True Identity (1991)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
26% of users liked it
(511 ratings)
Charles Lane directed Andy Breckman's script, based on an old "Saturday Night Live" sketch of Breckman's that featured Eddie Murphy. Comic Lenny Henry takes Murphy's place in True Identity as a black man forced to don white face in order to save his life. Henry plays Miles… More Charles Lane directed Andy Breckman's script, based on an old "Saturday Night Live" sketch of Breckman's that featured Eddie Murphy. Comic Lenny Henry takes Murphy's place in True Identity as a black man forced to don white face in order to save his life. Henry plays Miles Pope, an agreeable British actor whose luck sours when he finds out that businessman Leland Carver (Frank Langella) is actually a notorious underworld mobster. Carver now wants to rub Miles out and the only way that Miles can escape Carver's retribution is to disguise himself as a man named Frank LaMotta, the Italian-American killer that Carver has hired to kill him. During the story, Miles finds that he has to assume a variety of roles to keep from getting shot --a gay real estate agent, a British lord, James Brown's brother Val, and even Othello. But the biggest shock for Miles comes when he plays the white man and discovers that he is given preferential treatment --not only by whites, but also by blacks and Hispanics. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Charles Lane
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 23, 1991 Wide
- Studio
- Touchstone Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
A pedestrian racial comedy.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Charles Lane's indie feature os a goo showcase for the British comedian
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Lenny Henry
as Miles Pope
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Frank Langella
as Leland Carver
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Charles Lane
as Duane
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J.T. Walsh
as Craig Houston
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Anne-Marie Johnson
as Kristi Reeves
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Andreas Katsulas
as Anthony
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Michael McKean
as Harvey Cooper
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Peggy Lipton
as Rita
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Bill Raymond
as Grunfeld
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James Earl Jones
as Himself
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Darnell Williams
as Tyler
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Christopher Collins
as Frank LaMotta
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Melvin Van Peebles
as Taxi Driver
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Ruth Brown
as Martha
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Sarah Baley
as 1st Audience Member
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Michael Baskin
as Airplane Husband
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Joe Bellan
as Janitor
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James Bilbrey
as Man on Line
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Robert Black
as 1st Cab Man
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Cynthia Blackledge
as 1st Acting Student
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David Martel Bryant
as Clown
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Glenn David Calloway
as Distinguished Man
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Doug Carfrae
as JFK Ticket Clerk
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Lilyan Chauvin
as Police Station Woman
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Victor Colicchio
as 2nd Alley Guy
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Bettiann Fishman
as Waitress
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Raymond Forchion
as Burly Cop
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Jonathan Frechette
as Flight Engineer
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Richard Ganoung
as Roderigo
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James W. Gavin
as Helicopter Pilot
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Jim Gavin
as Helicopter Pilot
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Hazelle Goodman
as Miles's 1st Neighbor
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Katie Graves
as Female Ticket Agent
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Lynne Griffin
as Emilia
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Robert Haufrecht
as FBI Lobby Agent
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Shannon Holt
as Desdemona
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Valerie Holvick
as Red-Haired Acting Student
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Maria C. Hurtado
as Miles's 2nd Neighbor
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Joseph A. Jackson
as 2nd Cab Man
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Anthony Johnson
as Audition Actor
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Bobby Johnson
as 3rd Alley Guy
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James Landi
as FBI Driver
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Joyce Meadows
as FBI Receptionist
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Fantasia Owens
as Ruth
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Grant Owens
as Senator
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Damon Pooser
as Brother
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George Riddick
as Fifth Avenue Pedestrian
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Beth Robbins
as Female FBI Agent
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Jane Marla Robbins
as Director's Assistant
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Laura Schaefer
as Stewardess
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Ann Schulman
as 2nd Audience Member
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Roselyn D. Schwartz
as FBI Secretary
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Judson Earney Scott
as Iago
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Mik Scriba
as Police Sergeant
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Clifford Shegog
as Police Lineup Guy
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Olivia Sklar
as Cab Woman
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Fred Springer
as Country Club Receptionist
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Tracy Brooks Swope
as Airplane Wife
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Greg Travis
as Orlando Ticket Buyer
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Eric Briant Wells
as 2nd Acting Student
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Karen Willins
as Karen
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Ilona Wilson
as Lola
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Christina Wright
as 3rd Audience Member
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Shane Dixon
as FBI Agent on Catwalk
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R. Lee Ermey
as Houston's Boss (uncredited)
- Pat Golden
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James Mathers
as Pilot
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Michael Jai White
as 1st Alley Guy
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Ken Miles
as 1st Cop
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Peter Fitzgerald
as Horror Movie Actor