Sugar Ray (Richard Pryor) became Quick's (Eddie Murphy) adopted father when an adolescent Quick saved his life. 25 years later, in 1938, Ray runs the most popular club in Harlem, with Quick as his right hand man. Before long, Bugsy, a white mobster (Michael Lerner) comes knocking for a piece of the club's action in the form of weekly protection money, with a crooked cop (Danny Aiello) as the muscle and a dangerous woman (Jasmine Guy) as the bait. But by fixing a big boxing match, Ray and Quick just may be able to thwart Bugsy's plan and make off with a wad of his cash in the process. Murphy wrote and directed. Academy Award Nominations: Best Costume Design.
Quick: C'mon now, Vera, put that razor away!
[pulls gun]
Quick: I'm warnin' ya, put that razor away, or I'm gonna shoot your pinky toe off!
Vera: Oh! Now your gonna shoot me in my pinky toe.
Quick: Bitch, I'm not playin'. You gonna be the nine-toe havingest, limpin'est bitch in Harlem, you don't put that razor away!
Eddie Murphy has a lot riding on HARLEM NIGHTS. As the movie's writer, director, executive producer, and star, Murphy will shoulder all of the blame if HARLEM NIGHTS fails. But at the same time, he'll receive all of the credit if it succeeds. Should you sacrifice your hard-earned cash to support Murphy's risky gamble? Well, that depends on whom you trust more: me or Eddie Murphy.
