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Due to the limited budget of the film, I had to choose some of Lei's historical images and set up the set accordingly. In the whole film, two-thirds of it belongs to real scene shooting.
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In the film, the actor of Lei's wife is indeed Lei's second wife.
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Ray Charles died of liver failure on June 10, 2004. The film had already been filmed and Ray had seen the first cut version.
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During the filming, in order to achieve the blindness effect, Jamie Fox wears prosthetic eyes for up to 14 hours a day.
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According to Lei's request, the script was translated into Braille for his reading.
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The director obtained the filming rights in 1987, but he shelved it for many years because he could not find an investor.
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When Ray played the piano with the symphony orchestra, the brand of the piano was changed, and the mark on the piano was changed from the original Steinway to Hohner.
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The police motorcycle that appeared in the 1961 scene did not start to be used until 1984.
Ray behind the scenes gags
2021-11-18 08:01
Extended Reading
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Marlene: Gossie been cattin' with one of my waitresses since he got here. He never told me his partner was a blind 'Bama boy.
Oberon: Marlene, Demure called. Thurman's sick.
Marlene: What about Sassie.
Oberon: Flat tire.
Marlene: Alright, 'Bama, why don't you get up there and show me what you got.
Ray Charles: Well, I, I'm not really prepared to do my thing, I mean, right now, tonight.
Marlene: Well, this is the only audition you're gonna get, Puddin', so either get on up there or you and Gossie can haul your asses back down south.
Oberon: [hands Ray a joint] Here smoke some of this.
Ray Charles: [coughs] That ain't no tobacco, man!
Oberon: No. Hold it in. It'll calm you down.
Marlene: Alright, Oberon, get up there and introduce him.
Oberon: Yes, Maam!
Marlene: Come on, 'Bama.
Ray Charles: Yeah!
Oberon: I got a special treat for all you satin dolls and I'm not talking about Oberon's big thunder. No, that's for another show. We got some new blood for ya. Fresh off the bus from Florida I give you Ray "Don't Call Me Sugar" Robinson.
Ray Charles: How y'all doin' tonight?
Man in Bar: Better than you!
Oberon: Relax, Ray, relax!
Ray Charles: I got it. What do y'all wanna hear?
Aretha Robinson: How 'bout a little Nat King Cole?
Ray Charles: Y'all like Nat King Cole?
[begins playing]
Marlene: 'Bama ain't bad.
Oberon: I'd say he saved our asses.
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Fathead Newman: This ain't no weed, Ray. And we ain't snorting no bitch. This is boy! Boy'll make your ass null and void.
Ray Charles: Null and void, just like my life.