James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
#1James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:04am
I was listening to Little Richard today and it pretty much slapped me in the face how much James Thunder Early (especially in the film version of DREAMGIRLS) resembles Little Richard, from the vocals to even the looks. I know the character is not "based" on a real person, but the resemblance is remarkable.
Just look at this picture of Little Richard:
And now Eddie Murphy in DREAMGIRLS:
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
Updated On: 7/26/21 at 12:04 AM
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#2re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:08amIt's a combination of Little Richard and James Brown and the authors imaginations.
#2re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:13am
Oh, I know. I am just pointing out that I believe Condon played up more of the Little Richard side of Jimmy than that of James Brown. Remember on the bus scene where he tries to go up front to talk to Lorell, but is stopped by that woman? He is wearing a funky looking shirt and has a head scarf on. I just found this and made me go WOW to the resemblance yet again.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#2re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:13am
Per the creative team: James "Thunder" Early is basically a composite of: James Brown, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye to even Wilson Pickett.
The early look of Jimmy is definitely a take on Little Richard; the fainting on the floor is definitely a take on James Brown; it goes on quite a bit. 
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#4re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:07amOf course, back in his SNL days, Eddi4e Murphy did impressions of James Brown ("Git in the HOT TUB!")and created the character of rock & roll excersise guru "Little Richard Simmons".
#5re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:12am
Supposedly, Thunder Early is more "Wilson Pickett" than anybody else, but everyone agrees he's an amalgam of all those guys.
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Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:24pmLittle Richard is a SCREAMING queen!
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#7re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:34pmPerhaps that explains Billy Porter in the concert.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#8re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:43pmWhat is wrong with BILLY PORTER? I love him!
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#9re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:17pmHe was terrible as Thunder Early.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#10re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:01pmI agree Kringas. Porter needs to lay off the ciggies and butch it up a bit!
#11re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:00pm
Porter certainly did seem to be imitating Little Richard (trying to?) in the concert.
OMG, Jon, Celebrity Hot Tub! The memories!
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Updated On: 1/2/07 at 03:00 PM
#12re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:12pmI am assuming the nod to Marvin Gaye is during the scene where he is singing "Patience" with Anika Noni Rose in the recording studio. He is wearing the same type of multi-coloerd skull cap Mr. Gaye was known for wearing. I noticed it immediately.
Just give the world Love.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#13re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:16pm
It's James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub. And here is, the Godfather of Soul. James Brown
And I break into a cold sweat!!!!!
What's the other part of the cold sweat line.
I think Eddie Murphy was great as Jimmy. I think this is a real revival for his career. I'm just worried that Norbit will kill his career again as much as I want to see that movie.
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#14re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:19pm
Condon payed omage (visually) to almost every one of the performers Jimmy is said to have been inspired by through Eddie Murphy's various looks in the film.
In the beginning scenes, his look is most certainly Little Richard (from the debut concert through the hair scarf that another poster already mentioned.) Toward the middle of the movie, he looks more like James Brown, and at the end (when Jimmy and Lorrell are recording "Patience") he is wearing Marvin Gaye's treadmark beanie and denim jacket.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 03:19 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#15re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:40pmMurphy's career was hardly dead before this. While never a favorite of critics, audiences have continued to flock to his films in the past several years. While he's had his share of flops, even critically reviled titles like Daddy Day Care and the Dr. Doolittle movies still managed to gross well over $100 million at the box office and he still is one of the few stars in Hollywood who can routinely demand (and get) a $20 million salary. Dreamgirls will certainly help to up his profile and credibility, but even without it, he already had a half dozen films greenlighted for the next couple of years and his career was hardly in any danger.
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Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#16re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:45pmDon't forget Donkey in the Shrek movies!
#17re: James Thunder Early = Little Richard?
Posted: 1/2/07 at 4:07pmJon, I was thinking the same thing!
"Passion can drive you crazy but is there any other way to live"
