In the late 1980s, screenwriter Thomas Lee Wright wrote an outline of The Godfather: Part III (1990) for Francis Ford Coppola. Included in Wright's version was a character based off of famed Harlem gangster, Leroy 'Nicky' Barnes (portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in this film). During the time that Coppola was considering this idea, Wright discussed the role with Eddie Murphy, who immediately accepted the role without reading a script.
Ridley Scott recalls that this production was one of the most massive undertakings of his career. There were 360 scenes filmed in over 180 different locations.
During the period of the film's setting, subway subway cars would've been BMT standard, R1/9, R10-R33 cars. Cars similar to the 1986 model shown would've been very new and very rare.
Just after Bumpy gives away turkeys, a Don't Walk sign appears on the left side of the screen. "DON'T WALK" is clearly written on a black sheet that has been attached to the sign.
When Richie Roberts and his partner find money in the trunk of a car, a caption at the beginning says "New Jersey." The view at the beginning is the Williamsburg Bridge, which connects Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to Manhattan's Lower East Side.
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A
For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for American Gangster can be found here.
Q
Is this movie based on a novel?
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No. American Gangster is based on a screenplay by American screenwriter Steven Zaillian.
Q
Is "American Gangster" based on a true story?
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Yes. Frank Lucas was a real-life organized crime kingpin from Harlem who smuggled heroin into the US on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War. The idea for the movie came from a New York Magazine article by American author Mark Jacobson called The Return of Superfly that detailed Lucas' rise and fall.