Under the Cherry Moon
Tags: cult, psychedelic, romantic

Plot synopsis:
At the Venus de Milo nightclub in Nice on the French Riviera, gigolo Christopher Tracy (Prince) raises a glass for a toast and plays piano for the patrons. A voiceover says he lived for money, entertaining rich women of all types, but died for just one woman after learning the true meaning of love. As he plays, a mysterious woman in white appears and sits at a specially placed chair to listen to him play. At a nearby table sits his partner Tricky (Jerome Benton), who has a server pass Christopher napkins with notes on how to win her over, and reminders that they need money. With suggestive eye contact and body language they silently size each other up until she sends over a drink for him and leaves a sizeable wad of money on the table as she leaves, confirming their assignation for the evening.The following morning Christopher has discreetly left a note on the pillow of the woman in white and gone to a private hillside grotto where he keeps a piano and writes poetry and music. Back in Nice, he doles out money to some passing kids and helps a woman select flowers in the market before returning to his apartment. Tricky is making out with the landlady, Katy (Emmanuelle Sallet), who is demanding payment on two months of back rent under threat of turning them out on the streets. After joking and stalling, Christopher gives up a wallet full of money as he heads to their room for a bath. He tells Tricky that Mrs. Wellington (Francesca Annis), the woman in white, is divorced and worth three million dollars. The goal of getting rich through marriage is part of their profession of fleecing people, but Christopher wants a bigger payload. Tricky points out a newspaper headline that Mary Sharon (Kristin Scott Thomas), daughter of a billionaire shipping magnate, has just turned 21 and will receive a trust fund worth $50 million dollars. Christopher says he would consider marrying her for that amount of money. Mrs. Wellington calls and asks Christopher for some seductive poetry on the phone, so he slips into the bathtub and woos her, then laughs with Tricky after they hang up.At the party for Mary Sharon, her father Isaac (Steven Berkoff) has pulled out all the stops, with circus animals and fire breathers, and a guest list of the richest folks on the Gold Coast, but he is absent from the event. A band of observers known as the Jaded Three (Victor Spinetti, Myriam Tadesse, Moune De Vivier) follow the circus parade through the grounds as they gossip about Isaac. Muriel Sharon (Alexandra Stewart) is waiting with the others for Mary, who suddenly shows up in nothing but a sheet, opens it for the assembled guests and asks if they like her birthday suit. She then takes over the drum kit, and the band joins her in an impromptu performance. She sees Christopher, who turns on the charm, but she is not impressed and goes to change into a gown for her party, asking her three friends (Pamela Ludwig, Barbara Stall, Karen Geerlings) to watch over the two party crashers.When she returns her friends fill her in on Christopher, saying he made the rounds twice to check out all the women, and Tricky is also at work. Mrs. Wellington gives Mary a present. Tricky introduces himself and she blows him off as she heads to the fountain away from the crowd. She tosses the present behind her shoulder and Christopher catches it. She tries to put him off with rude retorts as he opens the box for her and finds a deck of tarot cards. When Mary realizes the appearance of Mrs. Wellington has set him on edge, she takes him over to introduce him to Muriel, who is talking with her. Muriel asks if he reads cards professionally, and he replies that he only does things for fun.Tricky gets Mary to join his conga line with the other partygoers, but her friends pull her away to take a phone call from her fiancée Jonathan, who is in New York. After she puts his off-key birthday song on the speaker phone, she sees Christopher is in the room. They exchange insulting banter, and Jonathan overhears it, thinking she is talking to him. Annoyed, she ultimately hangs up on him. Christopher gives her a free pass to the Venus de Milo, but as he rejoins Tricky she orders the bouncers to throw them out. Mrs. Wellington is leaving the party so Christopher joins her. At her home the answering machine picks up a live call from Isaac, who says he will be back home in the morning, giving her and Christopher another night of fun. He plays piano during the message and misses that Isaac said he plans to visit at 7:00 the next night.In the morning Mary has come up with a retort for a remark Christopher aimed at her before being ejected from the party, finally heads to the club and interrupts his playing to deliver it. He asks if she had worked all night to come up with the line. Chastened, she tells him Mrs. Wellington passed her word that she wants Christopher at her house at 7:00 that evening.Tricky dances with Mary and treats her with politeness and respect, making her feel more comfortable. He says he wants a special woman to add new perspective in his