Willie Dynamite (Universal) (1973)

PUBLICITY WILLIE DYNAMITE SHOCKING STORY TOLD SHORTS IN “WILLIE DYNAMITE” An explosively shocking story that mirrors a segment of the black urban experience, comes... Senhora (oyh dg (eek epee Theatre with the opening of the Zanuck/Brown production in Technicolor, ‘’Willie Dynamite,” a Universal picture, starring Roscoe Orman, the late Diana Sands and Thalmus Rasulala. Gilbert Moses, of the New York theatre, makes his screen debut with the film, written as a screenplay by Ron Cutler from a story he coauthored with Joe Keyes, Jr. “Willie Dynamite” is the name of a powerful big city pimp portrayed by Orman, who won the role on the strength of a screen test. A member of New York’s famed New Lafayette Theatre, he has acted with distinction in the company’s productions of “In The Winetime,” “‘Duplex’”’ and “’The Devil Catchers,” and starred offBroadway in ‘The Electronic Nigger” and other plays. He also teaches acting at the New Lafayette. An actress with a great deal of emotional depth and power was needed to portray the character of an ex-hooker turned quasi-social worker. The late Diana Sands was perfect for the role. Such films as “The Landlord,”’ “Doctors’ Wives’’ and “‘Georgia, Georgia’ had brought her critical acclaim. Her roots, however, were in the theatre, where her portrayal of Sidney Poitiér’s lively sister in ‘Raisin’ in the Sun” catapulted her to fame on the Broadway stage. Thalmus Rasulala was last seen on Broadway in the Pearl Bailey company of ‘Hello Dolly” in the featured role of Cornelius. As a result of his performance, he was awarded the “‘Most Promising Actor’ award by Theatre World Magazine. Since his arrival in Hollywood, he has gone from one film to another; his most recent credits are “‘Cool Breeze’’ and “Blacula.”” Although she makes her film debut in “Willie Dynamite,” Joyce Walker will be recognized by many moviegoers. For the past four years, Joyce has been a top New York model, appearing in ads proclaiming the merits of everything from sleepwear to hair products and high fashion clothes in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Seventeen. “Willie Dynamite,’” which was shot in New York and in Hollywood, is rated “‘R. Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.” # # # Count on the dedicated actor to provide the extra touches to make his characterization believable. For his role of a powerful New York pimp in the Zanuck/Brown Technicolor production for Universal, “Willie Dynamite,’ which comes BS Lies to the....... Theatre, star Roscoe Orman suffered makeup men to add a gold cap to one of his teeth. And to add an extra dimension, Orman also had his left ear lobe pierced in order to wear an earring. Hollywood actors still attract attention on the streets of New York. But no two-legged superstar from movieland ever drew more stares than the customized 1971 Eldorado Cadillac shipped from Hollywood for scenes in the Zanuck/Brown production for Universal, ‘‘Willie Dynamite,” starring Roscoe Orman, the late Diana Sands and Thalmus Rasulala, WIG ICOMES aes ete en eins to the sade aise) evel ne Theatre. Customized at a cost of $10,000 by Winfield Car Special Projects, it features such items as silver chrome exhaust pipes and running boards, and dazzles the eye with a special iridescent paint job, gold trim and leopard skin upholstery. The flamboyant vehicle was driven in the Technicolor picture by Orman, who plays a powerful New York City pimp. # # # “Willie Dynamite,” a Zanuck/ Brown production for Universal, GOMES i 2hiieter eos ROPING coh aae esate Theatre. Starring Roscoe Orman, the late Diana Sands, Thalmus Rasulala, and introducing.Joyce Walker, the action drama traces the downfall of a powerful big city pimp. 522 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10036 All advertising in this press book, as well as all other advertising and publicity materials referred to herein, has been approved under the Standards for Advertising of the Code of Self-Regulation of the Motion Picture Association of America. All inquiries on this procedure may be addressed to: Director of Code for Advertising Motion Picture Association of America KAA COMMUNITY THEATRE BEST FOR TRAINING Don’t rush to Hollywood or New York if you want to become an actor, join a community theatre instead! That’s advice to budding superstars from Roscoe Orman, who stars with the late Diana Sands and Thalmus Rasulala in ‘Willie Dynamite,’ a Zanuck/Brown production for Universal in Technicolor, which COMOESia: costes. TORUS: cede ee Theatre. Orman teaches, acts and directs at New York’s Lafayette Theatre, founded as a professional resident theatrical company for Harlem by Robert McBeth, and originally funded from poverty programs “Our aim,” he says, “was to develop the highest possible level of excellence for the community. Our statement of purpose has to do with who we are, where we are and what condition we are in. “Having this type of theatrical experience behind me, | would advise any young person considering an acting career to join a community theatre or center. By working within his own community, one gets a better understanding of himself and his craft. And a community environment is far better training ground than a university or college. Community theatre has to be responsive to the community it serves. CL,e.®\ SY SZ, MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA BROADWAY ACTORS CAST FOR “WILLIE DYNAMITE” Gilbert Moses meant no slight to Hollywood actors when he recruited most of the cast of Universal's “Willie Dynamite’ from the New York stage. It wasn’t that he’s partial as a stage director to members of the Manhattan branch of Actor’s Equity, says the director of the Zanuck/ Brown production in Technicolor about the downfall of a powerful big city pimp, which comes....... to PMG hematin ese, Theare. In fact, his only reason was “‘to try to achieve honesty in the film,” says Moses. ‘’The story locale is New York. There is a certain hardness that New York blacks develop. Even though an actor may be removed from ghetto life, he is still aware of that life style, because he is part of it. Hollywood actors would have been wrong. The cultural differences between the east and west coasts are too great.” The director, making his Hollywood bow with the picture, first signed Roscoe Orman, of New York’s New Lafayette Theatre, to play the title role, then persuaded the late Diana Sands, who became a Broadway star with “‘Raisin in the Sun,” ta play the female ‘lead, and: Thalmus Rasulala of the New York stage, to portray the district attorney. “The whole question,’’ summarizes Moses, “‘boils down to stage actors as opposed to television actors. Most of the actors in Hollywood have received their training and experience primarily in television. The screenplay for “Willie Dynamite”’ was written by Ron Cutler, based on a story he co authored with Joe Keys, Jr. PAGE 7