On this day March 20 1987 the crime thriller Street Smart premiered in theaters. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg the film starred Christopher Reeve as a struggling journalist who fabricates a crime story only to find himself entangled with a real-life dangerous pimp played by Morgan Freeman.
While the film underperformed at the box office earning only 1.1 million against its 6 million budget it became widely praised for Morgan Freeman’s chilling performance as the ruthless pimp Fast Black. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor helping to solidify his Hollywood career.
80s insight: Christopher Reeve took on Street Smart in an effort to break away from his Superman image and show his range as a dramatic actor.
While the film underperformed at the box office earning only 1.1 million against its 6 million budget it became widely praised for Morgan Freeman’s chilling performance as the ruthless pimp Fast Black. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor helping to solidify his Hollywood career.
80s insight: Christopher Reeve took on Street Smart in an effort to break away from his Superman image and show his range as a dramatic actor.
