Sidney Poitier, who was the first Black man to win an academy award for Best Actor in a Lead Role, married his first wife, Juanita Marie Hardy, in 1950. [60] His satisfaction at this honor was undermined by his concerns that this award was more of the industry congratulating itself for having him as a token and it would inhibit him from asking for more substantive considerations afterward. The other field hands wielded clubs and cutlasses, and according to a fellow slave, they were in a great deal of wrath., Gunfire was exchanged between the two groups. Sidney Poitier, who was the first Black man to win an Academy Award for best actor and who forever changed the . The film was a critical and financial success. It occurs to me, year after year, that Dr. King's holiday becomes a celebration of Sidney Poitier films on TCM. By Earl Ofari Hutchinson Contributing Columnist The Texas school massacre May 24 was the latest in a familiar ritual. In 1995, he received the Kennedy Center Honor. . Sidney Poitier, the actor whose groundbreaking movie roles in the 1950s and '60s opened doors for generations of Black performers and brought him a history-making Best Actor Academy . On November 13, 1991, in Miami, he died of cancer. Denzel Washington 36 roles in common. Although others had enjoyed success in character roles or as musical performers, Poitier won fame as a dramatic actor and romantic leading man, embodying an entire people's struggle for social equality. . Putting hysteria aside, as I continue to research possible DNA ties of RM and myself to the black and/or white Poitiers or Knowles of the Bahamas, theres no doubt that the historical and genealogical data concerning several lines of those families are quite absorbing. Actor Sidney Poitier's presence in film during the 1950s and 1960s opened up the possibility for bigger and better roles for African American performers. He issued pardons for the six who were convicted as accessories, sparing them from the gallows. On Thursday, January 6, Sidney Poitierthe first Black man to ever win the Oscar for best actor died at 94. Along with filmmaker Bo Boudart, Pamela created the documentary "Islands of Life," which highlights the importance of preserving the ecological diversity of the Bahamas. . Group portrait of members of the American Negro Theatre including Sidney Poitier (4th from left), Robert Earl Jones, seated (3rd from right), and Hilda Haynes, seated, middle. It was also Poitier's last acting role for more than a decade, as he focused his attentions on directing. Hes one of the most eloquent curse-word users, says godson Mike Jordan admiringly on the afternoon Poitier and his extended family his wife, his ex-wife, 27 of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and godchildren and a few close friends gathered for his 90th birthday at his favorite Beverly Hills eatery, Spago. President Biden paid tribute to Sidney Poitier on Friday evening, remembering him as a "once-in-a-generation actor and advocate" whose work "changed the world on and off the big screen." In a. Eerily parallel with circumstances regarding my own fathers birth, almost a century later, in Miami, Florida, on 20 Feburary 1927, Sidney Poitier was born small and sickly, according to his biography, excerpted 2004 in The New York Times. James Earl Jones and Sidney Poitier have starred in 2 movies together, A Piece of the Action (1977) and Sneakers (1992). [106] He married Joanna Shimkus, a Canadian actress who starred with Poitier in The Lost Man in 1969, on January 23, 1976, and they remained married until his death. Poitier would have other huge hits with films like "To Sir, With Love," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and "In The Heat of the Night.". The dates for the 2022 "E-rase your E-waste" event have been set. . Guylaine Gouraige, 22; granddaughter, student, 5. American actress, singer, director, producer. He became a star in American movies and plays which went against racial stereotypes, and made black actors more respected in mainstream roles. Two slaves were wounded in the crossfire. "[74] To win his role as Dr. Prentice in the film, Poitier had to audition for Tracy and Hepburn at two separate dinner parties. As the cycle continued, the image of blacks on film regressed back to stereotypical depictions. Showing Slide 1 of 3. . Sidney Poitier in 1972 AP. [40], Poitier never did sign a loyalty oath, despite being asked in connection with his prospective role in Blackboard Jungle (1955).