"If you wanted to buy a Sam Cooke album, where would you go?"
"To the Wrecka STow."
UNDER THE CHERRY MOON
1986
Dir. Prince
Screenplay: Becky Johnston
With: Prince, Jerome Benton, Kristen Scott Thomas, Stevn Berkoff, Emmanuelle Sallet, Alexandra Stewart, Francesca Annis
What is it about:
Prince plays a gigalo (“That’s a fancy word for male whore!”) who seduces women and take their money for a living. He plays the piano at a club part time as well. Benton who plays Prince’s partner is not too disimilar. Upon seeing that there is a bigger fish in town, Prince chases after spoiled brat Kristen Scott-Thomas for the $50 million shee is worth. Just one problem with his plan - he falls in love. Her father isn’t too keen on Prince and decides that he will have to call in the local police whom he has on his payroll. Very surreal with neon telephones and very large boom-boxes in a 1950’s setting.
Cephas’ notes and spoilers:
Leonard Maltin calls this film a “Science fiction” becaue Prince is so infatuauted with himself. I find the film to be fun and humorous with a royal soundtrack starring the hit “Kiss”. My father watched a little bit of the fiklm with me the other day and said, “It’s stupid! It’s a piece of crap, that’s what that is!” Personally? This is one of my most favorite films of all time and I put it up there on my top 10 list of fave films! Hey - it’s fun and it stars Prince. OK? There is this awesome scene where Prince and Benton bring Scott-Thomas down to their “world” by embarrassing her ina fancy restaurant by yelling out “Wrecka Stow!” What is “wrecka Stow?” “If you wanted to buy a Sam Cooke album, where would you go?” To the wrecka stow! LOL! Damn that gets me every time! I love that joke. Then he and Benton get the restaurant dancing with “Girls and Boys”.
Cephas’ Rating:
BUY THIS FILM!!! Or at least RENT THIS FILM! If not to enjoy it, then to “MYSSTIE” it. That means to make like “Mystery Science Theatre 3000” and perform a running commentary with your friend mocking the film throughout. It shouldn’t be hard - the film is excellent if you are a fan of Prince but if you aren’t, then it is just stupid.