life. She invites them to another venue called Le Pavilion to see if they blend into the finer side of life. Christopher cuts in and takes her onto the terrace. They dance and continue to exchange insults until it wears thin and they ask what each wants from the other. Christopher tries to entice her, but has to leave or he will be late to his date with Mrs. Wellington. Pulling up at her home with champagne and glasses, he sees an impressive car parked there. Sitting in the driver seat, he finds the license and sees the car belongs to Isaac. Realizing Mary is using him to get at her father and his own affair with Mrs. Wellington, he yells taunts at the house and pulls away, leaving the champagne behind as the two rush out in disheveled clothes.As the pair dress for the evening, Christopher says Mary knows who she is but not what she wants, and Tricky thinks she will want to marry him instead. She is not accustomed to their way of life, however, and they mull over how to show it to her. At home Mary says she wants to joyride in the boat, and her father objects. She is testing her independence and they argue over the trust, which Isaac has modified to include the condition that Mary wed Jonathan. Christopher teases Tricky, saying Isaac and Muriel would not approve of their union and the police would arrest him, while he would sit by and deny he knows him. They stare each other down and Tricky breaks eye contact first, making Christopher laugh.At the venue Tricky insists Mary likes him better and will dance to his tune, and Christopher gets an idea to bring her down to their world. Inside the restaurant Christopher taunts Mary that she is not familiar with the kind of life in their native Miami. He writes down the words "wrecka stow" on a napkin. They prod her to repeat the words loudly, but she cannot fathom the phrase. He and Tricky laugh raucously, and their behavior disturbs the patrons. Christopher finally asks Mary where one would go to buy a Sam Cooke album, and she realizes she is looking at a phonetic urban pronunciation for a record store.The staff clear a space on the floor for dancing, and Tricky hauls a huge boom box to the stage to play their own music, which the patrons gamely dance to. The maître d' has phoned Isaac, who shows up with his bodyguard Lou (Guy Cuevas) and his retinue. They break the boom box and put an end to the evening. Mary says she wanted to do something special for once, but when he says they are going home, she obediently follows him out. Isaac asks Lou to get information about Christopher and Tricky.At the apartment, Tricky confesses that he likes Mary, but Christopher tells him to just keep handling the money in the partnership. Mary calls Christopher, unable to get to sleep, and vaguely suggests that she wants him, so he and Tricky proceed to the house and set up a ladder to a second floor balcony so Christopher can seduce her. He tells Tricky to whistle four times if they need to abort the mission, then enters the bedroom pretending to be a pizza delivery man. He whispers that he will take care of everything, and she replies in a strange voice that she takes medication to sleep. Outside, Tricky spots Mary, whose bedroom is actually on the third floor. He smiles and is about to leave his partner in the predicament when he spots men patrolling the grounds. Unable to whistle through a dry mouth, Tricky climbs the ladder and pitches stones at Christopher to distract him and tell him he is actually with Muriel, and they manage to escape. Isaac comes to bed, and a now seductive Muriel, warmed up by Christopher, takes control of her own satisfaction.The next day Mary visits the two at their apartment and shows them a consolation gift of money from her father for missing her birthday party. They go on a shopping spree. Christopher buys a car from the Jaded Three to give to Mary, while she and Tricky buy pricey clothes and watches. Christopher whispers to her to meet him at the hippodrome after sunset before she goes off for more shopping with Tricky.Later Christopher tells Tricky he wants to leave the business and become an honest man. At a small café they discuss the power of love, and Christopher feels that two people who truly loved each other could never be separated. Tricky tries to stress that they are engaged in business and need to get enough money to return to Miami before Isaac gets them. They do not see Lou watching them, and the place clears out quickly when Tricky sees bats on the ceiling. Later they dress for the evening, and Christopher says he will meet Tricky at the club in two hours, as he must do something before picking up Mary. He waits at the hippodrome for Mary, who drives up in her new car. They race, finally kiss and spend the evening together, and a furious Tricky leaves the club when he realizes he has been stood up.In the car after they share a laugh, Christopher asks Mary why Isaac is so cruel. Still programmed by the class structure she has been raised on, she says he is considered a peasant. He makes remarks about their relationship compared to how she would act with Jonathan, she gets angry