683:
that was a character versus what I call 'blackting,' or playing my race, because I knew that I would fail because I was mixed . I was the black actor for sure, but I didn't lead with my epidermis, and that offended people like Spike Lee, I think. You're either militant or you're not and he decided to just attack. I've never forgiven him for that because it really hurt me. I didn't realize that not pushing the
706:
day-to-day basis, and it made me much more sensitive to racism... It's an innocent movie, it's got innocent messages, and it's got some very, very deep messages. And I think the people that haven't seen it that judge it are horribly wrong. I think that's more offensive than anything. Judging something you haven’t seen is the worst thing you can really do. In fact,
682:
made a thing of it. He'd never seen the movie and he just jumped all over it… He was just starting and pulling everything down in his wake. If you watch the movie, it's really making white people look stupid… is adorable and it didn't deserve it... I always tried to be an actor who was doing a part
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later said, "when I made the movie, I didn't go into it with the idea that I had a responsibility to sort of teach
America a lesson. I went into it because it was a great script. It was so well-written, so funny, and—sadly—very true. A lot of the experiences this guy goes through, maybe he wouldn't
705:
I'm shocked at how truly harmless that movie is, and how the anti-racial message involved in it is so prevalent... This isn't a movie about blackface. This isn't a movie that should be considered irresponsible on any level... It's very funny... It made me much more aware of the issues we face on a
334:
After a chaotic day in which Sarah, his parents (who are not aware of his double life), and
Whitney all make surprise visits at the same time, Mark drops the charade and publicly reveals himself to be white. He is surprised to find that many are willing to forgive him after considering his reasons
322:
However, once immersed in a black student's life, Mark finds out prejudice and racism truly exist. He meets a young
African American student named Sarah Walker, whom he at first only flirts with; gradually, however, he genuinely falls in love with her. In passing, she mentions that he received the
710:
sort of represents that all the way through. I think it's a really innocent movie with a very powerful message, and it's an important part of my life. I'm proud of the performance, and I'm proud of the people that were in it. A lot of people ask me today, 'Could that movie be made today?'...
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Slowly, Mark begins to regret his decision as he continues to experience problems because of his skin tone. Mark is jailed with uneducated slovenly locals who take out their frustration with a team's loss to black athletes by assaulting Mark. He also finds himself subjected to
38:
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for doing so, but Sarah is furious. Mark has a private conversation with his professor. He has learned more than he bargained for, admitting that he still doesn't know what it is like to be black because he could have changed back to being white at any time.
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Mark forfeits his scholarship but gets a loan (albeit at high interest). He goes to Sarah and begs for another chance, to which she agrees after Mark stands up for her and George when two male students tell a racist joke in front of them.
497:
NAACP Chapter
President Willis Edwards said in a statement at the time, "We certainly believe it is possible to use humor to reveal the ridiculousness of racism. However the unhumorous and quite seriously made plot point of
741:: "At the end of the day, it's always about how well you commit to the character. If I didn't feel was morally sound, or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I'm just C. Thomas Howell , I would've stayed home."
772:. Special features included a theatrical and teaser trailer, along with an audio commentary by Miner and Howell. On November 20, 2007, it was re-released by Anchor Bay as a double feature with
307:
along with his best friend Gordon. Unfortunately, his father's neurotic psychiatrist talks his patient into focusing on his own happiness instead of spending money on his son. Mark is denied a
319:, in a larger dose than prescribed, to appear as an African American. Watson then sets out for Harvard, naĂŻvely believing that black people have no problems at all in American society.
542:
one out of four stars, writing that the main premise "is a genuinely interesting idea, filled with dramatic possibilities, but the movie approaches it on the level of a dim-witted
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scholarship she was in the running for at the last minute. Due to this, she not only has to handle her classes but work as a waitress to support herself and her young son George.
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is taboo," said Howell. "Conversation over — you can't win. But our intentions were pure: We wanted to make a funny movie that had a message about racism."
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511:(1982), which featured a man masquerading as a woman for career advancement. "It used comedy as a device to expose sexual stereotyping. I think
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by his landlord's daughter, Whitney, who is eager to explore what she perceives to be the "exotic" thrill of sleeping with a black man.
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is that no black student could be found in all of Los
Angeles who was academically qualified for a scholarship geared to blacks."
