The Cotton Club Encore (2019) is a re-edited, re-vamped, and much stronger version of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club (1984). Coppola directed and co-wrote the screenplay based on a book of photographs of the Cotton Club by James Haskins. Scenes were deleted, previously unseen scenes were added, minutes were edited out, other minutes were crammed back in, and, most importantly, the story was overhauled in a manner that gives equal time to both the white gangsters and the Black performers who occupied the Cotton Club during the mid to late 1920s. The earlier version of the film plays heavily in favor of the white actors and storylines.
Buy The Cotton Club EncoreRichard Gere stars as a talented cornet and piano player named Michael “Dixie” Dwyer. He is charming, witty, and all the gangsters love him. Unfortunately for Dixie, he is in love with Vera Cicero (Diane Lane) who happens to be the girlfriend of gangland boss Dutch Schultz (James Remar). Dutch inadvisably gives Dixie a job keeping Vera company which just fans the flames. To get out of the racket, Dixie temporarily goes to Hollywood and becomes an instant film star. This is the only weird, surprising plot point that could have been handled in a more believable manner.
Gregory Hines is Delbert “Sandman” Williams, a tap-dancing entertainer who performs with his brother (and real-life brother) Clayton “Clay” Williams (Maurice Hines). They have always performed as a duo, but Sandman is itching to get out on his own. He is in love with dancing singer Lila Rose Oliver (Lonette McKee). Lila can pass as white and begins to moonlight in white clubs for better pay. This leads to a hilarious scene in a hotel that doesn’t allow mixed-race couples. Lila does her best to prove to the manager that she is, in fact, Black.
The Cotton Club Encore is filled to the brim with noteworthy performances. Bob Hoskins plays Owney Madden, the gangster with the heart of gold. Nicolas Cage has a surprisingly strong role as Dixie’s brother, Vincent. He plays every scene like he just bumped a line, but it works here and Cage brings importance to a minor part. Most amazing, most charming, and most surprising is Fred Gwynne as Frenchy Demange who serves as Owney’s protector and friend. Frenchy has some of the best lines, and best gags, in the film.
If you like music and dancing (especially tap dancing), strong characters, and a great plot, then you simply cannot go wrong with The Cotton Club Encore.
