Eddie Murphy Raw
 |
| Eddie Murphy Raw | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Townsend |
| Written by | Eddie Murphy Sketch: Eddie Murphy Keenen Ivory Wayans |
| Produced by | Robert D. Wachs Keenen Ivory Wayans |
| Starring | Eddie Murphy |
| Cinematography | Ernest Dickerson |
| Edited by | Lisa Day |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates | United Kingdom November 25, 1987 United States December 18, 1987 Australia April 28, 1988 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film US |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $50,504,655[1] |
Eddie Murphy Raw (1987) is an American stand-up comedy film directed by Robert Townsend and starring Eddie Murphy. It was Murphy's second feature stand-up video, following Eddie Murphy Delirious. The 90 minute show was filmed in New York City's Felt Forum, a venue in the Madison Square Garden complex.
Humor
After the initial sketch and into the live show itself Murphy begins by saying how various people he referenced responded to their mention in the previous stand-up show by Eddie Murphy- Delirious. Mr T and Michael Jackson are mentioned, as well as the phone call he received from Bill Cosby, which he said that his son, Ennis, heard his profanity and requested that Murphy not say the word "fuck" on stage again, and began chastising him for his profane material. Murphy then went on to say that he called Richard Pryor, about what Cosby said, to which he responded angrily, calling him a "Jell-O-puddin' eatin' motherfucka", and that if his fans think its funny, then Cosby has no business telling him how to do his act. Murphy also talks about how Pryor was an inspiration to Murphy. Bolstered by Pryor's encouragement, Murphy stood up to Cosby in a profane manner, and as a result Murphy said that Cosby 'got raw', possibly the inspiration for the show's title.
Murphy makes jokes about relationships; notably of the practice that developed during the 80's of wives divorcing their husbands and taking 'half!', as well as about the faults of both men and women and how the opposite sex exploit those weaknesses, basing it on the message in the song "What Have You Done for Me Lately". He jokes that he intends to go deep into Africa to find a 'bush bitch' who has no concept of Western culture in order to get a wife who (he hopes) will not divorce him. He also makes passing references to Japanese women who are supposedly very obedient to their husbands.
Murphy delivers a well-received segment on Italian-Americans, on their stereotypical behaviour, especially how they behave after seeing a Rocky movie. He then talks about white people's apparent inability to dance. He later talks about his experience in a nightclub where an Italian-American started a fight with Murphy, causing a large brawl, the end result of which saw Murphy getting sued for millions of dollars by all involved and even a few who weren't.
Murphy also talks about his rude mother making him a biggest homemade onion-and-green-pepper hamburger that shaped like a meatball on Wonder Bread and an exaggerated account on how poor his family was, eventually going into a routine impersonating his father drunk, which follows on from the nightclub brawl segment.
Records
The film contained the word "fuck" 223 times.[2] It was the most uses of the word "fuck" ever in a feature-length film at the time, surpassing Scarface. It remained so until the release of Goodfellas in 1990, but still contains most uses of the word "fuck" in an 80s film.
Cast (opening segment)
- Eddie Murphy - Himself
- Tatyana Ali - Eddie's sister (sketch)
- Deon Richmond - Little Eddie (sketch)
- Billie Allen - Eddie's aunt (sketch)
- James Brown III - Thanksgiving guest
- Edye Byrde - Mrs. Butts (sketch)
- Michelle Davison - Thanksgiving guest
- Clebert Ford - Uncle Lester (sketch)
- Birdie M. Hale - Aunt Rose (sketch)
- J. D. Hall - Party guest (sketch)
- Tiger Haynes - Card player #3
- Barbara Iley - Thanksgiving guest
- Leonard Jackson - Uncle Gus (sketch)
- Samuel L. Jackson - Eddie's Uncle
- John Lafayette - Thanksgiving guest
- Davenia McFadden - Eddie's Aunt (sketch)
- Gwen McGee - Eddie's mother (sketch)
- Lex Monson - Card player #4
- Warren Morris - Poetry reader
- Basil Wallace - Eddie's Father (sketch)
- Damien Wayans - Child running in the house
- Ellis E. Williams - Eddie's uncle (sketch)
- Carol Woods - Eddie's Aunt
- Kim Wayans - Interviewed fan (uncredited)
Box Office
The movie debuted at No.1 at the box office.[3]
References
- ^ "Eddie Murphy Raw". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ^ "Freeze Frame: Suicide Kings". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ^ "Eddie Murphy's 'Raw' Is No. 1 at Box Office". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-12-08.