Monkey Hustle (American International Pictures) (1976)

7611-38-22A TENDER MOMENT-Yaphet Kotto as Daddy Foxx, streetwise king of the conmen, holds Rosalind Cash as Sweet Mama, proprietress of the local soul-food restaurant. In the teeming, rip-off world of the ghetto, they manage to eke out a few moments of happiness in American International Pictures’ fun-filled film, “The Monkey Hustle,” which opens at the “The Monkey Hustle.” AIP’s Laugh-Action Feature Opens A light-hearted look at a different facet of ghetto life, American International Pictures’ fast-paced comedy, ‘‘The Monkey Hustle,” opens at the theatre. The film stars Yaphet Kotto, Rudy Ray Moore, Rosalind Cash and Kirk Calloway. Filled with vignettes of life in the teeming inner-city, the story concerns itself with the fight of the area’s residents against the proposed encroachment of a freeway and their successful attempts to thwart the bureaucracy. The main opponents of the freeway are the street hustlers, who realize that the destruction of the buildings and the subsequent exodus of the residents will leave them without a turf — or victims. Chief among the hustlers is Yaphet Kotto as Daddy Foxx who, with his apprentice, the twelve-year-old cigar-smoking Kirk Calloway as “Baby D,”’ is the main supplier of hot items and is without peer in the operation of con games. Rudy Ray Moore is Goldie, the neighborhood vice overlord and Rosalind Cash is Mama, proprietress of the local soul-food cafe — a popular gathering spot for the residents. Carl Crudup is Joe, who with his group of kids forming the “Future Olympics,” also joins in the fray. ; “The Monkey Hustle’ was produced and directed by Arthur Marks. Screenplay is by Charles Johnson from a story by Odie Hawkins. 7611-15-2 DADDY FOXX Versatile Yaphet Kotto essays his first comedy role as a slick conman working his wiles in American International Pictures’ humorous look at innercity life, “The Monkey Hustle,” opening at the theatre. theatre. 7611-24-8A THE KINGPIN-Famed comedian Rudy Ray Moore is Goldie, neighborhood vice overlord who makes an unlikely alliance with rival hustlers, and the people at large to fight a proposed freeway which will destroy his turf in American International Pictures’ fast-paced comedy, “The Monkey Hustle,” which opens at the theatre. Rudy Ray Moore New Hit Comic Comedian Rudy Ray Moore, who created the character ‘Dolemite,’ and backed himself in two successful motion pictures featuring this character, co-stars with Yaphet Kotto in American International Pictures’ fastpaced comedy, “The Monkey Hustle,” which opens at the theatre. Moore, a stand-up nightclub comic in the Redd Foxx genre who, like his predecessor, enjoyed his first real successes in the public reception of his ‘Party Records.’ Utilizing the money made from his recordings, he backed himself in a motion picture, producing and starring in “Dolemite.” This led to a sequel, “The Human Tornado,” which is likewise enjoying success. Now, as ‘Goldie,’ flamboyant community vice overlord in “The Monkey Hustle,” Moore is working under another’s aegis. “For the first time,’ states Rudy, “I can concentrate on my acting and let someone else worry about production problems.” Arthur Marks is the producer -director of ““The Monkey Hustle.” The screenplay, a_lighthearted look at a different facet of ghetto living, was written by Charles Johnson from a story by Odie Hawkins. Changing Times With many newspapers going to offset these days, the scene stills reproduced on this page have been shot at 100 screen specifically for reproduction in publications that have changed to offset. Yaphet Kotto Shows Versatility In “Monkey Hustle” Always the dedicated actor, usually essaying heavy dramatic roles, Yaphet Kotto demonstrates his ability to carry off light comedy starring as a top conman in American International Pictures’ fast-paced look at a facet of ghetto life, “The Monkey Hustle,’ which opens at the theatre. Broadway first became aware of Kotto after his distinguished performance as Jack Johnson in the prize-winning play, “The Great White Hope.” He went on to gain further recognition in motion pictures with “‘The Liberation of LB Jones.’ More recently Yaphet Kotto has portrayed such diverse roles as a prize-fighting slave in “‘Drum” and the African. leader, Idi Amin, in “Raid on Entebbe.” The first inkling of Kotto’s ability to carry lighter roles came in his portrayal of Pam Grier’s private-detective friend in American International’s ‘‘Friday Foster.”’ Now, in “The Monkey Hustle,” as a fast-talking, fastmoving street hustler, Kotto demonstrates a light-heartedness not found in any of his previous characters. Produced and directed by Arthur Marks, “‘The Monkey Hustle” screenplay was written by Charles Johnson from a story by Odie Hawkins. Sharing star honors with Kotto are popular comedian Rudy Ray Moore and Rosalind Cash, who drew kudos for her performance in AIP’s “Cornbread, Earl and Me.” PUBLICITY Rosalind Cash Shines In “The Monkey Hustle” One of today’s fastest rising dramatic actresses, Rosalind Cash essays a change of pace co-starring in American International Pictures’ light-hearted comedy, “The Monkey Hustle,”’ which opens at the ciereeticateceie, EMCAUTE: Ms. Cash, who recently gave an outstanding performance as a ghetto mother coping with the problems of raising a son, in AIP’s hit film, ““Cornbread, Earl and Me,” now stars as Mama, proprietress of a popular neighborhood gathering spot. Combining an innate sense of humor with a deep understanding of human nature, Rosalind Cash strikes a perfect balance, in the film, between star Yaphet Kotto, top conman and Rudy Ray Moore, neighborhood vice overlord; both of them vying for her affections. Ms. Cash, an alumni of New York’s famed Negro Ensemble Company, received her first break when Richard Rodgers selected her as Barbara McNair’s understudy in the hit musical, ‘“‘No Strings.” Later, she played in the smash. stage production of ‘“‘The Great White Hope,” a play which also helped bring Kotto to stardom. Her first starring role on the screen was with Charlton Heston in “The Omega Man.” “The Monkey Hustle,’ was produced and directed by Arthur Marks. ‘‘The Monkey Hustle’? screenplay was by Charles Johnson from a story by Odie Hawkins. 7611-7-28A PUFFIN’ ‘N’ BLOWIN?’-Yaphet Kotto as Daddy Foxx, topline hustler and conman puffs on his ever-present cigar as he eyes his twelve-year-old apprentice and imitator, Kirk Calloway as ‘Baby D’ as they ponder their next move in American International Pictures’ fast-paced comedy, “The Monkey Hustle,” which opens at the theatre. Rare Inner-City Vignettes Seen In “The Monkey Hustle” Seldom seen views of innercity life where the lives of the teeming population, involved in their various endeavors in a daily struggle for existence, cross paths and interplay with one another will be witnessed when American International Pictures’ fast-paced comedy, ““The Monkey Hustle,” opens at the theatre. While many films have presented bits and pieces or one view of ghetto living — the gangs, thieves, prostitutes and street hustlers — in ‘“‘The Monkey Hustle,” a more over-all view is presented. In this film, one gets glimpses of all the above-mentioned characters but, in addition, there are the kids, old folks, workmen, politicians, social workers and just plain, everyday people acting out the pattern of their lives together. The result is excitement, pathos and humor, with accent on the latter. Written by young, black writer Charles Johnson from the depths of his own experiences and a story by Odie Hawkins, “The Monkey Hustle’ screenplay encompasses the ghetto existence. The humor resulting from an unlikely alliance of the lawless and the law-abiding elements joining forces to fight city hall, makes-for belly-laugh entertainment. The film stars Yaphet Kotto, Rudy Ray Moore and Rosalind Cash, supported by a large, competent cast of young and old. Arthur Marks was_ producerdirector.