Short Eyes (film)
Short Eyes | |
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Directed by | Robert M. Young |
Written by | Miguel Piñero |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Peter Sova |
Edited by | Edward Beyer |
Music by |
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Distributed by | Film League |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Short Eyes is a 1977 American film adaptation of Miguel Piñero's play of the same title, directed by Robert M. Young.[1] It was filmed in the Manhattan House of Detention for Men, otherwise known as The Tombs.
The Wu-Tang Clan sampled dialogue from the film for the songs "Let My Niggas Live" and "Gravel Pit" in 2000.[2]
Plot[]
Short Eyes is set in an unnamed prison in New York City, whose inmates are predominantly black or Puerto Rican. One day, Clark Davis, a young, middle-class white man accused of raping a young girl, arrives on remand. His fellow prisoners immediately turn on him—child rapists are considered the lowest form of prison life—except for Juan, one of the institution's older prisoners, who treats him with dignity.
Davis insists he doesn't remember raping the girl, but he admits to Juan that he has molested several other children. The prosecution's case against Davis is weak and, unless Juan tells prison authorities about Davis' confessions to him, it is only a matter of time before he is set free. As Juan struggles with what to do, the other prisoners plan to get rid of Davis permanently.
Cast[]
- Bruce Davison as Clark Davis
- Jose Perez as Juan
- Joseph Carberry as Longshoe
- Nathan George as Ice
- Don Blakely as El Raheem
- Tito Goya as Cupcake
- Shawn Elliott as Paco
- Bob Maroff as Mr. Nett
- Miguel Piñero as Go-Go
- Luis Guzmán as Prisoner
- Curtis Mayfield as Prisoner
- Freddy Fender as Johnny
Music[]
Curtis Mayfield wrote the film's score, and appears in the film as a prisoner performing the song "Do Do Wap Is Strong In Here". The soundtrack was released on Mayfield's Curtom Records.
References[]
- ^ Canby, Vincent (September 28, 1977). "Film: 'Short Eyes' Eloquently Adapted". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- ^ Blanco, Alvin (2011). The Wu-Tang Clan and RZA: A Trip Through Hip Hop's 36 Chambers. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-313-38442-4.
External links[]
- Short Eyes at IMDb
- Short Eyes at AllMovie
- 1977 films
- English-language films
- 1977 drama films
- American prison films
- American films based on plays
- American drama films
- Films directed by Robert M. Young
- American films
- Films about pedophilia
- 1977 directorial debut films
- 1970s drama film stubs