It has become undeniable that actorMorgan Freemanhas become one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood. If not for his roles in such films asSe7en,Unforgiven,Gone Baby Gone,The Shawshank Redemption, andThe Dark Knight, one could point to his extensive voice-acting roles in acclaimed documentaries likeMarch of the Penguinsor voicing characters such as Vitruvius inThe Lego Movie. His career is extremely expansive,with over 140 credits to his name.
There is one film that stands out as a starting point for Morgan Freeman, even though, at the age of 49 with many credits before its release, it put him center stage for the first time, including finding critical acclaim. Still, many don’t remember the film as it was a box office disaster that soon fizzled out of the collective conscience. Worthy of revisiting, this is the box office flop that launched Morgan Freeman’s career, 1987’sStreet Smart.
Plot and Cast of Street Smart
In New York’s era, where 42nd Street was a hub for all sorts of depravity, drugs, parties, and counter-cultures,Street Smartfollowed a struggling reporter, Johnathan Fischer, trying to create the next big story. Dejected by his editor, Fischer becomes involved in the seedy underbelly of New York when he ends up taking information from a sex worker, Punchy, and creates a fake pimp to push his story into the spotlight. However, this ends up dragging real-life pimp Leo “Fast Black” Smalls Jr. unwillingly into the spotlight with the assumption that the article is about him, given his relationship with Punchy. This starts a chain of events involving the law and an enraged Fast Black, who grows more violent as he tries toexploit his new fame.
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Street Smartwas directed by Jerry Schatzberg, best known for his work on the 1973 filmScarecrowand 1971’sThe Panic in Needle Park. Shatzberg, a Bronx, New York native, would place much of his work within New York, withMean Streetscontinuing his exploration of the darker side of the culture in the state’s metropolitan areas. Christopher Reeve, best known forhis role as Clark KentinSuperman(1978) and its subsequent sequels, played the role of Jonathan Fincher. Kathy Baker played the ‘hooker with a heart of gold’ in Punchy; she would amass over 100 acting credits, with her most notable recent role being Joanne in the TV seriesThe Ranch. Morgan Freeman would play the role of Fast Black, which marked one of the actor’s first major roles.
Street Smart Was Morgan Freeman’s Breakout Role
Leading up to the release ofStreet Smart, Morgan Freeman was by no means green to the world of TV and film at the age of 49. He established himself as a household with many children and was one of the hosts ofThe Electric Companyon PBS, which ran from 1971 to 1977. In addition, Freeman landed notable supporting roles in films such as the 1980sBrubakerstarring Robert Redford andthe 1985 crime/dramaThat Was Then… This Is Now.Street Smartwould mark his first major supporting role in a film, where he became prominently featured in much of the advertising and played an integral role in the story.
However,Street Smartis not only Morgan Freeman’s breakout role because it is his first big role; the actor has also commented on its importance. In an interview withHitflix, Freeman admitted that his favorite performance of all time, for which he wished he had won the Oscar, wasStreet Smart. He stated that it was “about as far away from me as I could get in terms of acting,” which challenged him in a way that he still reflected fondly on the movie. Other than his appreciation for the role, he would also confirm in another interview with theAmerican Film Institutethat he saw it as his breakout role, stating his career did not really start until 1986 when he was 49 (50 by the timeStreet Smartwas released).
Why Street Smart Flopped at the Box Office
Street Smartperformed exceptionally poorly at the box office, grossing only $1,119,112 ($3,057,126.32 with inflation). This is despite the film gaining positive critical reception and straddling a middle ground with modern audiences, currently sitting at 67% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 15 reviews and 6.4 on IMDB. Moreover, the film earned accolades, with Morgan Freeman even seeing a nomination for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for thebest-supporting actorand winning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, a further testament to it being his first break-out role in cinema.
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Morgan Freeman was recognized for his work critically and within the film industry awards, so what was the film’s ultimate failure to make an impact at the Box Office? Christopher Reevehas gone on recordto state his dissatisfaction with Cannon Group’s handling of the movie’s Promotion.
The production was also marred by many issues that back up Reeves' frustrations, including movingthe production to Canadato save costs (with two weeks of exterior location filming in New York City), running into issues with the local community for its unfavorable depiction (later resolved when the producers met with local representatives), and even forcing Reeves to walk through the picket-line during a union strike to fulfill his obligations. The frustrations of Reeve, combined with the movie’s turbulent production, certainly point to issues resting largely with the Cannon Group and their handling of the movie.
Where to Watch Street Smart
Decades later, there is still good reason to check out Street Smart; if not for Morgan Freeman’s performance alone, the movie is a competent, well-written drama. Thankfully, the movie is still readily available, and you canstreamStreet Smarton Tubi, Showtime, or The Roku Channel.