and tells him to shut up. He pretends to be indignant and says he is calling her father. He calls Mrs. Wellington from a nearby phone booth, knowing Isaac is there, and pretends to be Lou to speak with him. When he answers the phone, Christopher taunts Isaac by saying that he loves Mary and she will come around to loving him, threatening to tell Muriel if Isaac attempts to separate them. Mary cuts the call short and tells Christopher that her father has the chief of police in his pocket, but he says he can destroy Isaac, and they make out in the booth while Lou, in a concealed car nearby, keeps a watch on them.The next morning Isaac yells at Mary when she finally arrives at home after being out all night. She ignores him until he grabs her arm and rants about how her marriage to Jonathan will increase the net worth for both families, and she realizes he is pawning her off to Jonathan in his greed for more money. At the apartment, Christopher comes home to a drunken Tricky, who yells at him for breaking all the rules they made in their partnership. Tricky says Christopher is jealous because he can steal Mary, and insults him. Christopher leaves to find Mary waiting at the front door for him, hoping they can get away for a while. He takes her in a small motorboat to the grotto, where they make love. Isaac calls Sam (Sam Karmann) to help him deal with the problem.As they drive back to the club, Mary points out to Christopher that a limo sent by her father is following them. Tricky comes out of the bar, where Katy has been trying to smooth things over and curb his drinking, but Tricky brings up the first conversation Christopher had with him, in which he said he would consider marrying Mary for $50 million dollars. Feeling she has been used all along, Mary leaves in the limo. At home Mary confronts Muriel, saying she is hurt by the hypocrisy on which they raised her. Muriel tells her daughter she feels hurt as well. Mary wants to leave for New York immediately.Christopher has entered the club and downed several drinks. An older woman, a former client, accosts him, saying she misses him. Realizing his lifestyle has gotten him nowhere, he runs off and winds up at Mrs. Wellingtons home. She hands him a check from Isaac for $100 thousand dollars to keep him away from Mary, but he writes a classic obscenity on it, hands it back and is ready to leave when she tells him Mary is leaving at midnight on the family plane for New York. As he pulls off, she wishes him good luck.At the airport, Christopher pleads with Mary for five minutes so he can talk to her, determined to seal their love for each other. He drives away with her and parks the car so they can talk in private, while Isaac arrives at the airport and insists that Mary was abducted against her will. Mary says she does not know him anymore, so Christopher gets into the back seat and puts on dark sunglasses, saying nothing while she unloads her frustrations on him, at one point calling him a whore, which visibly affects him. When she says she hates him, he replies he loves her, and after some give and take, she realizes she does love him, and as they kiss he offers a chance to go away together forever.Tricky returns to the apartment, rehearsing his speech to Christopher so they can mend their partnership, but finds Lou and the others there. They rough him up when he refuses to reveal where Christopher is, and knock him out. Isaac receives a call that investigators found the car Christopher drives parked at the harbor. Mary awakens in the grotto to find a poem Christopher has written about being an honest man, noting that, even in death, they would always be together. At the apartment Isaac calls Lou to send the men to the harbor, and Tricky comes to in time to escape with Katy.Christopher meets up with Tricky at the harbor, and Tricky promises to be the best man if the wedding comes off. He and Katy deal with Lou and the men as they close in. Isaac arrives with the harbor patrol on the water, and Christopher heads out in the motorboat to get Mary. She races down from the grotto when she hears the commotion, and a marksman on the boat is told to shoot Christopher. Mary pleads with him to run away, but he gets off the boat onto the dock, saying he will not go without her, and a shot is fired. As a distraught Tricky falls to his knees in prayer, Mary goes to the dock and cradles Christopher, who smiles and dies in her arms. When Isaac arrives to take Mary home, she says she is going with Christopher and accompanies the patrol boat, leaving Isaac alone on the dock.Time passes, and Tricky has returned to Miami in style, driving a Rolls Royce. He has become an apartment manager. Katy brings a letter that has arrived from Mary, who is now his investor. She has stayed single, and notes Christopher was right. She will come to Miami soon to visit, and says for Tricky to give Katy a hug for her. She is ready for her hug, but the tables have turned and a smiling Tricky reminds his tenant that her rent is late and he will throw her out onto the Miami streets. Though Christopher is gone, life will go on for his friends.

