Hollywood Shuffle
(1987)

Director: Robert Townsend

Key Cast: Robert Townsend, Anne-Marie Johnson, Starletta DuPois, Helen Martin, Craigus R. Johnson, Paul Mooney, Lisa Mende, Robert Shafer, John Witherspoon, Ludie Washington, Keenen Ivory Wayans

Rating: R

Genre(s): Comedy

Tired of the stereotyping of African-Americans in film and television, Robert Townsend puts his money where his mouth is and directs, stars and co-scripts with Keenen Ivory Wayans, the movie "Hollywood Shuffle."

The movie is about Bobby Taylor (Robert Townsend) who wants to become an actor.  In the meantime, Bobby works with two negative people at a hot dog stand who consistently discourage him from pursuing an acting career.  

As he pursues his Hollywood dream, Bobby also starts fantasizing about how his career could unfold.  These “visions” are the source of the many, hilarious vignettes in the movie.
 
Spoofing everything from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to Eddie Murphy and Siskel & Ebert, Bobby’s vivid imagination – and Hollywood Shuffle – is funny and entertaining.

∙  In order to finance the movie, Robert Townsend put $40,000 of the $100,000 budget on his own credit cards.   "Hollywood Shuffle" went on to gross over $5,000,000 at the box office.

∙  It took Robert Townsend two years to make Hollywood Shuffle.

∙  This was the first movie that Robert Townsend ever directed.

∙  Robert Townsend and Keenen Ivory Wayans also collaborated on the movie The Five Heartbeats, another Top 100 BlackClassicMovie.com film.

Buy the Hollywood Shuffle Movie DVD
"Hollywood Shuffle" was the first movie ever
directed by African-American actor and
director, Robert Townsend.

This movie is a funny comedy about the
struggles of African-Americans trying to make
it in Hollywood.

 
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Hollywood Shuffle Movie Posters
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