Super Fly

The opening shot minus one from director Gordon Parks Jr., with one of the better-known songs from the smash Curtis Mayfield soundtrack, tracking two users through Harlem before we meet Ron O’Neal as dealer Priest, the nickname derived from his gold coke spoon, in Superfly, 1972.

Cruising Harlem in star Ron O’Neal’s famous customized Cadillac Eldorado, with partner Eddie (Carl Lee) entering a restaurant where composer Curtis Mayfield, whose soundtrack made even more money than the movie, probably wouldn’t have played, is performing, in director Gordon Parks Jr.’s Superfly, 1972.

Harlem cocaine dealer Priest (Ron O’Neal) visits his partner Eddie (Carl Lee) and explains his complex scheme to get out of the business while they’re still young, with drug use and plenty of rough language, early in director Gordon Parks Jr.’s Superfly, 1972.