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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ on Netflix, the Mostly Enjoyable Return of Eddie Murphy's Beloved Character
In an uncharacteristic move—perhaps in honor of Black History Month—Netflix added a classic film to its library this month: the 1967 drama, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
The film, written by William Rose and directed by Stanley Kramer, is famous for its depiction of race relations in the 1960s. Sidney Poitier—who, at the time, was the only black actor who had ever been nominated for or awarded an Oscar—stars as the controversial dinner guest of his fiancé, a young white woman named Joanna (played by Katharine Houghton).
Joanna’s parents, who are played by Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in their last roles together before Tracy’s death, are supposedly liberals. Nonetheless, they are shocked and dismayed by their daughter’s interracial engagement. Of course, by the end of the film, they realize that people are people, and, as Tracy’s character says, “You’re two wonderful people who happened to fall in love, and happen to have a pigmentation problem.”
It goes without saying, then, that Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is and has always been outdated when it comes to the nuanced, complex reality of race relations in America, both then and now. (Might I suggest watching Get Out if you’re looking for a movie that does that well.) Nevertheless, this 1967 classic is worth watching as a culturally significant cornerstone of film history, and as one of Poitier’s most praised and remembered performances. Also, Netflix hosts films made before 1970 so infrequently, that you might as well take advantage of it while you can.
But after you watch it, please watch Eddie Murphy‘s short-but-sweet stand-up bit on Sidney Poitier’s hair in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
At the Critics Choice Association Celebration of Black Cinema event last December, the Dolemite Is My Name star was honored with the Career Achievement Award, to a standing ovation. He accepted the award graciously and launched into a relaxed, seemingly improvised two-minute comedy set that was tighter than half of the Netflix comedy specials.
“Congratulations to the African American film critics, because when I started making movies almost forty years ago, there were no African American film critics,” joked Murphy. “They didn’t have no makeup — no African American makeup, hair department, wardrobe department, producers, they didn’t have none of that. It was rough. Especially the hair department. If you watch an old Sidney Poitier movie, his hair is fucked up in all of them. If you’ve never watched Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, pop in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. You’ll be like, ‘Is this how this motherfucker came to dinner?’ But Sidney is such a brilliant actor, he was able to act like his hair was combed.”
How is it that Murphy’s material for non-televised award ceremonies is this good? Truly, it boggles the mind. I just happened across this clip, which currently has less than 2000 views on YouTube, and had to share it with the world. Not only is it the perfect chaser to Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner on Netflix, but it’s also proof that Eddie Murphy is a legend and the Oscars didn’t deserve him. Anyways, stream Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix, thanks.
