Street Smart (1987 film)
Encyclopedia
Street Smart is a film directed by Jerry Schatzberg
and starring Christopher Reeve
, Morgan Freeman
and Kathy Baker
.
. When no one on the street will talk to him, he fabricates a story of a pimp that's so well-received it puts his career back on track. But police think the story is of a real life pimp who is wanted for murder and start pressuring him to reveal the identity of the subject of his story. Fast Black (Freeman), the pimp and police suspect, also thinks the story is about himself, and wants to know what Jonathan knows, and who told him. From there a battle of wits and wills ensues between Jonathan and Fast Black, in addition to Jonathan becoming involved with one of the pimp's call girls (Baker).
Jerry Schatzberg
Jerry Schatzberg is a photographer and film director.-Career:Schatzberg was born to a Jewish family of furriers and grew up in the Bronx. He photographed for magazines such as Vogue, Esquire and McCalls. He made his debut as a feature film director with 1970's Puzzle of a Downfall Child starring...
and starring Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
, Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
and Kathy Baker
Kathy Baker
Katherine Whitton "Kathy" Baker is an American stage, film and television actress.-Career:Baker began her career at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, performing in several of Sam Shepard's plays before getting her break in an off-Broadway production of Fool for Love opposite Ed Harris...
.
Plot
Magazine reporter Jonathan Fisher (Reeve), in danger of losing his job, promises to write a hard-hitting story on prostitutionProstitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. When no one on the street will talk to him, he fabricates a story of a pimp that's so well-received it puts his career back on track. But police think the story is of a real life pimp who is wanted for murder and start pressuring him to reveal the identity of the subject of his story. Fast Black (Freeman), the pimp and police suspect, also thinks the story is about himself, and wants to know what Jonathan knows, and who told him. From there a battle of wits and wills ensues between Jonathan and Fast Black, in addition to Jonathan becoming involved with one of the pimp's call girls (Baker).
Background and reviews
- This was a long time pet project of Christopher Reeve, but he was having difficulty getting the film financed. When the Cannon Group acquired the rights to the fourth and final SupermanSuperman IV: The Quest For PeaceSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace is a 1987 superhero film directed by Sidney J. Furie. It is the fourth film in the Superman film series and the last installment to star Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. It is the first film in the series not to be produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, but...
film, Reeve agreed to do the film partly because Cannon promised to give Street Smart the financial backing it needed. The film received excellent reviews but performed poorly at the box officeBox officeA box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
, possibly because Cannon Films had failed to properly advertise it.
- Morgan Freeman was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe (among other honors) for Best Supporting ActorAcademy Award for Best ActorPerformance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
for his role, giving his acting career a major boost.
- Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
recorded the complete soundtrack.