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They accepted and in September 1990 the show “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air” became a hit out of the gate for NBC. The Hudlins also had a cameo as thieves chased by an attack dog who jumped on the bus to escape it. “House Party” hit theaters on March 9th, 1990 via New Line Cinema and even though it only opened on 520 screens it averaged almost $9000 per screen and landed at #3 in the box office opening weekend making almost double its $2.5 million budget.
30 Things You Didn't Know About House Party Even Though You've Seen It 50 Times - E! NEWS
30 Things You Didn't Know About House Party Even Though You've Seen It 50 Times.
Posted: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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While they played teenagers, they were nearly a decade out of high school. Comedian Robin Harris was on the verge of breaking big when he appeared as Pops, Kid's strict father, in "House Party." Pops forbids Kid to attend Play's party, given that it takes place on a school night and Kid has homework to do. Once he realizes Kid has sneaked out of the house, he angrily searches for him. Apart from his work as a producer, songwriter, and funkmaster, he's known for his colorful hair and outfits, his outsized personality, and his incalculable influence on other musicians, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Tupac Shakur and beyond. Though he's had some hardships, including substance abuse, he's come out the other side as funky as ever, getting sober in 2019 and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Grammy that same year. Though Martin Lawrence was the biggest star to come out of "House Party," George Clinton was the biggest one in it — despite only appearing in a cameo.
Christopher Martin as Play
The principal cast was rounded out by actress Tisha Campbell, video vixen & dancer A.J. Johnson plus members of Full Force as the antagonists, Stab (Paul Anthony), Zilla (B-Fine) & Pee Wee (Bowlegged Lou). “House Party” was shot in California during July 1989 before the soundtrack was done and Kid N’ Play were working on their sophomore LP. Harris' comedy was known for its explicit language and its side-splitting jokes. He had a small role as a bartender in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and a larger one as Sweet Dick Willie in "Do The Right Thing," as well as playing Jerome in Eddie Murphy's "Harlem Nights" that same year.
Things You Probably Didn’t Know About House Party
The film was born of a 1983 short that was shot and produced by Hudlin while he was still a student at Harvard. In 1987, brothers Reggie and Warrington Hudlin turned the short into a full feature script, presenting it to New Line Cinema, the movie studio then predominantly known for the Nightmare On Elm Street horror series. Looking to hop on the post-Spike Lee Black film wave, the studio greenlit the movie. Initially written for Grammy-winning pop-rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, the starring roles instead went to their contemporaries Kid ‘N Play, a pair of fleet-footed rhymers from Queens who’d enjoyed a string of rap hits helmed by superproducer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor. A virtually unknown Martin Lawrence soon joined the cast as Kid ‘N Play’s hapless buddy, Bilal—fresh off his first big screen appearance in Lee’s 1989 classic Do The Right Thing. “House Party” was on the surface a musical comedy aimed at younger audiences (even though it received an R rating) but it was so much more.
Their friend Christopher "Kid" Robinson Jr. gets involved in an altercation with school bully Stab and his brothers, Pee-Wee and Zilla. At home, Kid tries to convince his father Christopher "Pop" Robinson Sr. to let him go to the party. After getting a call from school about Kid's fight with Stab, Pop changes his mind and grounds Kid for his actions.
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He's the leader of the bullies and the one of his two brothers, Pee-Wee (Lucien "Bow-legged Lou" George Jr.) and Zilla (Brian "B-Fine" George), who most wants to destroy Kid in "House Party," though he's not quite as enthusiastically chaotic about it as his two siblings. While we wait for the planned LeBron James-produced remake of "House Party" to hit the silver screen, let's catch up with the cast. The enduring appeal of Reggie Hudlin’s classic comedy is its comfort with its specific cultural voice. The two are about to have sex there when she stops him, wanting to know if she is simply his second choice.
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But despite the simple formula, House Party stands in stark contrast to many of the teen films that preceded it—because, as Hudlin mentioned, these kids were black. Like others in the House Party cast, the Georges had no real acting experience before the film, having roots in the world of music. Unlike their musically inclined castmates, however, they continued to crush in their original endeavor for decades to come.
Where Was House Party ( Filmed?
As Stab's brothers Pee-Wee and Zilla, Lucien "Bowlegged Lou" George Jr. and Brian "B-Fine" George bring manic energy to the trio's exploits as they hunt Kid on his way to Play's party. Anthony performed in Full Force with his brothers Bow-legged Lou, B-Fine, and cousins Hugh Junior "Shy Shy" Clark, Curt "Curt-T-T" Bedeau, and Gerry "Baby Gee" Charles. Anthony shares in the group's Grammys and multi-gold and platinum records. While Full Force had several of their own hits, they were also high-powered producers who have worked with Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and UTFO (responsible for the 1984 mega-hit "Roxanne Roxanne"), among many, many others. Played by Paul Anthony George, known professionally as Paul Anthony, of hip-hop group Full Force, Stab is a buff bundle of revenge.
In addition, the Hollywood neighborhood served as a prominent filming site for the remake. The saggy, baggy narrative is knit together with celebrity cameos and Y2K nostalgia — the best moment comes from a surprise performance by Juvenile, and singer Mýa has a supporting role. The good news is that after a few delays, the “House Party” remake, directed by acclaimed music video and commercial director Calmatic in his feature debut, is in theaters. The bad news is that this one is definitely not headed for the Library of Congress. This comedically and narratively muddled take on the title (not even the original premise) is deeply unfunny and downright tiresome. That would, however, be far from the extent of Campbell's post-House Party career.
After the film, the group worked with Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and James Brown. Anthony made sporadic acting appearances, including as a heckler on the television series "Martin" in 1995, but his focus apart from music is on physical fitness, as evidenced by his physique as Stab. In 2006, Anthony was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, and eventually developed myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.
Hip-hop was written into House Party’s script, but it went over the heads of many studio executives. Although the genre was rising in popularity during the late ’80s, and hip-hop-centric films like 1983’s Wild Style, 1984’s Beat Street, and 1985’s Krush Groove had become cult favorites, it still wasn’t on the average exec’s radar. Grillo says the staff at New Line’s New York office was well aware of hip-hop’s rising influence because they rode the subways and walked the streets, unlike their Los Angeles counterparts.
His team-up with Kid 'n Play was his first effort at cinematic comedy, and it'd prove to be a lucrative avenue for him moving forward. First, however, he played Bilal, a friend of the lead duo who's pressed into duty as the DJ for the party of the year, and who provides the new jack swing that soundtracks its events. Sure, he has too much equipment, of which he's way too protective, but when the chips are down, he's there for his friends.
The duo carried this atmosphere over into their big-screen debut, which was also the first effort from writer-director Reginald Hudlin, who would go on to helm projects like Boomerang and produce Django Unchained for Quentin Tarantino. The film was a critical and popular success, spawning sequels and, decades later, a remake that's being produced by LeBron James. Back in 1986, Harvard University undergrad Reginald Hudlin won an award for his short thesis film “House Party”. Three years later, he and his older brother writer/director/producer Warrington would expand the short into a full length first feature. The original script was written with the intention crossover Rap superstars Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince would play the main roles but they declined so the script was modified for Kid of Kid N’ Play to occupy the role originally intended for Will “Fresh Prince” Smith.
“They’re my homegirls, but we smoked them.” (Neither Campbell nor Johnson could be reached for comment.) All parties brought their A-game, so the audience is the true winner. House Party isn’t just one of the most important black films ever made—it’s one of the most important films of the late 20th century, a movie that showed Hollywood the breadth of the black experience, and the immense interest in it. Part of why House Party resonated then and continues to now is that kind of warm authenticity.
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