for the theatre? His being humiliated - and worked into Othello? His being captured?

10.Anthony, a variation on the Mafioso type, making the mistake of identity, admiring Miles as the killer, the discussions about guns...? The final realisation of the truth? The set-up in the theatre - and the alternate killer?

11.Dwayne, small, the big women? His helping Miles? The prosthetics? The bullet-proof vest?

12.Kristy, not believing Miles, his true identity, the attraction, helping him?

13.Michael McKean's turn as the agent, his ignorance, sweet talking, going to sleep during Othello?

14.The actors in the play, the playwright, their pretending to be FBI agents?

15.James Earl Jones, the performance of Othello, his being run over, the hospital, praise of Miles?

16.The performance of Othello - and the accusations to Frank in the middle of the play?

17.The happy ending?