Review: An example is the scene in which Tracy and Tricky (Prince and Jerome Benton) meet Tracy's refined love interest at a posh restaurant and grill her: "Where do you go if you want to get a Sam Cooke album?"  Tricky holds up a sign reading "Wrecka Stow" and finally, writhing in discomfort, she gets it and reluctantly answers, "the record store."  Believe it or not, the film is well put together, each scene memorable in its own way and a climax that might make you cry.
I've never seen a film quite like it, because (like all cult movies), it takes place in a desirable alternate world - one in which gender and race boundaries are blurred..
WHAT did you say??!?!?!" or they'll laugh like anything and crow, "UNDER THE CHERRY MOON!!!!!!!" with huge enthusiasm.I wasn't able to see this when it first came out because I was a teenager at the time and my parents would have KILLED me if I had sneaked out to watch a Prince movie!
It's hilarious, MUCH lighter than "Purple Rain" was and frothing over with delight.Prince as "Christopher" and Jerome Benton ("Tricky") keep threatening to crack up as they deliberately bounce their way through their cartoonish antics, but it's deliberate: they look like they're having a blast.
Jerome likes her too, and neither of the two of them know how to handle to situation as originally planned.Prince proves that he does indeed have a sense of humour as he writes lots of cartoonish gags in for comedy relief, such as Mary's mother who keeps getting freaked out by what her daughter is doing and subsequently keeps fainting each time (those around her always catch her--obviously they're accustomed to this happening ;) ).
Or when Mary shows up at the two cons' home with a sack of money that's been given to her as a birthday present while saying she thought that a "couple of old pros" like them might have ideas of what to do with it because she's supposedly stumped ("Hey, Tricky!
I'll bet you'll end up laughing just as hard as we did all through watching it while thinking to yourself, "I never knew Prince could write a COMEDY!" And he can.
Sure, you'll have to like prince at least a bit 'cos you'll getting a lot of him (being the director, actor and composer) but once you can forgive his little faults (which I think is *not* the extreme vanity stuff cos I think that was done so over the top on purpose for fun) you'll be entertained for sure and Prince/Jerome Benton make a great comedy duo as Christopher Tracy and 'Tricky'.
I'm sure they expected a movie in the vein of Purple Rain, but they missed the point.
Under the Cherry moon is at it's heart a light-hearted musical comedy that's as visually pleasing and funny as any of the musicals so popular during the golden ages 1930 to the Forties.
I know a lot of people I talk to didn't like this film, but I thought it was great!
In 'Cherry Moon', Prince and Jerome Benton were hilarious together!
There is emotion and a poignant point behind each scene.If you watch it and see it deeper than the average person simply looking for a way to waste an hour an a half you'll find a movie that actually makes you feel for the characters as if they were your friends...
