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‘This Christmas’ and its ‘Soul Train’ line dances
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the better holiday movies — “This Christmas” (opening Wednesday) from Atlanta-based producer Will Packer — doesn’t limit itself to one surprise “Soul Train” line dance. It has two.
The film, about members of a large family returning home for the holidays, breaks out in a lively “Soul Train” line led by Loretta Devine and emblematic of the TV dance show’s iconic groove.
And the funny thing about it is that studio executives at Sony were clueless.
Packer says the script said only “cut to the ‘Soul Train’ line” and the executives didn’t know what that meant until they saw the filming.
“At a black family reunion or around the holidays, somebody’s gonna put on a song and that ‘Soul Train’ line is gonna break out — followed by the Electric Slide,” Packer says.
The Sony execs were so taken with the line dance they asked that a second ‘Soul Train’ line be added with as many of the film’s characters as Packer could gather.
That second line was to be used as the credits rolled.
But … test audiences listed that second dance line as one of the top five moments in the movie.
“So we decided to make it a kind of curtain call,” Packer says. “It’s now a three-minute ode to Don Cornelius at the end of the movie (running just before the credits).”
The treat for moviegoers is a long line dance featuring, among others, Devine, Delroy Lindo, Chris Brown, Regina King, Columbus Short, Idris Elba, Sharon Leal, Keith Robinson and Mekhi Phifer.
Who leads the “Soul Train” line at your house? And what are your favorite memories of “Soul Train”?
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By L.
November 19, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
Is ‘Soul Train’ off the air?
By Teresa
November 19, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
I like doing the jerk
By Teresa
November 19, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
Soul Train comes on Early Sunday morning like 2 am on Channel 3, It comes on right after show time at the apollo.
By Kimi
November 19, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Whoever feels like dancing starts the Soul Train line!
Soul Train also comes on Saturdays in the early afternoon, but its more like a rewind show & usually features a couple performances by one artists over the years.
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this flick, White Christmas. Can’t wait it looks like it’ll be a classic!
By Lovie
November 19, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
Like the producer said…..*At a black family reunion or around the holidays, somebody’s gonna put on a song and that ‘Soul Train’ line is gonna break out — * and it never fails! Much success with the film, can’t wait to check it out!!
By L.
November 19, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Why did ‘Soul Train’ quit making new episodes?
By Hotlanta
November 19, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Every moment of looking at Soul Train was a moment to me. Because all of the kids where in the house looking at it and as soon as it went off we would all turn on the radio on a streetcorner and do those dances and have a BALL!!!. My favorite neighborhood dance contest was my girlfriend Lulu and my brother friend Ulysses dancing to Rufus Thomas song called “The Breakdown”. I can still hear that moment in my head now. Man those where really the good old days. I look at the old episodes and just smile and say boy did we have fun.
By greg
November 19, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Soul Train is off the air but on saturday throwbacks come on.
By Sri
November 19, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Folks,
Soul Train comes on WGN (I believe) — Channel 15/16 on Comcast, on Saturday afternoons (around 1.00 or 2.00 pm ET).
By Charles
November 19, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
The Soul Train Line… What are you folks talking about? I can’t dance.
If a Soul Train Line broke out in our house, someone would call Grady Hospital, the mental ward. We would think the dancers had lost their mind.
My favorite memory of soul train was watching practically any African American perform, sing, on television. At that particular time, October 2, 1971, for the most part, they acted like African people. Today, African Americans act white in spirit, mind, and body.
Please remove those bootlicking, butt licking, buck dancing, bamboozled, some half baked and other half fried, punkified, sissified, pasteurized, homogenized, n**** from television and radio. For the most part, 98%, of public figures are a disgrace to African Americans in particular and humanity in general.
By Ms. Joy
November 19, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, the Soul train line is a staple @ black weddings, reunions and heck even some repast gatherings after the funeral. You know we as black folk, we’ll dance and break out the soul train line for almost any occassion….HEY NOW!