''Which Way is Up?'' is a 1977 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

starring

Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...

and directed by

Michael Schultz Michael Schultz (born November 10, 1938) is an American director and producer of theater, film and television. Life and career Schultz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of an African-American mother Katherine Frances Leslie (1917-1995) ...

. It is a remake of the 1972 Italian comedy film ''

The Seduction of Mimi ''The Seduction of Mimi'' ( it, Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore, lit=Mimi the Metalworker, Wounded in Honor) is a 1972 Italian comedy-drama film written and directed by Lina Wertmüller, starring Giancarlo Giannini as Mimi and featuring Ma ...

''. Richard Pryor plays three roles: an orange picker who has two women at the same time, the orange picker's father, and a reverend who gets the orange picker's wife pregnant.

Plot

When he falls into a union action by mistake, Leroy Jones is forced out of town. The only option given to Leroy was a one way bus ticket to Los Angeles, where more jobs are available. While he is away, Leroy becomes smitten with Vanetta, a beautiful labor activist. When he returns home, he has to juggle his wife, his new romance with Vanetta, and his new job. Meanwhile, the Reverend Lenox Thomas takes advantage of Leroy's absence to cavort with Annie Mae, leading Leroy to take revenge with the reverend's wife.

Cast

as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox Thomas * Lonette McKee as Vanetta *

Margaret Avery Margaret Avery (born April 15, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She began her career appearing on stage and later had starring roles in films including '' Cool Breeze'' (1972), ''Which Way Is Up?'' (1977), ''Scott Joplin'' (1977), and ''T ...

as Annie Mae *

Morgan Woodward Thomas Morgan Woodward (September 16, 1925 – February 22, 2019) was an American actor who is best known for his recurring role as Marvin "Punk" Anderson on the television soap opera ''Dallas'' and for his portrayal of Boss Godfrey, the sungla ...

as Mr. Mann * Marilyn Coleman as Sister Sarah * BeBe Drake-Hooks as Thelma * Gloria Edwards as Janelle * Ernesto Hernandez as Jose Reyes * Otis Day as Sugar * Morgan Roberts as Henry * Diane Rodriguez as Estrella Reyes *

Dolph Sweet Adolphus Jean Sweet (July 18, 1920 – May 8, 1985) was an American actor, credited with nearly 60 television and film roles and more than 50 roles in stage productions, including performances on Broadway. He often played policemen throughout ...

as The Boss * Timothy Thomerson as Tour Guide * Danny Valdez as Chuy Estrada *

Luis Valdez Luis Miguel Valdez (born June 26, 1940) is an American playwright, screenwriter, film director and actor. Regarded as the father of Chicano film and theater, Valdez is best known for his play '' Zoot Suit'', his movie '' La Bamba'', and his cre ...

as Ramon Juarez *

Harry Northup Harry E. Northup (born September 2, 1940) is an American actor and poet. As an actor, he made frequent appearances in the films of Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme. Personal life and career Northup was born in Amarillo, Texas. He lived in 17 p ...

as Chief Goon

Reception

''TV Guide'' rated ''Which Way Is Up?'' 1/5 stars and wrote that Pryor plays his character as unlikable, making the film unfunny.

References

External links

* * * {{Michael Schultz 1977 films 1977 comedy films 1970s sex comedy films African-American comedy films American sex comedy films American remakes of Italian films 1970s English-language films Films directed by Michael Schultz Films produced by Steve Krantz Films set in Los Angeles Films set in Venice Films with screenplays by Carl Gottlieb Universal Pictures films 1970s American films