Sam Moore: Soul Men Sucks

Legendary soul singer speaks out on film that parallels the story of Sam and Dave.

By Blurt Staff

A New York Daily News story says Sam Moore is consulting lawyers over Soul Men, a new film that bears many similarities to the story of Sam and Dave, the legendary soul duo that also featured his partner Dave Prater.

The film stars Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac as The Real Deal, a duo that reunites after a lengthy estrangement—just like Moore and Prater, who died in 1988, did. “In the movie, they have a reunion concert,” said Moore, who with Prater made “Soul Man” a hit. “Dave and I had a reunion in 1982 after not talking with each other for years.

Jackson and Mac also sing the S&D song “Hold On, I'm Coming” and Moore—who hasn't seen the movie—says he was told the actors listened to Sam and Dave to get psyched for the scene. Moore also told the Daily News that Dimension Films “tried to buy me out” by offering him $1,000 for a walk-on role (“A thousand dollars!” he exclaims. “Whoa. You know, slavery times have ended”) and that he was upset by the free use of the word “nigger” in the film. “Even when Dave and I were fighting and cursing, we never used that word,” he told the paper. “It's an insult to every one of us who fought in the civil rights movement.

“I don't understand how this can happen,” Moore said. “It's not right.”

Soul Men producer David Friendly insists, “Everything in the movie is completely made up. The characters are backup singers, unlike Sam and Dave, who were headliners. [Bob Weinstein's brother] Harvey Weinstein suggested at a party that Sam might be in the movie. But Sam declined the offer. No money was ever discussed. Just because they sing one Sam and Dave song doesn't make it a movie about them. I think it's unfair of [Moore] to criticize a movie he hasn't seen.”

The film will premiere at the Apollo on October 24.