[41]. He had six daughters in total: four daughters with Hardy named Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, and Gina. Washington, 67, reflected on his. Type of Resource. [135][136] He was also named an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. Poitier lived with his family on Cat Island until he was ten, when they moved to Nassau. [52], In Stanley Kramer's social drama Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Poitier played a man in a relationship with a White woman played by Katharine Houghton. Poitier's death was announced by Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell . Much about these relationships was revealed in her memoir The Legs Are the Last to Go (2008). By late 1949, Poitier had to choose between leading roles on stage and an offer to work for Darryl F. Zanuck in the film No Way Out (1950). Likewise, Ancestry.com records indicate that James Alexander Knowles (1724 or 17331806) operated the Crossing Plantation during much of the 18th century at Crossing Hill, Long Island, Bahamas. O'Neil, Tom (New York, 2003), "Movie Awards: The Ultimate, Unofficial Guide to the Oscars. A writer and director, a thinker and critic, a humanitarian and diplomat, his presence as a cultural icon has long been one of protest and humanity. [139] He was an influential African-American actor and highly viewed as such as he became the first Black actor to be nominated for an Academy Award and the first Black male actor to win the award. Lilies of the Field (1963) The film that made Sidney Poitier the first black man to win Best Actor, Lilies of the Field, which was directed by Ralph Nelson and co-starred Lilia Skala, is about a . He modeled his legendary speech pattern after radio personality Norman Brokenshire. Poitier became the first Black man to win an Academy Award for best actor in 1964 for his role in "Lilies of the Field." He is also remembered for starring in films like "The Defiant Ones," "Porgy and Bess," "A Raisin in the Sun," "To Sir, with Love," "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," among others. 1974), American actor, known for Remember the Titans (2000 . Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division. Original artists restore Micheltorena stairway mural. Instead, wouldn't it be more effective to see Sidney's films mixed in with films of other . [53] The play was a groundbreaking piece of American theater with Frank Rich, critic from The New York Times writing in 1983, that A Raisin in the Sun "changed American theater forever". In 1964, he was the first black person and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. TEST YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. Reinforcements were called in and subsequently Dick and his alleged accomplices were arrested. He was 94 years old. He was 94. [114] When Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas in September 2019, Poitier's family had 23 missing relatives. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. He is an actor, known for Remember the Titans (2000), Drumline (2002) and Roswell (1999). The longstanding custom of slaves having Sundays to themselves (this became official in 1830) meant that slaves often had four total days without labor during Christmas week. In Photos: Sidney Poitier life and career. Related Articles . History is made with the first public hearing related to the UFO phenomenon. Sidney Poitier won his first Oscar in 1964 for his role as Homer, the reluctant handyman in Lilies of the Field. In 1571 Philip Sidney began a tour of the Continent . Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Till, Emancipation and The Woman King were among the top winners at Wednesday's event at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. American actor. British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, List of awards and nominations received by Sidney Poitier, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography, Sidney Poitier Black and White: Sidney Poitier's Emergence in the 1960s as a Black Icon, "Sidney Poitier First Black Ever To Receive 'Best Actor' Oscar", "Oscar win proved Sidney Poitier was second to none", "Award of Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) to Sidney Poitier, actor | The National Archives", "Sidney Poitier to be Honoured with BAFTA Fellowship", "Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier Dead at 94", "The 6th annual screen actors guild awards", Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "Sidney Poitier, Sen. Ted Kennedy Among 16 Who Receive Medal of Freedom", "Sidney Poitier, Who Paved the Way for Black Actors in Film, Dies at 94", "Striking for Freedom: The 1831 Uprising at Golden Grove Plantation, Cat Island", "Sidney Poitier's