Screenwriter
03-22-2005, 01:28 PM
I have finally seen the theatrical trailer. I know the movie is titled The Honeymooners and I know that Cedric is playing Ralph Kramden.... but I swear that I cannot recognize Ralph Kramden for who he is. I have studied the character of Ralph Kramden and this is not him. And I think another reason this movie will suck is because of the ebony vibe they added to it. Now, I do not consider myself a racist by no means. I'm all for ethnic equality, I don't want that to come across. But when Ralph in the theatrical trailer mentions the thong, I know that something is amiss.
Here is an excerpt of a description of Ralph Kramden in my book "Archie & Edith, Mike & Gloria."
Archie has been compared to Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) of The Honeymooners. O'Connor, in fact, once wrote to Gealson, "I know I am doing some of the things you did," Gleason replied, "I wish I had done some of the things you're doing." Indeed, both Kramden and Bunker are blue-collar, bellicose, prone to oversimplification, and hard on their wives. Both are trapped in the basement. But Ralph schemes with dreams of the penthouse. Archie complains he's locked in and some idiot lost the key. Ralph goes on TV to sell useless kitchen utensils, makes a fool of himself and knows it, and blows his investment. Archie goes on TV to knock gun control, makes a fool of himself without knowing it, and is robbed by thieves at gunpoint while watching the show in a bar. Ralph strives, though clumsily, to be a millionaire overnight. Archie figures he's lucky to keep the wolf from the door. The American Dream spurs Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker has nightmares, not dreams.
"Ralph Kramden..." wrote Tom Shales in The Washington Post, "was a victim of the system before people talked about victims of the system, but he didn't blame the system." Ralph Kramden, survivor of the war and the Depression, is assured by his very survival that things can only improve.
The show The Honeymooners was made for Jackie Gleason. The story takes place in the 50s, not 2005. If Hollywood wants to make a movie about the honeymooners at least get the era right. And above all keep the ethnicity real.
Here is an excerpt of a description of Ralph Kramden in my book "Archie & Edith, Mike & Gloria."
Archie has been compared to Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) of The Honeymooners. O'Connor, in fact, once wrote to Gealson, "I know I am doing some of the things you did," Gleason replied, "I wish I had done some of the things you're doing." Indeed, both Kramden and Bunker are blue-collar, bellicose, prone to oversimplification, and hard on their wives. Both are trapped in the basement. But Ralph schemes with dreams of the penthouse. Archie complains he's locked in and some idiot lost the key. Ralph goes on TV to sell useless kitchen utensils, makes a fool of himself and knows it, and blows his investment. Archie goes on TV to knock gun control, makes a fool of himself without knowing it, and is robbed by thieves at gunpoint while watching the show in a bar. Ralph strives, though clumsily, to be a millionaire overnight. Archie figures he's lucky to keep the wolf from the door. The American Dream spurs Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker has nightmares, not dreams.
"Ralph Kramden..." wrote Tom Shales in The Washington Post, "was a victim of the system before people talked about victims of the system, but he didn't blame the system." Ralph Kramden, survivor of the war and the Depression, is assured by his very survival that things can only improve.
The show The Honeymooners was made for Jackie Gleason. The story takes place in the 50s, not 2005. If Hollywood wants to make a movie about the honeymooners at least get the era right. And above all keep the ethnicity real.