Knights of the City
Encyclopedia
Knights of the City is a 1986 action adventure film starring Leon Isaac Kennedy, Nicholas Campbell
, John Mengatti
and Janine Turner
. It was directed by Dominic Orlando and written by Leon Isaac Kennedy and filmed in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida.
Synopsis;
The Royals like their tough Miami neighborhood are multi-ethnic street gang led by Troy Leon Isaac Kennedy.Troy is aware that a life on the mean streets can only lead to a dead end. Therefore he has been trying through his own determination and musical ambitions,to motivate the band towards a serious goal as professional performers. However within the gang there are those specifically Joey Nicholas Campbell
, who wish to derail Troy's plan, claiming that their performing is distracting them from their business in the streets. Meanwhile, McGruder (Floyd Levine), a corrupt police officer is making life even harder for the Royals, as are The Mechanics, a rival gang trying to take over The Royal's territory. The Mechanics have been selling bad drugs and are also trying to extort protection money from merchants in the Royals neighborhood. A violent face-off between the two gangs results in only The Royals being jailed as it is discovered McGruder is being paid off by The Mechanics. In jail,The Royals use their time to rehearse their songs. A drunken inmate, Mr. Delamo (Michael Ansara), is impressed and offers his assistance, telling them that he owns Twilight Records. Dubious but curious,The Royals visit Delamo upon release from jail only to be rebuffed by his yuppie assistant and daughter, Brooke Janine Turner
.The Royals leave behind a recording of their music and storm out of the office. After listening to the cassette, Brooke decides to bring the band to her father's attention.He agrees with her that they are talented,but unpolished. Unable to locate The Royals, Brooke gets the idea to stage a talent contest for local performers, claiming that there must be other talented bands out there as well. Again her father agrees --- but for another reason --- the contest will impress local politicians and the stockholders by the nature of its benevolence and the anticipated effect it will have on neighborhood morale. Further, he stipulates that any contestants that get into trouble with police will be disqualified. Therefore, the mayor's office officially supports the contest as well.The contest galvanizes the community, thus reducing street violence and crime. The Royals concentrate on their music and less on the street, Delamo's profile in the community is boosted,and Troy and Brooke begin to fall in love.
The Mechanics, in the meantime, gear up to take over business in the Royals' neighborhood. Troy restrains The Royals from retaliating as he fears trouble will exclude them from the contest. Also,Delamo threatens Troy that a continued liaison with his daughter will result in serious problems for Troy.To prove his point, Delamo calls on his well-positioned contacts to exert pressure on Troy.
Troy, however, will do nothing to risk disqualification. Heis convinced The Royals will win the contest. Even when Brooke decides not to see Troy until after the contest, he contains his anger and focuses all his energies into his music.It pays off,as the Royals do indeed win the contest, and the grand prize of a recording contract. Victors,The Royals jubilation is cut short when The Mechanics savagely kill one of The Royal's girlfriends. Free to react, The Royals enter into battle with The Mechanics, ultimately vanquishing them. Their dignity preserved and their future brighter,The Royals look ahead to a new life in their city.
Originally, the film was to be called Cry of the City as it was being filmed in the Spring of 1984. It was produced by a now ex mob boss Michael Franzese
. who was dubbed by Tom Brokaw
as "The Prince of the Mafia" and made more money for organized crime
than anyone since Al Capone
. The film was held back for over a year before its release as Knights of the City in 1986 by New World Pictures.
Music in the film includes tracks from The Fat Boys
, Kurtis Blow
, Shannon
, Harry Wayne Casey
and Miami singer Michael Sterling
.The contest hosts are Jeff Kutash and Smokey Robinson
During June 2010 Lakeshore Entertainment
successors-in-interest to New World Pictures sold out their rights in the film to Bryanston Distributing Company
Nicholas Campbell
Nicholas Campbell , sometimes credited as Nick Campbell, is a Canadian actor and filmmaker, who has won three Gemini Awards for acting. The movies Naked Lunch, Prozac Nation and the TV series Da Vinci's Inquest are some examples of his acting work.-Early life:Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario,...
, John Mengatti
John Mengatti
John Mengatti is an American actor primarily famous for his role as Nick Vitaglia, Salami's cousin, on the CBS television series The White Shadow. Mengatti joined the cast midway through the second season and was a fan favorite with his distinctive New York-style accent...
and Janine Turner
Janine Turner
Janine Turner is an American actress who starred on the prime time television show Northern Exposure from 1990 to 1995. From 2000 to 2002, she appeared on the Lifetime original series Strong Medicine...
. It was directed by Dominic Orlando and written by Leon Isaac Kennedy and filmed in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida.
