The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bruce McFee, Mike Epps, Peter MacNeill.
Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle portrays the one and only Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr.; Petey's story is funny, dramatic, inspiring - and real. In the mid-to-late 1960s, in Washington, D.C., vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combining to unique and powerful effect. It was the place and time for Petey to fully express himself - sometimes to outrageous effect - and "tell it like it is." With the support of his irrepressible and tempestuous girlfriend Vernell (Taraji P. Henson), the newly minted ex-con talks his way into an on-air radio gig. He forges a friendship and a partnership with fellow prison inmate Milo's (Mike Epps) brother Dewey Hughes (double Golden Globe Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor). From the first wild morning on the air, Petey relies on the more straight-laced Dewey to run interference at WOL-AM, where Dewey is the program director. At the station, Petey becomes an iconic radio personality, surpassing even the established popularity of his fellow disc jockeys, Nighthawk (Cedric The Entertainer) and Sunny Jim (Vondie Curtis Hall). Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey openly courts controversy for station owner E.G. Sonderling (Emmy Award winner Martin Sheen). Petey was determined to make not just himself but his community heard during an exciting and turbulent period in American history. As Petey's voice, humor, and spirit surge across the airwaves with the vitality of the era, listeners tune in to hear not only incredible music but also a man speaking directly to them about race and power in America like few people ever have. Through the years, Petey's "The truth just is" style - on - and off-air - would redefine both Petey and Dewey, and empower each to become the man he would most like to be.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
Screenplay Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa
Original story by Michael Genet
Cast Don Cheadle... Petey Greene Chiwetel Ejiofor... Dewey Hughes Bruce McFee... Prison Sign-In Guard Mike Epps... Milo Hughes Peter MacNeill... Warden Cecil Smithers Adam Gaudreau... Escorting Guard Taraji P. Henson... Vernell Watson Cedric the Entertainer...'Nighthawk' Bob Terry Martin Sheen... E.G. Sonderling J. Miles Dale... Program Director Sean MacMahon... Ronnie Simmons Richard Chevolleau... Poochie Braxton Martin Randez... Hadley Todd Schroeder... Guard Captain (as Todd William Schroeder) Vondie Curtis-Hall... Sunny Jim Kelsey (as Vondie Curtis Hall) Jeff Kassel... WOL P.A. Alison Sealy-Smith... Freda Johnie Chase... Bar Patron 1 Eugene Clark... Bar Patron 2 Benz Antoine... Bar Patron 3 Warren Alan Young... Bartender Elle Downs... Peaches Ngozi Paul... Susan Malik McCall... Rioter Matt Birman... Business Man Herbert Rawlins... James Brown (as Herbert L. Rawlings Jr.) Vicky Lambert... Backup Singer #1 Mantee Murphy... Backup Singer #2 Josh McLaughlin... TV News Anchor Richard Fitzpatrick... Charles Sumner Damir Andrei... Fred De Cordova Jim Annan... Tonight Show P.A. Donald James Malmberg... Johnny Carson (as Jim Malmberg) David Brown... Jail Guard (as Dave Brown) Robert J. Tavenor... Engineer (as Robert Tavenor)
Nadège August... Caller (voice) (uncredited) Johnny Carson... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited) Lyndon Johnson... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited) Martin Luther King... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited) Bette Midler... Herself (archive footage) (uncredited) Towanda Underdue... Charity Worker (uncredited)
Produced by Don Cheadle.... executive producer J. Miles Dale.... executive producer Joe Fries.... producer Mark Gordon.... producer William Horberg.... executive producer Sidney Kimmel.... producer Josh McLaughlin.... producer Joseph Rappa.... executive producer (as Joey Rappa) Bruce Toll.... executive producer
Original Music by Terence Blanchard
Director of photography Stéphane Fontaine (AFC, France)
Film Editing by Terilyn A. Shropshire
Casting by Robin D. Cook & Victoria Thomas
Production Design by Warren Alan Young
Art Direction by Patrick Banister
Set Decoration by Patricia Cuccia Carolyn'Cal' Loucks (Cal Loucks)
Costume Design by Gersha Phillips
Makeup Department Mary Aaron.... makeup artist: New York (as Mary R. Aaron) Lydia Bensimmon.... hair stylist: Washington DC (as Lydia Bensimmon-Benaim)
Runtime: 1 hr 58 min (118 min) Sound Mix: Dolby Digital | DTS Color: Color Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1 Camera: Arriflex Cameras and Lenses Negative Format: 35 mm (Kodak) Printed Film Format: 35 mm (anamorphic)
A Focus Features and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment presentation of a Mark Gordon Company/Pelagius Films production.
Please share your impressions, remarks, suggestions to help us improve the new Southplanet website. Don't hesitate to signal any bugs that you happen to come across !
.
