Harlem Nights (1989)
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A candy store owner and his adopted son run a successful nightclub in 1930s Harlem while navigating a dangerous underworld of gangsters and corrupt cops.
The story
In 1918 Harlem, a small-time gambling operator named Sugar Ray takes in an orphan named Vernest Brown after the boy shoots a man who nearly killed Ray. By 1938, the two have become affluent and operate the upscale Club Sugar Ray, which features gambling, dancing, and a brothel. Their success draws the ire of Bugsy Calhoune, a ruthless white gangster who demands a majority of the club's weekly earnings. To protect their business, Ray and Quick devise a complex scheme to rob Calhoune's betting houses during a high-profile boxing match, leading to a series of dangerous confrontations and betrayals.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1918 Harlem, Sugar Ray takes in Vernest Brown, raising him as a son. By 1938, they run Club Sugar Ray. When gangster Bugsy Calhoune demands a cut of the earnings, Ray and Quick plan to rob Calhoune's betting houses during a boxing match between Jack Jenkins and Michael Kirkpatrick. They also trick Calhoune into staking $500,000 on Kirkpatrick. During the scheme, Quick kills several people in self-defense, including Calhoune's mistress Dominique LaRue, after being manipulated by various associates. Ray and Quick eventually seize the money by posing as police and framing a prostitute, Sunshine. They trap the corrupt Sergeant Cantone in a vault. Calhoune, realizing he was tricked when Jenkins wins the fight, discovers the money bag contains sugar and realizes Ray's involvement. He leads his men to Ray's house, where they are killed by hidden explosives. Ray and Quick pay off the complicit officers and depart Harlem to start a new life.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Eddie Murphy
- Writers
- Eddie Murphy · writer; Eddie Murphy · director
- Cast and characters
- Eddie Murphy · Vernest "Quick" Brown; Richard Pryor · "Sugar Ray" Raymond; Redd Foxx · Bennie "Snake Eyes" Wilson; Danny Aiello · Sergeant Phil Cantone; Michael Lerner · "Bugsy" Calhoune; Della Reese · Vera Walker; Stan Shaw · Jack Jenkins; Jasmine Guy · Dominique La Rue
- Genres
- crime; comedy; drama
- Themes
- organized crime; fatherhood; betrayal; ambition
- Tone and mood
- comedic; dramatic; gritty
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; buddy comedy; period piece; crime drama
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received largely negative critical reviews, with many critics panning it for its direction and writing. However, it achieved significant box office success during its opening weekend, breaking records for the pre-Christmas period.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 80%
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Screenplay · Won; Academy Awards · Best Costume Design · Nominated
- Production trivia
- Eddie Murphy's only directorial effort as of 2026.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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