Under the Cherry Moon is the finest movie Prince ever directed (and if you've seen the abysmal Graffiti Bridge, you know what I mean), and the fact that he took over from Mary Lambert (who went on to direct the ludicrously bad Pet Sematary)at the last minute, further proves my point.
Merrily they go along until Christopher (Prince) lays eyes on Kristin Scott-Thomas and goes completely ga-ga, forgetting altogether the pair's objective of swindling her out of her fortune.
Under the Cherry Moon (1986)** (out of 4) Christopher (Prince) and Tricky (Jerome Benton) are brothers working Miami Beach where they seduce women for their money.
Tricky soon finds himself falling in love but the girl's rich father isn't going to go for their relationship.UNDER THE CHERRY MOON was released to very little noise and it was pretty much forgotten the minute it hit theaters.
As far as Prince goes, his acting had certainly gotten a little better since PURPLE RAIN.
Benton is decent in his supporting role but I thought Kristin Scott Thomas and Steven Berkoff were quite good.I'm going to guess that Prince wanted to do some sort of romantic drama that had the flare of the 1930s.
The biggest problem with the movie is that the story itself is just way too predictable and I'd argue that there's really not any drama and the ending certainly doesn't hit like I'm sure Prince wanted it to.
"Purple Rain" solidified Prince as a rock star and big ticket actor.However, the public were thrown off with his attempt at musicalcomedy with "Under the Cherry Moon".
"Under the Cherry Moon" isthe story of Christopher Tracy (Prince) and Tricky (Jerome Bentonof The Time,) two gigolos.
"Under theCherry Moon" was filmed in color and converted into black andwhite, giving it a cool and stylish look.
A very bad movie, even if you love Prince.
Possibly George Lucas might have been able to do a worse job directing this.Cinematography= B There are a number of sweet shots in this film.Costumes = A I want to own every outfit I saw Prince wearing this film!Script = F Dumb, dumb dumb.
All the main characters (except the older woman prince wants for her money at the beginning) do a good job.
Let me start by clarifying the following:1 I have the misfortune to have lived through that decade of style disasters known as the 80's.2 I bought one or two prince albums; Purple Rain, Batman, etc3 I thought the previous movie, Purple rain was OK, if a tad extravagantHowever, I've read other reviewers on this site state that this is a "classic"If it is a "classic", it is only in the same way that "Plan 9 from Outer Space" now shares a similar classification.Am I saying that this is a turkey?
I like many albums Prince made, and even a movie he starred in (Purple Rain).
It's based upon my strong dislike of this movie.My guess is that only massive fans of Prince (who are also most likely quite young) would deem this to be a good movie.
I grew up watching Black and White romances with utterly charming leading men and hopelessly beautiful women who fall in love in a space and time that doesn't exist in the real world.
Although a tad bit inept as a film-maker, Prince more than adequately conveys mood, sensuality, humor, glamour, and plain fun in this HIGHLY stylized B&W movie.
we should get Prince!" I have known rabid die hard Prince fans, people who actually think Prince has legitimate worth and value, and even these fans cannot watch all of Under The Cherry Moon.
The average threshold for pain is forty minutes of viewing before the viewer stops the movie, if you can make through to the end legend has it Prince himself will materialize out of thin air to congratulate you personally..
Prince shows some visual flair with his direction and the music, the last recorded by the Revolution, is wonderful and fits the out of time, Riviera set story perfectly.
Quite what people thought when it was first released - especially if they were expecting Purple Rain 2 - is anyone's guess but judge it on its own merits - not all of it's laughs are intentional but it's a fun film with a positive message..
Prince is absolutely a brilliant artist, but it takes more than liking his music to like this movie.
This is one of the most quotable movies of all time (though sadly you can't quote it because few people have seen the film), and Prince and Jerome both have impeccable comedic timing.
Being a great admirer of Prince, I was not impressed with this movie.
The performances by the supporting cast was just not there, considering all of the wonderful talent that was in the movie.Prince is a great talent.
