NBC MOVIE OF THE WEEK: THE SOPHISTICATED GENTS {PART 2 OF 3} (TV)
Summary
The second installment in this four-hour miniseries, based on the book "The Junior Bachelor Society" by John A. Williams, about nine estranged friends' reunion to honor their childhood mentor and coach. In this program, Sugar the cook observes that white people's newfound interest in soul food is driving up prices, while elsewhere Snake tells Sandra that Chappie was a good father figure to the boys despite being a gambler, a drinker and a womanizer. Out at the lodge, Moon and Heflin talk about their similar experiences with cops, and Cudjo drives to the reunion with his wife Evelyn, discussing the other men's wives along the way. The men, minus Moon and Clarie, finally arrive at the bar for their get-together, observed closely by Swoop out on the street, and they enjoy an evening of Sugar's cooking as they update one another on their lives and families. Chappie muses that the nine boys "needed" football in a way that modern kids do not, and when he teases them about their love of the song "Greasy Lightning," they all get up to dance, except for Chops, who is still brooding over Christine's betrayal.
The next day, at the Black Arts Festival, the men attend a play of Ralph's and a musical performance by Dart, impressed with their friends' talents. Chops and Christine continue arguing as Snake offers to assist Ralph's father with city housing, and Simone grows suspicious when she notices Dart getting friendly with Nicholas. Clarie finally arrives and is greeted happily by his old friend, and he reveals that Moon is indeed coming to the banquet. Bubbles and Cudjo wonder about Chops' obvious unhappiness and ponder what to do about Moon, aware of his work as a pimp and sure that they do not want him there. Elsewhere, Ralph talks with his father about his plans to be cremated, and Evelyn and Lil soon question the men about their secretive behavior, forcing them to admit that they are worried about Swoop's dogged pursuit of Moon. Clarie visits a stadium and runs a lap, imagining an adoring crowd, and Shurl, Bubbles and Cudjo consider blackmailing Swoop into leaving Moon alone by threatening him with the audio recordings of Moon's many shakedowns over the years, though Shurl is reluctant to play his "bottom card" so soon. Elsewhere, Moon departs the lodge and phones his mother, who is worried for his safety, and he reminds her not to tell any of the gents of his whereabouts. He references the "letters" he has sent her over the years, though it is then revealed that he has also been sending her ill-gotten cash.
Dart talks to his agent, frustrated at receiving bad reviews from Marcus' "flunkies" and being unable to secure a performance in New York. He soon receives a call from Mrs. Marcus and meets up with her and her latest young "gigolo," Rhobert, at a bar. Dart declares his intentions to kill Wilbur, but Renee reveals that he has been dead for twelve years and tells him that his hindered career is the fault of "his own ghost" and lack of talent, not Wilbur's machinations. Bubbles visits Mrs. Porter in search of Moon, and she begins to panic that her son is in serious trouble, but he reassures her by claiming that he is merely feuding with a former flame's jealous husband and nothing more. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 30, 1981 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T81:1352
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama; Friendship
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1981
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Clorox 2 detergent
- TV - Commercials - Colombian coffee
- TV - Commercials - Diet Pepsi soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Dietac diet pills
- TV - Commercials - Hefty trash bags
- TV - Commercials - Lysol disinfectant spray
- TV - Commercials - Massengill feminine cleansing wash
- TV - Commercials - Mink Difference hair spray
- TV - Commercials - Mr. Coffee brewing machines
- TV - Commercials - Renault automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Schick Super II razors
- TV - Promos - "Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters"
- TV - Promos - "CHiPs"
- TV - Promos - "Days of Our Lives"
- TV - Promos - "Grambling's White Tiger"
- TV - Promos - "Little House on the Prairie"
- TV - Promos - "NBC Magazine"
- TV - Promos - "Sidney Shorr"
- TV - Promos - "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island"
- TV - Promos - "The Sophiscated Gents" upcoming episode
- TV - Promos - "Tilt"
CREDITS
- Daniel Wilson … Executive Producer
- Fran Sears … Producer
- Harry Falk … Director
- Linda Feitelson … Associate Producer
- Melvin Van Peebles … Associate Producer, Writer
- John A. Williams … Based on the book by
- Benny Golson … Music by
- Ron Dennis … Choreographer
- Bibi Besch … Cast, Simone Parks
- Bernie Casey … Cast, Shurley Walker
- Rosalind Cash … Cast, Christine Jackson
- Ja'net DuBois … Cast, Onetha Wiggins
- Sonny Jim Gaines … Cast, Coach Charles 'Chappie' Davis
- Rosey Grier … Cast, Cudjo Evers
- Albert Hall … Cast, Detective Swoop Ferguson
- Robert Hooks … Cast, Ezra 'Chops' Jackson
- Janet MacLachlan … Cast, Diane Walker
- Joanna Miles … Cast, Sandra Parks
- Denise Nicholas … Cast, Pat Henderson
- Ron O'Neal … Cast, Clarence 'Clarie' Henderson
- Thalmus Rasulala … Cast, Kenneth 'Snake' Dobson
- Beah Richards … Cast, Miz Porter
- Raymond St. Jacques … Cast, D'Artagnan 'Dart' Parks
- Melvin Van Peebles … Cast, Walter 'Moon' Porter / Silky
- Marlene Warfield … Cast, Lil Joplin
- Dick Anthony Williams … Cast, Ralph Joplin
- Paul Winfield … Cast, Richard 'Bubbles' Wiggins
- Alfre Woodard … Cast, Evelyn Evers
- Lynn Benesch … Cast, Renee Marcus
- Robert Earl Jones … Cast, Big Ralph
- Al Fann … Cast, Sugar
- Charles Blackwell … Cast, Heflin
- Rene LeVant … Cast, Actor
- Stymie Beard … Cast, Mickey Mouse
- Mario Van Peebles … Cast, Nicholas
- Mark Thomas … Cast, Rhobert
- Alicia D'Hanifu … Cast, Actress
- Gene Whittington … Cast, Worker #1
- Tom Delaney … Cast, Worker #2