Reflections Of Dignity", "Finding a New Home in Harlem: Alice Childress and the Committee for the Negro in the Arts", "Four Decades After He Was Blacklisted, A Writer-Producer Finally Gets Credit", "Crossing the Black Atlantic: The Global Antiapartheid Movement and the Racial Politics of the Cold War", "10 Essential Sidney Poitier Movies, From 'Blackboard Jungle' to 'To Sir, With Love' (Photos)", "Sidney Poitier's Best Films: 13 Movies Now Streaming Online", "Screen: A Forceful Social Drama; ' The Defiant Ones' Has Debut at Victoria", "Sidney Poitier, Trailblazing Oscar Winner and Activist, Dead at 94", "Sidney Poitier's BAFTA wins and nominations", "Theater: 'Raisin in Sun,' Anniversary in Chicago", "How Sidney Poitier Rewrote the Script for Black Actors in Hollywood", "Sidney Poitier, 1st Black man to win best actor Oscar, dies at 94", "Sir, we loved you: Sidney Poitier dies at 94", "Get Out's Jordan Peele Brings the 'Social Thriller' to BAM", "Sidney Poitier's "Tibbs Trilogy" Out On DVD", "Fade to Black: Black filmmakers make the most profitable movies, but still fight for dollars and respect", "Report: Sidney Poitier 'disgusted' with Bill Cosby over sexual assault allegations", "Sneakers: Robert Redford and River Phoenix nerd out in 1992's prescient, high-tech caper", "Sidney Poitier, Oscar Winner Who Helped Tear Down Racial Barriers, Dies at 94", "Sidney Poitier, first Black actor to win best actor Academy Award, dies at 94 -Bahamian official", "Ernest Borgnine's death makes Sidney Poitier the oldest living best actor Oscar winner", "Beloved Hollywood actor Sidney Poitier dies at 94", "Sidney Poitier death: First Black man to win Best Actor Oscar dies aged 94", "Academy Museum Dedicates Grand Lobby to Sidney Poitier", "Actor Takes Center Stage as Disney Trial Grinds On", "New play about Sidney Poitier in development for Broadway run", "A Timeline of Black History in Westchester", "Guess Who's Coming to Terms at Last with His Kids, Racial Politics and Life? Additionally Poitier won the Silver Bear for Best Actor for his performance in the film. "[96], With the death of Ernest Borgnine in 2012, Poitier became the oldest living recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor. . $6.14 + $3.61 shipping + $3.61 shipping + $3.61 shipping. Born on the Barksdale Airforce Base in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he lived until he was 7. While it's refreshing to hear from Hardy and his daughters from his first marriage, the darker aspects of his nine-year affair with his "Paris Blues" co-star Diahann Carroll is highly sanitized, the implosion of which is only addressed by Carroll through a short archival clip. [13] He was the youngest of seven children[14] born to Evelyn (ne Outten) and Reginald James Poitier, Afro-Bahamian farmers who owned a farm on Cat Island. In his film review, Roger Ebert described Poitier's character as "a noble, rich, intelligent, handsome, ethical medical expert" and that the film "is a magnificent piece of entertainment. "[123] Harry Belafonte, Morgan Freeman, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Lupita Nyong'o, Halle Berry, Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, Octavia Spencer, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Esposito, Quincy Jones, Michael Eisner, Ron Howard and others also paid tribute. Born in 1554, he was the eldest son of Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley, sister of Elizabeth's favourite Robert, 1st Earl of Leicester. NBC News reported his death in the Bahamas, citing a source close to the family. Roger Ebert gave the film two stars out of four and wrote, "It has its heart in the right place, I suppose, but its key situations are so unbelievable and its dialog so awkward that nothing helps. [86], In 1985, he directed Fast Forward[87] and, in 1990, he reunited with Cosby directing him in the family comedy Ghost Dad. Related sponsored items. In 1831, however, Christmas fell on a Sunday. [43] In 1951, he traveled to South Africa with the African-American actor Canada Lee to star in the film version of Cry, the Beloved Country. The 95th Academy Awards, for outstanding film achievements of 2022, will be presented on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood & Highland Center), and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories . $4.49. [38], His participation in such events and CNA generally, along with his friendships with other leftist Black performers, including Canada Lee and Paul Robeson, led to his subsequent blacklisting for a few years. [139] Laura Jacobs for Vanity Fair hailed Poitier as the "Martin Luther King