Welcome to the double. As always, if we had a theater, this is what would be on the marque for a Friday night. Today is a double dose of the Cos (that’s Bill Cosby). Before the bad sweaters, before Jell-O Pudding Pops, and long before Eddie Murphy told Cosby to “have a coke and a smile and shut the fuck up” he was a comedian who could do no wrong. His comedy albums are legendary, but his films these days are largely forgotten despite their popularity when they were released.
First up, from 1976 we have Mother, Jugs & Speed which features the unlikely pairing of Cos and Harvey Keitel. It also features a rather busty performance by drool inducing Raquel Welch (GIGGITY). Cosby was hot as a comedian when this film was made, and Keitel was on fire after already having made Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. This is much lighter than those two but still has some dark humor. Tough to think this came from Peter Yates who directed Bullitt, but this is a great film.
The F & B Ambulance Co. is looking for a few good men... but they will take any body they can get. Mother Jugs & Speed.
The best film Cosby ever made is 1972’s Hickey & Boggs with Robert Culp, his partner from I Spy. Unfortunately, it is also impossible to find a trailer for that noir classic. So today…the film you came to see… the first pairing of Cos and Sidney Poitier, Uptown Saturday Night. This is the first in an unnamed and unofficial trilogy of films, followed by Let’s Do It Again, and A Piece of the Action. This film is considered a classic comedy of the 70’s and the Poitier/Cosby pairing would prove to be a hit with both crowds and critics. Uptown also features a small performance by another comedic legend, Richard Pryor (who made this just after The Mack and Hit!).
They get funny when you mess with their money! From 1974. Uptown Saturday night.
See you on forty deuce,
G