Synopsis;
The Royals like their tough Miami neighborhood are multi-ethnic street gang led by Troy Leon Isaac Kennedy.Troy is aware that a life on the mean streets can only lead to a dead end. Therefore he has been trying through his own determination and musical ambitions,to motivate the band towards a serious goal as professional performers. However within the gang there are those specifically Joey Nicholas Campbell
Nicholas Campbell
Nicholas Campbell , sometimes credited as Nick Campbell, is a Canadian actor and filmmaker, who has won three Gemini Awards for acting. The movies Naked Lunch, Prozac Nation and the TV series Da Vinci's Inquest are some examples of his acting work.-Early life:Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario,...
, who wish to derail Troy's plan, claiming that their performing is distracting them from their business in the streets. Meanwhile, McGruder (Floyd Levine), a corrupt police officer is making life even harder for the Royals, as are The Mechanics, a rival gang trying to take over The Royal's territory. The Mechanics have been selling bad drugs and are also trying to extort protection money from merchants in the Royals neighborhood. A violent face-off between the two gangs results in only The Royals being jailed as it is discovered McGruder is being paid off by The Mechanics. In jail,The Royals use their time to rehearse their songs. A drunken inmate, Mr. Delamo (Michael Ansara), is impressed and offers his assistance, telling them that he owns Twilight Records. Dubious but curious,The Royals visit Delamo upon release from jail only to be rebuffed by his yuppie assistant and daughter, Brooke Janine Turner
Janine Turner
Janine Turner is an American actress who starred on the prime time television show Northern Exposure from 1990 to 1995. From 2000 to 2002, she appeared on the Lifetime original series Strong Medicine...
.The Royals leave behind a recording of their music and storm out of the office. After listening to the cassette, Brooke decides to bring the band to her father's attention.He agrees with her that they are talented,but unpolished. Unable to locate The Royals, Brooke gets the idea to stage a talent contest for local performers, claiming that there must be other talented bands out there as well. Again her father agrees --- but for another reason --- the contest will impress local politicians and the stockholders by the nature of its benevolence and the anticipated effect it will have on neighborhood morale. Further, he stipulates that any contestants that get into trouble with police will be disqualified. Therefore, the mayor's office officially supports the contest as well.The contest galvanizes the community, thus reducing street violence and crime. The Royals concentrate on their music and less on the street, Delamo's profile in the community is boosted,and Troy and Brooke begin to fall in love.
The Mechanics, in the meantime, gear up to take over business in the Royals' neighborhood. Troy restrains The Royals from retaliating as he fears trouble will exclude them from the contest. Also,Delamo threatens Troy that a continued liaison with his daughter will result in serious problems for Troy.To prove his point, Delamo calls on his well-positioned contacts to exert pressure on Troy.
Troy, however, will do nothing to risk disqualification. Heis convinced The Royals will win the contest. Even when Brooke decides not to see Troy until after the contest, he contains his anger and focuses all his energies into his music.It pays off,as the Royals do indeed win the contest, and the grand prize of a recording contract. Victors,The Royals jubilation is cut short when The Mechanics savagely kill one of The Royal's girlfriends. Free to react, The Royals enter into battle with The Mechanics, ultimately vanquishing them. Their dignity preserved and their future brighter,The Royals look ahead to a new life in their city.
Originally, the film was to be called Cry of the City as it was being filmed in the Spring of 1984. It was produced by a now ex mob boss Michael Franzese
Michael Franzese
Michael Franzese , is a former New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s...
. who was dubbed by Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
as "The Prince of the Mafia" and made more money for organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
than anyone since Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
. The film was held back for over a year before its release as Knights of the City in 1986 by New World Pictures.
Music in the film includes tracks from The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"...
, Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
, Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
, Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is most famous for his group, KC and the Sunshine Band, and as a producer of several hits for other artists.-Early years:...
and Miami singer Michael Sterling
Michael Sterling (entertainer)
Michael Sterling is an American composer and musician from Miami, Florida-History:His musical career started in his teens when he played bass guitar for popular Latino recording artist Ray Fernandez. Soon afterwards, Sterling and two childhood friends formed the group Silver Platinum, who quickly...
.The contest hosts are Jeff Kutash and Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
During June 2010 Lakeshore Entertainment
Lakeshore Entertainment
Lakeshore Entertainment Group is an American independent film production company founded in 1994 by Tom Rosenberg and Ted Tannebaum . Lakeshore Entertainment is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California...
successors-in-interest to New World Pictures sold out their rights in the film to Bryanston Distributing Company
Bryanston Distributing Company
Bryanston Distributing Company is an American film distribution company that was very active during the early 1970s and was left dormant for almost thirty years...