Jr. of the movies". "'Piece of the Action' Is on Side of the Angels". "[46] Poitier later praised Wellman for inspiring his thoughtful approach to directing when he found himself taking the helm from Joseph Sargent on Buck and the Preacher in 1971. "Just died when this was happening and . He is an actor, known for Remember the Titans (2000), Drumline (2002) and Burn Notice (2007). [9][10] In 2002, he was given an Honorary Academy Award, in recognition of his "remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being". These Vedetten Parade cards were available in a bar of chocolate or biscuit, a glue- or paper mark from the inner wrapper is possible. [11] In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President Barack Obama. In his teenage years he returned to the US, where he joined the army and served for a time in a medical unit. Poitier was aware of this pattern himself but was conflicted on the matter. He was assigned to a Veteran's Administration hospital in Northport, New York, and was trained to work with psychiatric patients. In the 1950s and '60s, Sidney Poitier won international fame as a film actor and transformed the image of African Americans in the cinema. Sidney Poitier, the first Black man to win an Oscar, has died at the age of 94. security jobs paying $30 an hour; earl poitier related to sidney [25], At age fifteen, he was sent to Miami to live with his brother's large family, but Poitier found it impossible to adjust to the racism in Jim Crow era Florida. Music industry legend Quincy Jones has paid tribute to the late actor and activist Sidney Poitier in a long remembrance on Twitter. All goes well until a past heist comes back to haunt them and they have to make up for it or else. In 1964, he was the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. [129] He also received a Grammy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. He grew up on his father's tomato farm on Cat Island, and the family then relocated to the capital, Nassau. [141] The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "Poitier was the first actor to star in mainstream Hollywood movies that depicted a Black man in a non-stereotypical fashion, and his influence, especially during the 1950s and '60s as role model and image-maker, was immeasurable. [39] Even associating with Poitier added to the basis for blacklisting Alfred Palca, the writer and producer of one of Poitier's earliest films, the 1954 Go Man Go. [30], After leaving the Army, he worked as a dishwasher until a successful audition landed him a role in an American Negro Theatre production, the same company he failed his first audition with. Further, an associated Ancestry.com entry indicates that James Alexander Knowles was the son of an African Woman, Hetty Williams, and Samuel John Knowles. [58] In 1963 he starred in Lilies of the Field. Every time He was the first African American actor to win the . The pair were longtime friends who came up in New York together . James Earl Jones and Sidney Poitier have starred in 2 movies together, A Piece of the Action (1977) and Sneakers (1992). Not when there is only one Negro actor working in films with any degree of consistency . It was a thrill to have him join in celebrating my 87th birthday . Poitier confessed to a psychiatrist that he was faking his condition, but the doctor was sympathetic and granted his discharge under Section VIII of Army regulation 615360 in December 1944. In 1964, Poitier became the first Black actor to win a best actor Oscar for his work in the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field" and is widely credited for paving the way for Black actors to appear in other leading roles (via Variety). She is survived by Suzanne . James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (ne . The occasion, hosted by Roy [] actor Born December 16, 1974 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Earl Poitier was born on December 16, 1974 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. He joined the American Negro Theatre, landing his breakthrough film role as a high school student in the film Blackboard Jungle (1955). Sidney Poitier, who was the first Black man to win an academy award for Best Actor in a Lead Role, married his first wife, Juanita Marie Hardy, in 1950. UPDATED, 2:09 PM PT: President Joe Biden praised Sidney Poitier as a "once-in-a-generation actor and advocate whose work carried so much dignity, power, and grace that it changed the world on. Poitier, the Academy Award-winning actor experienced in life many of the racial stresses explored in his films. Gang Related Gang Related (1997) Arthur Baylor - 1997 . [34], In 1947, Poitier was a founding member of the Committee for the Negro in the Arts (CNA),[35] an organization whose participants were committed to a left-wing analysis of class and racial exploitation. Says Joanna, Poitiers wife of more than 40 years, He is the most wonderful, generous, kind, honest man with the most integrity that Ive ever known in my life., 1. lahaska outlets peddlers village; canada's national ballet school acceptance rate; living on campobello island Poitier received an Oscar nomination for best actor in The Defiant Ones (1958). He was 94. There he was exposed to the modern world, where he saw his first automobile and first experienced electricity, plumbing, refrigeration, and motion pictures. Poitier's illustrious career and groundbreaking. On Joannas lap: Diarra LaBarrie, 6; great-granddaughter, 28. "My mother was half Cherokee, and she raised me with a credo," she said. Ruby Dee. I get my electrical power from the sun, I catch rainwater on my roof, and I use composting toilets," Pamela told the children. Poitier was one of the last major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. Even in his own lifetime, Sir Philip Sidney was seen a peerless knight. He . There was a dispute concerning the timing of when the workers could celebrate Christmas in 1831. . Sidney Poitier, the Bahamian-American actor who broke numerous Hollywood barriers in the 1950s and 1960s most famously in 1964 when he became the first Black man to win the Oscar for best actor has died, Bahamian news outlets reported Friday, citing the country's minister of foreign affairs. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens on Sept. 30 in Los Angeles and will mark the occasion by paying tribute to legendary actor Sidney Poitier. Still, Poitier later told Frank Spotnitz in American Film that his father "had a wonderful sense of himself. The star grew up in the small village of Cat Island, Bahamas. 2 hours ago. [51] Poitier did win the British Academy Film Award for Best Foreign Actor. Showing Slide 1 of 3. . . In such cases, masters were at their discretion in managing the circumstances., So, Hunters slaves expressed dissatisfaction with this arrangement by proceeding to the fields on Saturday in defiance of his orders, Meyers wrote. June 30 marks the end of Caribbean-Heritage Month. Poitier's death was first announced by the Guardian Nassau newspaper, who confirmed the actor's passing with Bahamian Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred. New digital transfer of The Emperor Jones, created from the best surviving elements; Audio commentary for The Emperor Jones by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart; Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson, a new video program including interviews with filmmaker William Greaves and actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones Robeson on Robeson, a new interview with Paul Robeson Jr. about his father's career and art No Way Out - Richard Widmark + Linda Darnell I Region 1 DVD 1950 . Photo: United Artist/Getty. "Sidney Poitier was a towering figure in Hollywood whose extraordinary talent and impact on diversity and social justice around the world cannot be overstated." (1/3) Sony Pictures . Sidney Poitier's barrier-breaking legacy is now back on the big screen. The latest Tweets from Earl Poitier (@earl_poitier). [105] In 1959, Poitier began a nine-year affair with actress Diahann Carroll. "Sidney's emergence coincided with the post World War II dynamic around the changing images of African-Americans," elaborated Danny Glover (far left in . And although Beyonce (who reportedly now owns a Bahamian island) and Solange Knowles paternal ancestors from the Bahamas ultimately ended up in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas (where at least one of my several DNA cousins have Knowles family-tree forbearers), the distinct possibility that their enslaved ancestors may have been exploited at that Bahamian plantation cannot be ignored. He received two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a competitive British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), and a . [147], Sidney, a documentary film about Poitier's life and legacy by Reginald Hudlin, was released on September 23, 2022.