Christopher starts to fall for his target.I don't know if Prince is making a comedy, a spoof, or a whatever.
This movie is not just a reminder of someone who was at the very peak of his powers, Prince, but also of a time when it seemed the Minneapolis maestro could not set a foot wrong.
Then of course came the dreadful reviews, and that legacy has unfortunately stuck- even two decades on...So let's redress the balance here!I was lucky enough to see Prince and the Revolution live in London the same summer as this movie was released (1986), and the humour, naughtiness, and rapport was the same on stage as is seen in the movie; especially between Prince and Jerome Benton.Couple of interesting trivia facts: "Tricky" (Jerome Benton's character) was also the subject of a song by Prince offshoots The Time- a wonderful wacky solid funk track that again illustrates the humour here.Additionally the movie was originally shot in colour- only changed to black and white (on a whim?...only P.R.N. can answer that), which I'm sure would have looked absolutely amazing- time for a colourful re-release Warners?.
CHERRY MOON allows Prince to actually be hilarious and extremely beautiful on screen.
CHERRY MOON will not to be many viewers tastes; the vanity apparent and the High Society depicted will grate to the point of irritation...but if you see it as a party film with exceptional visual and musical talent well on display, it's delightful and delicious.
If you are a fan of Prince then you have probably already seen this film.If you're not a fan (and why not?
We are talking about 1986 with Prince being in the rich vein of musical form that started with '1999' and via 'Purple Rain', 'Around the World in a Day', 'Parade' on to 'Sign of the Times'.Songs like 'Girls & Boys' & 'Kiss' feature in the movie amongst others and this is where it appeals.Just think of this movie as a collection of music videos interspersed with some moodily shot views of the French Riviera - and it won't dissapoint.
To be fair, that is a bit harsh as there are some funny and entertaining parts (Prince and Tricky chasing the girls is good fodder, as is their trying to teach the pretty white rich girl to talk street - Wrecka Stoor).But for Prince fans, the music is all that matters so this is just fine thank you very much..
This is Under the Cherry Moon - Prince's absolute flop on all cylinders, empty and useless barrage over dead desert and a total waste of anybody's time.
I like Prince and understand what he was trying to achieve' This is not as good as purple rain, but a close second musically..
Read the outline of this movie and rented it - I don't know anything about Prince, his films or his music,and he was a total surprise.
I felt that Tricky has more charisma than Christopher, and he said that he liked Mary more than his friend, so why did he end up with the landlady?
That makes this movie worded, and to watch over, enjoyable for several times (especialy with the Tricky things).
It is a beautiful film to watch over if you mist it in the 80's and was did do (and liked) his 'Purple Rain'.
Completely underrated - holds up to repeated viewings - shows us a world devoid of racism, full of fire and music and dreams- in many ways sums up Prince's magical world view almost as well as his brilliant timeless music does - the very fact that "Sometimes it Snows in April" was not nominated for Best Song (let alone win) at that year's Oscars is a crime.
The comedic banter between Prince and his fellow playboy 'Tricky' keep this movie moving along between scenes.
The artful black-and-white shooting is very pleasant to the eye.This is my favorite Prince movie...and one of my favorite album's of his..
the story is light, with fun and romance, the music is AWESOME, maybe the best prince album, the characters well presented, the cast is superb and most of the acting is convincing.
Although 'Under the Cherry Moon' could not possibly be enjoyed by anyone that doesn't like Prince, for me, it brings back some memories of a time before I knew what hatred and depression was.
I remember once viewing this film the day I got twice in a row because I loved how Prince and Jerome Benton got along in the film.
The fact that it's in black and white makes it look fresh, yet classic - which fits the film since it is to take place in France.
It's not just Prince's performance that kept me seeing it over and over, It's the mood of the movie, the pictures and of course the music.
The movie was created when Prince wrote his best songs.
