MovieChat Forums > The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992) Discussion > What Motown Acts Deserve Biopics?

What Motown Acts Deserve Biopics?

posted 10 years ago by jefgg
12 replies | jump to latest

Most of the major Motown acts are worthy of a movie. Michael Jackson remains a controversial figure. There was a four hour TV miniseries about The Temptations. I think TV movies might dilute the prospects of a theatrical movie. Mary Wilson's autobiography "Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme" was very successful. I thought I heard that was going to be a movie, but that hasn't happened yet. The Four Tops went from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel. I heard they were as close as brothers. So there might not be enough drama for a movie. Gladys Knight & The Pips had their greatest success after leaving Motown. The late Billy Preston had his share of heartaches. Teena Marie had an interesting life. So did Mary Wells. There was a good VH1 Behind The Music about the late Rick James. I don't know if there is enough drama for a Stevie Wonder movie. The same goes for Lionel Ritchie. The history of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles might make a good movie. The story of MARVIN GAYE needs to be told. The life of Tammi Terrell might make a good movie. But that could be incorporated into a Marvin Gaye biopic because they worked together and were very close.

[–] Kelea7 10 years ago

Most of the major Motown acts are worthy of a movie.

Yes, and anyone from the golden era would (or rather could if approached properly) make an interesting movie. Especially the artists that are a bit overlooked today. The Temptations was a good movie, very entertaining but in my opinion added too many unnecessary details/conflicts/falsehoods and changed too much to truly represent all Temps fairly. Stevie Wonder led an interesting life in my opinion and surely faced many trials...but again his story might be perceived as too squeaky clean as he has an almost flawless reputation. And to be honest this would be a messy situation because many of the former Motown acts, well if they were to tell the truth about Berry Gordy and the label-what really was happening, I doubt they would get much support. I guess that's the story with ALL of these major labels. That being said I can't see their being any traction with most of these films unless they portray Gordy in a favorable light or give a sanitized version of events.

While they are fun to watch, I'm not too fond of biopics especially about people who are no longer here or from history. I just don't feel like a lot of these people who are making these movies actually "get it" as they are younger and/or not in the culture and aren't actually passionate about the subject matter. Then people wind up taking in these flicks and spreading it as gospel yet we still don't have a grasp of who these people truly were. Take for instance 42 or the upcoming James Brown flick. A movie of which I feel would have been in better hands with someone like Spike Lee or John Sayles.

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou and Ruby Dee. Two gifted, beautiful angels who will be dearly missed.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

Has anyone ever had the guts to write a smear book about Berry Gordy? That would be an interesting read.

I just saw "Jersey Boys" about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It was pretty good. They actually recorded for Motown. The Four Seasons released their "Chameleon" album on Motown subsidiary label MoWest Records in 1971. They recorded eight songs for a 1974 album that was never released. Valli had to pay Motown $4,000 to get back the recording for "My Eyes Adored You". He took the tape to Private Stock Records and it became a big hit for Valli as a solo act.

[–] Kelea7 10 years ago

Wow, interesting info there. So Jersey Boys was pretty accurate huh? At least those guys are still around (well Mr. Valli in particular) to sort of be the gatekeeper to their story. Not to mention the fact that Jersey Boys was a Valli-approved musical that has been a success for years so the chances of them fudging this one were less likely.

Has anyone ever had the guts to write a smear book about Berry Gordy? That would be an interesting read.

I don't know if there's ever been a successful attempt. Doubt it. I get the whole thing about preserving his legacy, I really do which is why I didn't bat an eyelash when Dreamgirls caught the criticism and apologized to Mr. Gordy for their representation of him as they were making up things that weren't even in the original Dreamgirls play and passing them off as more or less truth. BUT I had my own issues with that movie mostly for excluding the original Dreamgirls from the creative process and not acknowledging that they practically created/wrote the roles themselves. AND there is a difference, I feel, between the wronged telling their story and someone else just making things up or giving their erroneous perspective.

Anyway there are a few people who have spoke up about Mr. Gordy but they tend to be on the "wronged" side of the issue. It seems that unfavorable opinions of Gordy are either buried, ignored, and largely contested by his closest friends...those who he probably would have been good to. There was a story I read not to long ago about a Motown songwriter who is now poor and was cheated out of the rights to the songs he wrote. For the life of me I can't recall the gentleman's name. Also if you watch any of the Unsung episodes on TVOne about Motown acts they seem to gloss over Gordy's involvement in the demise of any of these groups...for the most part.