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The film was widely criticized for its use of make-up to make a white actor appear
African American, which many compared to
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522:. "The Reagans enjoyed the film and especially enjoyed seeing their son Ron," a White House spokesman said at the time.
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agenda was going to bite me. When you start to do well people start to say you're a Tom because you're acceptable.
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Despite the controversy, the film was a box office success. On its opening weekend, it debuted at No. 3 behind
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Lee responded by saying, "In my film career, any comment or criticism has never been based on jealousy."
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have gone through them if he was a white person, but when he's black, it's a very different experience."
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1107:"Throwback Thursday: 'Soul Man' Star Rae Dawn Chong on Rachel Dolezal: "I Say Welcome Her In""
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855:"C. Thomas Howell on The Outsiders, blackface, and how Marlboros got him cast in E.T."
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stars as a white male law student who pretends to be black in order to qualify for a
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Precious Metal: Decibel
Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces
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1048:(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 284.
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810:"Rae Dawn Chong Blames Spike Lee for 'Soul Man' Racial Stigma 30 Years Later"
666:, all lip synching to the song. Tisch recruited the actors to do the cameos.
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Controversy aside, the film was panned by critics. It has a score of 17% on
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was a commercial success, grossing $ 35 million on a $ 4.5 million budget.
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The film garnered controversy, with Howell's makeup drawing comparisons to
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Mark Watson is the pampered son of a rich family who is about to attend
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has a track named "C. Thomas Howell as the 'Soul Man'" on their album
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spoke out against the film and an
African American student group at
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when addressing the potential controversy over his role in
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Chong later defended the film, saying of the controversy:
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The film was seen by
President Ronald and Nancy Reagan at
276:; the original soundtrack includes a version performed by
912:"'Soul Man' Just Goes To Show Discrimination Isn't Funny"
1303:
1021:"Soul Man movie review & film summary (1986)"
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778:(1985). On October 20, 2011, it was released by
941:"NAACP, Black Students Protest Film 'Soul Man'"
1473:African-American-related controversies in film
570:went on to gross $ 27.8 million domestically.
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505:In defending the film, Tisch compared it to
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768:was released on DVD on March 19, 2002, by
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1430:Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous
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630:, was released. The video starred actors
515:uses it to explode racial stereotyping."
490:organized a picket of a cinema screening
878:Friendly, David T. (November 13, 1986).
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311:and the only scholarship he sees is for
1508:Films scored by Tom Scott (saxophonist)
1463:1986 controversies in the United States
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1518:Films set in universities and colleges
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729:. But I think it's an important movie.
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1069:Rosenthal, Donna (October 12, 1986).
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953:from the original on November 3, 2012
892:from the original on November 3, 2012
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1334:Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3D
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1190:Beierle, Aaron (February 7, 2002).
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426:offered the role of Mark Watson to
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1548:Blackface minstrel shows and films
1083:from the original on March 7, 2016
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880:"Reagans on 'Soul Man': Thumbs Up"
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853:Harris, Will (February 13, 2013).
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678:It was only controversial because
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1215:
829:Wilson, John M. (June 29, 1986).
808:Doty, Meriah (October 19, 2016).
733:Downey Jr. referenced Howell and
975:Thomas, Bob (October 30, 1986).
566:, with $ 4.4 million. In total,
465:, had a small role in the film.
1513:Films set in Harvard University
1493:Films about interracial romance
1183:
1152:
1126:Vary, Adam B. (March 9, 2008).
1119:
1105:Higgins, Bill (June 25, 2015).
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1046:Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
315:. He decides to cheat by using
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1128:"First Look: 'Tropic Thunder'"
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1503:Films directed by Steve Miner
1478:Casting controversies in film
1398:Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
1159:Mudrian, Albert, ed. (2009).
939:Voland, John (October 1986).
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662:and the children's character
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446:, all of whom declined. Star
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1488:1980s English-language films
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7:
1528:Films shot in Massachusetts
1366:Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
977:"Los Angeles NAACP Protest"
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1523:Films set in Massachusetts
1483:American teen comedy films
264:. Its title refers to the
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1538:New World Pictures films
1326:Friday the 13th Part III
770:Anchor Bay Entertainment
457:, son of then-president
16:1986 film by Steve Miner
1468:1980s teen comedy films
701:Howell later expanded:
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157:The Steve Tisch Company
1318:Friday the 13th Part 2
1112:The Hollywood Reporter
982:The Lewiston Daily Sun
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614:A music video for the
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694:"A white man donning
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266:song of the same name
155:Balcor Film Investors
1543:1980s American films
1140:on November 20, 2010
1133:Entertainment Weekly
1019:(October 24, 1986).