(imo) Who ever thought that Kristin Scott-Thomas would be a big Movie-Star one day.
But that's only a perspective, Prince not only challenges that perspective but defies it by being himself -- comedic, crass, sexual, even borderline offensive in his role.Critics call UNDER THE CHERRY MOON awful, amateurish, a 'disaster' and all sorts of other names.
This one, in my opinion, being the most "Prince".Before he made this movie and after, he couldn't care less what you thought about it.
You get predictable treasures with a Prince movie: barrels of fun, colourful characters (even in black and white), great music, and an ego the size of Montmartre - and Under the Cherry Moon is the richest trove of the lot..
I watched "Under the Cherry Moon" last night for the first ever time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I guess at the time most people wanted Prince to come out with another "Purple Rain" type movie.
Prince is a great physical comedian in this movie, I was surprised just how much as was laughing throughout it at his and Jerome Benton's antics.
Prince did a very good job directing this at the age of 27 (which I also wasn't expecting) and uses the songs off his "Parade" LP to excellent effect at the right moments and the right scenes.
Love the scene where Prince is trying to make it up with Scott-Thomas, and he does this by sitting in total silence at the back of his car with his shades on.
Shame, Jerome and Prince could've ended up being the modern-day screwball farce pair, if they'd made more films together..
Under the Cherry Moon is a simple yet great movie.
It was funny, romantic, and it made everyone who did not like prince say, "that was pretty good".
I would recomend this movie to everyone, not just Prince fans.
Simply the best movie ever made, second only to The English Patient and of course Purple Rain.Even if you hate Prince, you'll find him incredibly funny and sexy in this movie!
The music set the movie to feel light hearted even while covering such a serious problem.
A lot of people don't seem to like this movie.
Even today, people don't see this movie for the gem it truly is...& it's quite a shame, really."Under The Cherry Moon" is one of my favorite movies, much less my favorite Prince movies.
(But I won't give any away--YOU have to see them yourself.) The only thing I found disappointing about this movie was that Prince's character Christopher was killed at the end.
Of course, Prince's best movie was the concert picture, "Sign O' The Times".
Under The Cherry Moon, by contrast, made just $3.2 million in its first week and went downhill from thereon.Never as bad as the reviews would have you believe, Prince is actually quite personable in his role as Christopher Tracy and pulls off, to my mind, a competent performance.
He's especially good when playing opposite Jerome Benton, one of his Time proteges, and, for the purposes of this film at least, a member of The Revolution.
As a result, I'm glad I saw the movie, though I probably wouldn't watch it a second time.
One of the last shots in this movie is a note written by Christopher Tracy (Prince) which reads "without love, there is no death".
Prince & Jerome Benton are actually quite funny.
The worst part about this movie is the way Prince dresses in most of it.
Prince overacts towards the end of the film.
Jerome (Tricky) is a compliment to Prince and you can tell they had too much fun making this movie.
Sure there are some corny lines and comedy thrown in to a serious movie, but that's Prince.
Do you enjoy movies containing soundtracks of musical excellent, of course subjective to your musical taste, Under the Cherry Moon should apply again.
However if you want a strong narrative and solid characterisation then lower your expectations as Under the Cherry Moon delivers poorly.As two Gigolo's swindling their way through Paris, Christopher (Prince) and Tricky (Jerome Benton) are searching for the perfect payoff.
A final positive was Under the Cherry Moon's soundtrack provided by Prince & the Revolution containing songs of their 1986 album Parade.
***POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING.*** I first saw this film when I was around 13 or 14, during my Big Prince Fandom Phase (I still consider myself a fan, and I love his music, but I am nowhere near as obsessive about it as I used to be.) People have called this movie "surreal." I would say that this is an understatement, but in a *good* way.
As much as Prince and Tricky's bantering, the black-and-white cinematography makes this film the truly unique viewing experience that it is.
Despite this, I feel that Under The Cherry Moon should be appreciated for what Prince was trying to do with it.