Michele Watley Movies
- 1998
Rodney Evans wrote, directed and produced this documentary about strippers -- with the main focus on 3 people: bisexual Latino dancer Eldad Sahar, an aspiring actor; African-American single mom Michele Watley; and Dixie Evans, who runs her Exotic World museum outside San Diego. Evans, in her 70s, was famed as the "Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque." She recalls the golden age of strip-tease performers, and the film features black-and-white footage of Evans doing her act during the '50s. Shown at the 1998 San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dixie Evans, Michele Watley, (more)
Coming to America casts comedian Eddie Murphy as pampered African prince Akeem, who rebels against an arranged marriage and heads to America to find a new bride. Murphy's regal father (James Earl Jones) agrees to allow the prince 40 days to roam the U.S., sending the prince's faithful retainer Semmi (Arsenio Hall) along to make sure nothing untoward happens. To avoid fortune hunters, Prince Akeem conceals his true identity and gets a "Joe job" at a fast-food restaurant. Murphy and Hall play multiple roles, and there are innumerable celebrity cameos peppered throughout the proceedings -- including the Duke Brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) from Trading Places. Coming to America made further headlines when humorist Art Buchwald sued the film's producers for plagiarizing one of his works. Buchwald carried the case to trial, where he won a sizeable judgement against the film's producers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, (more)