428:Anthony Michael Hall
364:as Gordon Bloomfield
19:For other uses, see
780:Image Entertainment
775:Fraternity Vacation
392:Julia Louis-Dreyfus
244:is a 1986 American
1533:Harvard Law School
1382:My Father the Hero
1304:Films directed by
920:. October 25, 1986
563:The Color of Money
526:Critical reception
382:as Professor Banks
305:Harvard Law School
167:New World Pictures
1458:1986 comedy films
1440:
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1270:at New York Times
1076:Los Angeles Times
997:"Soul Man (1986)"
946:Los Angeles Times
885:Los Angeles Times
836:Los Angeles Times
754:We Are the Romans
713:Robert Downey Jr.
622:and performed by
607:
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598:Kent Music Report
534:from 24 reviews.
482:. Members of the
400:as Dorothy Watson
388:as Whitney Dunbar
329:sexual harassment
313:African Americans
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380:James Earl Jones
368:James B. Sikking
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404:Wallace Langham
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1017:Ebert, Roger
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274:David Porter
248:directed by
240:
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233:$ 35 million
197:Running time
174:Release date
131:David Finfer
25:
1406:Lake Placid
1306:Steve Miner
1042:Kent, David
1026:November 6,
957:November 9,
660:Ray Mancini
616:title track
610:Music video
596:Australia (
536:Roger Ebert
474:Controversy
444:John Cusack
432:Tim Robbins
424:Steve Tisch
270:Isaac Hayes
262:scholarship
250:Steve Miner
246:comedy film
201:104 minutes
122:Jeffrey Jur
72:Steve Tisch
68:Produced by
62:Carol Black
52:Steve Miner
48:Directed by
1453:1986 films
1447:Categories
1192:"Soul Man"
1087:August 21,
792:References
761:Home media
656:Jamie Farr
574:Soundtrack
550:Box office
520:Camp David
455:Ron Reagan
440:Val Kilmer
418:Production
410:Max Wright
362:Arye Gross
230:Box office
185:1986-10-24
148:Production
95:Arye Gross
58:Written by
1390:Big Bully
785:18 Again!
696:blackface
680:Spike Lee
624:Sam Moore
591:position
480:blackface
469:Reception
422:Producer
289:blackface
278:Sam Moore
150:companies
141:Tom Scott
127:Edited by
1350:Soul Man
1264:Archived
1245:Soul Man
1239:AllMovie
1234:Soul Man
1223:Soul Man
1197:DVD Talk
1144:March 2,
1081:Archived
1044:(1993).
951:Archived
924:July 18,
890:Archived
788:(1988).
766:Soul Man
757:(1999).
745:Mathcore
735:Soul Man
727:Soul Man
708:Soul Man
658:, boxer
628:Lou Reed
568:Soul Man
540:Soul Man
513:Soul Man
500:Soul Man
492:Soul Man
293:Soul Man
282:Lou Reed
241:Soul Man
214:Language
137:Music by
78:Starring
31:Soul Man
21:Soul Man
1358:Warlock
1203:May 18,
815:TheWrap
508:Tootsie
217:English
206:Country
183: (
1433:(2008)
1425:(2008)
1417:(2001)
1409:(1999)
1401:(1998)
1393:(1996)
1385:(1994)
1377:(1992)
1369:(1991)
1361:(1989)
1353:(1986)
1345:(1985)
1329:(1982)
1321:(1981)
1173:
1052:
670:Legacy
579:Charts
544:sitcom
222:Budget
1342:House
749:Botch
747:band
664:Gumby
538:gave
484:NAACP
1228:IMDb
1205:2012
1171:ISBN
1146:2023
1089:2015
1050:ISBN
1028:2014
959:2010
926:2023
898:2010
626:and
603:100
589:Peak
560:and
488:UCLA
442:and
343:Cast
299:Plot
280:and
272:and
1248:at
1237:at
1226:at
546:."
268:by
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