There is a book I want to get my hands on written by Richard Street (RIP) which touches on this I believe. It's more about his time with The Temptations so more info on Otis Williams, Shelly Burger, etc but he doesn't exactly paint them in a good light.

Here is a link: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781620246405

And as you can see it's not really been publicized, you can't get it on any major sites. I think it's been years since anyone has really spoken out against Gordy.

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou and Ruby Dee. Two gifted, beautiful angels who will be dearly missed.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

"Jersey Boys" was good, but had many inaccuracies. I think the biggest was Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi leaving the group on the same day. DeVito left in 1970 and Massi left in 1965. Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio and Tommy DeVito from The Four Seasons were involved with the theater and film versions of "Jersey Boys". Nick Massi passed away in 2000. Four Seasons producer Bob Crewe was also involved with "Jersey Boys".

If you have trouble finding Richard Street's book "Ball of Confusion: My Life as a Temptin' Temptation" you can visit your local library and ask if they have inter-library loans.

[–] Kelea7 10 years ago

Ah I see.

If you have trouble finding Richard Street's book "Ball of Confusion: My Life as a Temptin' Temptation" you can visit your local library and ask if they have inter-library loans.

It still has to be available in the general area though right? I would actually have preferred to buy it, but if I found it at the library I would definitely read it.

Sidenote: I decided to google this book again and it's now on Amazon...the last time I checked it was nowhere to be found, this was a while ago.

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou and Ruby Dee. Two gifted, beautiful angels who will be dearly missed.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

Inter-library loans vary depending on the location. All you need is one library connected with yours to have a book you want to borrow. Some libraries are connecting with only local libraries. But some can get books from all over the country. I once had an inter-library loan from a library over a thousand miles away.

[–] Kelea7 10 years ago

Oh ok, I think the libraries near me (and this is two different cities) only include those in the same city.

[–] marbleann 10 years ago

Tammi Terrell. Such a short life with huge talent with abusive relationships. She was with James Brown at one time. And he treated her badly. I think her story will reveal a lot about her as a person also. I believe she was going to the University of Pennsylvania too.

Oh and I always loved the Four Tops, even more then the Temptations I would love to see their story.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

With all due respect, Tammi Terrell might not be a big enough name for a biopic. Movie studios cater to the young audience. And I don't think many of the young audience know who she is.

[–] marbleann 10 years ago

They did Muddy Waters a few years ago. I do not think films should just be made because how much money they can make. Plus more people will know who she was. I always look at biographical movies of people I never heard of.

Oh and don't fool yourself, these young people out here don't even know who the Temptations are. I knew of a guy who liked music and never knew of Motown. I know of music because of parents. SO I know about Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra because my parents listened to them. Oh I love show tunes.

Do you think the average 30-45 year old parents are playing Motown on their CDs. These kids have mp3 players so they would not even know who their parents were listening to if they did. I am sure there are a few 12-25 year olds that do but not many.

Parents who are now in their mid 60's to late 70's were big Motown people. My sister listened to it a lot so I know it a lot. People in their 50's now were listening to Disco and Rock & Roll and R&B artists like Earth Wind and Fire, Rolls Royce, Chaka khan. The Jackson Five. So unless you had a sister or were raised by parents hitting their seventies there is a good chance very little Motown was heard in your house.
But after all I have said, you are correct the major studios would never do a film about her even though they have been trying to make a movie about her for years. Alas I feel we will be inundated with Justin Beiber, Brittney Spears and some rappers biops

[–] Yanyawa 8 years ago

@amrbleann

Everything you stated about youth and the music they're exposed to is so true. I'm on Instagram a lot and can tell you, these kids know nothing about these older acts unless like you stated, they were raised by older parents who listened to these acts. I myself got exposed to a variety of music that kids my age (1990s teen) had never ever heard of simply because I was raised by older parents and had siblings a generation older than me. So in my house there was an array of stuff from Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Rosetta Tharpe, Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke, The Chordettes, Frankie Valli, Wayne Newton, all types of music from the 70s and all types from the 80s and then music from my own generation. Even people in my age group now, have never heard of many of the artists I enjoy listening to today. So as you stated, it's all about exposure.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 months ago

Brainwashed by the alleged music of Rap, modern audiences would not find Motown crude enough to engage them. It’d be like feeding Cobe filet mignon to a generation raised on Burger Krap.