That's the Way of the World

This is an often amusing insider look at the music business. Keitel plays a producer who is saddled with a G-rated group and is expected to make them popular with the public. There are lots of satirical in-jokes about the egos of recording stars, their managers and the people who run the studios. It has a lot of 70s nostalgia value and many of the philosophies spouted by the characters are still en vogue with the music biz today. All in all, a good job by all involved.

Harvey Keitel is a record producer for one of the big labels. He wants to sign Earth Wind & Fire, but the geniuses who wear suits want the happy bubble gum pop sound purveyed by a one-hit-wonder family group of Bert Parks, Cynthia Bostick, and Jimmy Boyd; every other label has one, and some have two. Keitel is ordered to apply his magic, so he takes Miss Bostick tooling around Philadelphia in his Morgan while she acts surprised when every disc jockey asks how you tell a boy chromosome from a female chromosome. Keitel wines Asher and dines her and beds her and weds her, happy as a clam in chowder.

It's a look at the world of money in recording back in the day, with Keitel standing in for all the cool young rebels. Clearly, the movie producers knew they had a talent on their hands and were trying to move him from Scorsese hood to matinee idol. I guess they're still trying.

I haven't seen this film since it came out in the mid 70s, but I do recall it as being a very realistic portrayal of the music business ( right up there with Paul Simons "One Trick Pony " ..another vastly underrated film IMO )

Harvey Keitel does an excellent job as a producer caught between the music he believes in , and the commercial "tripe" the record company "suits" want him to work with.

Since I spent my entire career in the music business as a composer /arranger /producer, I can really vouch for the verisimilitude this film possesses.

If it should ever come out on DVD uncut, I'd buy it!

Campy? Sure. Stiff dialogue? Sure. Not Academy Awards quality acting? Sure. But, the plot is interesting. The music is great. The scene w/EW&F performing at a roller disco venue is totally cool. I really liked this movie.

I would like to know if anyone know how I can get a copy of the movie, "That's the way of the World". It's been about 30 years since I've seen this movie, and I would like to see it again. Earth Wind & Fire transcend the nation globally with their inspirational music and themes. It was unfortunate that this group didn't take off like their counterparts in the early 70's, but as previously stated, racial tension existed in the United States which prohibited equalized exposure for the African American musical groups. It is good to see that Earth Wind & Fire continuing their success. I would like to add this movie to my collection. Someone please help me if possible. Thank you for your attention. Milton Shaw