What’s It About
Soul Man is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Steve Miner and written by Carol L. Black. C. Thomas Howell stars as a white male law student who pretends to be black to qualify for a scholarship. Its title refers to the song of the same name by Isaac Hayes and David Porter; the original soundtrack includes a version performed by Sam Moore and Lou Reed.
Why It’s Gone
The film sparked controversy due to Howell’s makeup, which some likened to blackface, leading to protests upon its release. Despite the backlash and critical panning, “Soul Man” was a commercial hit, earning $35 million from a $4.5 million budget. Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp, acquired the New World Library on July 16, 1996, with the deal finalized on January 22, 1997. The library was then integrated into 20th Century Fox, which remained the case even after The Walt Disney Company acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. As a result, the New World Pictures library likely falls under the purview of the 20th Century Studios division. New World Pictures was established on July 8, 1970, and operated until 1982. Co-founded by B-movie director Roger Corman and his brother Gene after leaving American International Pictures (AIP), New World quickly became one of the most successful independent companies in the nation. Corman aimed to replicate AIP’s success by producing low-budget films with new talent and distributing them internationally. Initially, New World focused on exploitation films like “The Student Nurses” before expanding its scope. Corman played a pivotal role in launching the careers of filmmakers such as Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Kaplan, Ron Howard, Paul Bartel, and Joe Dante, who all made early films as interns for the company. Additionally, New World distributed foreign films from acclaimed directors like Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, and Akira Kurosawa, showcasing a diverse range of cinematic works to disassociate itself from exploitation film labels.