[148]. [42] His performance in No Way Out, as a doctor treating a white bigot (played by Richard Widmark, who became a friend), was noticed and led to more roles, each considerably more interesting and more prominent than those most African-American actors of the time were offered. "'Piece of Action' dragging its feet". It is possible to criticize its lack of originality and its transparent slickness; but these are flaws that must be balanced against its evident craftsmanship, its entertainment and its social conscience. Sidney Poitier, the Academy Award-winning Black actor who experienced in life many of the racial stresses explored in his films, has died. Etienne Gouraige, 21; Sidney Poitiers grandson, student, 2. . Pamela would work with children on Cat Island as well, leading acting classes to create the next generation of Bahamian actors (via Tribune 242). James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is a multi-award-winning American actor of theater and film, well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership. "[143], While presenting Poitier the Honorary Academy Award in 2002, Denzel Washington said of Poitier: "Before Sidney, African American actors had to take supporting roles in major studio films that were easy to cut out in certain parts of the country. "[3] Gene Siskel gave the film two stars out of four and called it "a patronizing, simple-minded lecture on how young blacks can get jobs. Halle Berry wrote a touching tribute to trailblazing icon and friend Sidney Poitier, who died at age 94. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Poitier also received acclaim for Porgy and Bess (1959), A Raisin in the Sun (1961), and A Patch of Blue (1965), because of his strong roles as epic African American male characters. The news was announced by the Bahamian minister of foreign affairs Fred Mitchell, prompting tributes from the world of entertainment. [124][125][126] Broadway paid tribute when its theaters dimmed their lights on January 19, 2022, at 7:45pm ET. Uncle Earl's Classic TV Channel Sidney Poitier Films Sidney L. Poitier KBE (February 20, 1927 - January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian-American actor, film director and ambassador. Each person in the trio was identified as Black and African, an indication that they were likely born in Africa. [116][117][118][119][120] His death was confirmed by Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas. As dowager of Charles Poitiers estate, [Sarah Anne Poitier] had access to 142 slaves in 1831, says Eckerd Colleges Allan D. Meyers intriguing October 2015 article in the International Journal of Bahamian Studies, Striking for Freedom: The 1831 Uprising at Golden Grove Plantation, Cat Island., Indeed, the second largest holder of Cat Island slaves in the 1830s was [Joseph] Hunters widowed daughter, Sarah Anne Poitier, Meyers wrote, adding that 98 of her slaves lived on Cat Island with father and daughter combined enslaving 213 slaves there in the months before the uprising.. The film was met with mixed response; however, Poitier was praised for his performance, with the critic from Time writing, "Even the weak moments are saved by Poitier, who invests his role with a subtle warmth. By. Barbra Streisand. The characters . Pamela would later appear in films like "Liberty and Bash" and "The Jackal," as well as on the understudy for Antigone in the Broadway revival of "The Gospel at Colonus" (via Broadway World). Top titles Latest Filmography 2017 2013 2010 2007 2005 2002 2001 1999 Genres Back to top About Amazon Amazon Devices As the hearse prepared to pull off, according to my dad who was destined to become a pioneering black physician and hospital medical director, the shocked undertaker heard signs of life in the casket and my father was saved. But the two had a flawed past, forging a relationship with each other while they were married to other people. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born December 16, 1974 Add to list Photos Known for Remember the Titans 7.8 Blue Stanton (as Earl C. Poitier) 2000 Drumline 5.9 . (b. "An enormous part of my soul weeps at your passing," she wrote. Poitier's FBI file - requested via the . By Celia Walden 3 March 2023 9:00am. Most Popular +49. That same year Poitier would star in the film adaptation of Porgy and Bess (1959) alongside Dorothy Dandridge. Golden Globes, Critics, Guild and Indi Honors", Berkley Publishing Group, p. 761. Larry Busacca/VF14 via Getty Images. [6][7] In 1982, he received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. Sidney Poitier and Joanna Shimkus shared a decades-long romance. [144][141] The New York Times noted that Poitier was "an ambassador to white America and a benign emblem of Black power". AGE. Last edited on 13 December 2022, at 11:13, "Will Smith Secures Rights To Sidney Poitier/ Bill Cosby Flicks", "Denzel Washington and Will Smith to Team Up in Uptown Saturday Night Remake?