Trivia / Harlem Nights

• Copiously Credited Creator: Written, directed, and starring Murphy.
• Creator Killer: Eddie Murphy never directed another film.
• Hostility on the Set: Eddie Murphy was excited to work with Richard Pryor, one of his biggest comedy idols. Unfortunately, Murphy learned upon meeting him that Pryor resented Murphy's recent success and blamed it for his own career's downturn. Their relationship was tense as a result.
• Playing Against Type: Della Reese, best known for Touched by an Angel, plays a foul-mouthed brothel madam.
• Star-Derailing Role: After this movie's failure, Eddie Murphy's career wouldn't recover until the 1996 remake of The Nutty Professor.
• Troubled Production: In addition to his tensions with Richard Pryor, Michelle Pfeiffer was initially cast to play Dominique but was fired by Murphy early into production. He claimed she just wasn't working out, but she claimed he fired her because she rejected his romantic advances and even sued him over it. They settled out of court. These experiences plus the film underperforming commercially led to Murphy deciding he didn't enjoy the director's seat

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