The Sophisticated Gents (1981) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Twenty-five-year reunion of members of a Black athletic-social club, based on the book "The Junior Bachelor Society", brings together nine of its members for the first time to honor their old coach but is marred by a murder investigation involving one of the gents (Melvin Van Peebles, who had writte

Cast & Crew

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Bibi Besch

Bernie Casey

Rosalind Cash

Christine Jackson

Sonny Jim Gaines

Rosey Grier

Harry Guardino

Film Details

Also Known As

Sophisticated Gents

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

1981

Production Company

CFI Hollywood; NBC Entertainment

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Synopsis

Twenty-five-year reunion of members of a Black athletic-social club, based on the book "The Junior Bachelor Society", brings together nine of its members for the first time to honor their old coach but is marred by a murder investigation involving one of the gents (Melvin Van Peebles, who had written the teleplay as well as one of the songs). This basically all-Black film, made in 1979, sat on the network shelf for nearly two years.

Cast

Bibi Besch

Bernie Casey

Rosalind Cash

Christine Jackson

Sonny Jim Gaines

Rosey Grier

Harry Guardino

Albert Hall

Robert Hooks

Ezzard Chops Jackson

Janet Maclachlan

Joanna Miles

Denise Nicholas

Ron O'neal

Clarence Henderson

Thalmus Rasulala

Kenneth Snake Dobson

Beah Richards

Raymond St. Jacques

Dartagnan Parks

Melvin Van Peebles

Silkie Porter; Walter Moon

Marlene Warfield

Dick Anthony Williams

Paul Winfield

Richard Bubbles Wiggins

Alfre Woodard

Dennis Patrick

Lynn Benesch

Robert Earl Jones

Al Fann

James Luisi

Christina Hart

Charles Blackwell

Junior Fann

Chappie'S Woman

Wayne Storm

June Christopher

Clement St George

Hank Brandt

Clyde Fitzgerald

Wally Taylor

Stymie Beard

Rocke Birt

Mario Van Peebles

Davis Roberts

Al Robertson

Mel Scott

Mark Thomas

Alicia D'hanifu

Casey Brown

Lee Hamilton

Rubert Williams

Dee Timberlake

Chop'S Secretary

Janice Whitby

Cynthia Latham

Rene Levant

Candace Mckendree

Mary Ellen O'neil

Harry Middlebrooks

Vince Trankina

Lawrence Green

Randy Lindsey

Gene Whittington

Worker; Worker No 1

Tom Delaney

John Zaremba

Mayor Farrington

Matthew Beard

Crew

Betsy Blankett

John Caper Jr.

Music Supervisor

Wally Crowder

Stunt Coordinator

Ron Dennis

David Dockendorf

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Michael Donaher

Production Assistant

April Ferry

Ruby Ford

Penelope L Foster

Production Manager

Penelope L Foster

Production Manager

Eva Gardos

Assistant Editor

Benny Golson

Benny Golson

Music Conductor

Ted Harrison

Jim Herron

Property Master

John Huneck

Chris Jenkins

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Joyce King

Script Supervisor

Don Macdougall

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Terry K Meade

Director Of Photography

Phyllis Minoff

Bill Nelson

Gerald O'dell

Penny Perry

Paul Petzoldt

Tom Rasmussen

Richard Reynolds

Assistant Art Director

Laura Richarz

Karen Schwartz

Fran Sears

Albert Shepard

Assistant Director

Michael Steckler

Location Manager

Olga Takaks

Assistant Editor

Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles

Richard T Vanik

Camera Operator

Dick Wahrman

Sound Effects Editor

Dwight Williams

Assistant Director

John A Williams

Book As Source Material ("The Junior Bachelor Society")

Daniel Wilson

Executive Producer

Film Details

Also Known As

Sophisticated Gents

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

1981

Production Company

CFI Hollywood; NBC Entertainment

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Aired in United States January 1990

Aired in United States June 1990

Aired in United States October 1, 1981

Aired in United States September 29, 1981

Aired in United States September 30, 1981

Shown at Museum of Modern Art, New York City in a Melvin Van Peebles retrospective June 22-30, 1990.

3

Shown at United States Film Festival Park City, Utah January 23 & 28, 1990.

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