Spike Lee has announced the release of an extensive behind the scenes book on his classic 1989 film Do the Right Thing.
The film was lauded for its unaplogetic look at race relations in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighorhood.It featured an ensemble cast of Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Danny Aiello, Rosie Perez (in her acting debut), Martin Lawrence, Giancarlo Esposito, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Turturro. It earned two Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Danny Aiello), and Best Writing, Screenplay (Spike Lee). In 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress preserved the film in the National Film Registry for its “cultural significance.”
Hip-Hop culture was featured prominently in the movie by the character Radio Raheem. Played by Bill Nunn, Raheem constantly blasted of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” from his boombox. The song served as the catalyst for several of the movie’s most thought-provoking scenes.
The book will be filled with previously unreleased information via new interviews, behind the scenes footage, and an exclusive DVD package. Matloff serves as co-author.
The Do the Right Thing book is scheduled to be stores later this month for the holiday season.
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As a child, I still vividly recall how upset I was at the film’s conclusion. It makes me wonder how a powerful film like this would be accepted by today’s cinema-goers. You don’t see black movies like this getting the green light from studios anymore.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
Should be dope. The behind the scenes book for “X” was eye-opening.