The Mighty Quinn (1989)

82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(5,945 ratings)

Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) is police chief of a tiny Caribbean island. Quinn's efforts to straddle the fence between the local blacks and the moneyed whites have lost him the respect of both groups. When a murder is committed, Quinn suspects that the killer is Maubee (Robert Townsend), a… More Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) is police chief of a tiny Caribbean island. Quinn's efforts to straddle the fence between the local blacks and the moneyed whites have lost him the respect of both groups. When a murder is committed, Quinn suspects that the killer is Maubee (Robert Townsend), a notoriously elusive criminal who has become a folk hero to the locals. Despite various political pressures -- and the fact that he and Maubee were childhood friends-Quinn vows to solve the murder, and, if necessary, bring Maubee to justice. A mess of merry plot twists distinguish this diverting fox-and-hound caper. Filmed entirely on location, The Mighty Quinn was based on Finding Maubee, a novel by A.H.Z. Carr. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: Carl Schenkel
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 16, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Feb 6, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
[Washington] gives the kind of smooth, funny, laid-back performance that could help make him the first black matinee idol since Sidney Poitier.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
With Fancher's dialogue and Washington's comedic timing, The Mighty Quinn is more fun than a cabana full of bananas.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Mighty Quinn is a spy thriller, a buddy movie, a musical, a comedy and a picture that is wise about human nature. And yet with all of those qualities, it never seems to strain.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Pleasing comical murder mystery that takes place on a small Caribbean island.
Clint Morris, Tsunami Magazine
An award-worthy performance by Washington
, Film4
The colourful locale -- it was shot on the northeastern coast of Jamaica -- spices up the formulaic screenplay, which contains sentimental twaddle about identifying with one's culture.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
A terrific mystery with a Caribbean beat; Denzel Washington needs to do more movies like this.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Engrossing mystery in a unique setting
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The film has the unmistakable (or maybe only semi-mistakable) feel of a television pilot.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Deb S

The smooth and charming Denzel Washington plays a Caribbean cop investigating a murder that his childhood friend Maubee (Robert Townsend) may be implicated in. Townsend plays the role of a carefree individual who does just what he pleases and mostly the wrong side of the law and is… More
The smooth and charming Denzel Washington plays a Caribbean cop investigating a murder that his childhood friend Maubee (Robert Townsend) may be implicated in. Townsend plays the role of a carefree individual who does just what he pleases and mostly the wrong side of the law and is constantly laughing at strait laced Xavier Quinn who is not taking crap from the rich white folks that want him to look the other side. Mimi Rogers is convincing as a damsel in distress and Sheryl Lee Ralph showcases her talents as both an actress and a singer while Robert Townsend, steals the show as the cheerfully irresponsible "victim of circumstances". Great location, wonderful reggae music; we also get to see Denzil strutting his stuff on the piano; now if you can just ignore the phony Jamaican accents, you'll enjoy this one a whole lot more!
Chosen 7

Very entertaining, good performances by Townsend and Washington. Good ending.

Cast

            Denzel Washington as Xavier Quinn

            Robert Townsend as Maubee

            James Fox as Elgin

            Mimi Rogers as Hadley Elgin

            M. Emmet Walsh as Miller

            Sheryl Lee Ralph as Lola Quinn

            Art Evans as Jump

            Esther Rolle as Ubu Pearl

            Norman Beaton as Governor Chalk

            Alex Colon as Patina

            Tyra Ferrell as Isola

            Keye Luke as Dr. Raj

            Carl Bradshaw as Cocodick

            Henry Judd Baker as Nicotine

            Bobby Ghisays as Pater

            Charles Hyatt as Security Guard

            Peter Lloyd as Groom

            Cedella Marley as Eliza

            Rita Marley as Wedding Singers and Band

            Bernie McInerney as Dr. Stuhlberg

            Ron Taylor as McKeon

            Fitz Weir as Athens

            Christopher Meredith as Wedding Singers and Band

            Wallis Nicita
            
            Bob Andy as Raisen

            Erica Aquart as Bride

            Rowan Byfield as Blizzard

            Kenneth Casey as Phylo

            Ronald Goshop as Fudge

            Baldwin Howe as Bim

            Cathi Levy as Secretary

            Fred Lloyd as Pilot

            Michael London as Preacher

            Renee Menzies McCallum as Maid

            David McFarlane as Henry

            Calvin Mitchell as Apollo

            Nabbie Natural as Turtle

            Sharon Marley Prendergast as Jody

            Oliver Samuels as Rupert

            Deon Silvera as Beautician

            Dennis Titus as Percy

            Clive Walker as Bartender

            David R. Ellis as Jersey

            Michael Edward Rose as Wedding Singers and Band

            Dallas Anderson as Francis

            Marie McDonald as Jax

            Maria McDonald
            
See full cast