That's the Way of the World

This film was featured on the Decades You Were Born in 1970s. While the film could be forgettable, Harvey Keitel stands out as Coleman Buckmaster, a New York City music producer. The film has a largely forgettable storyline and romance between Coleman and Amanda. Coleman's entire life was dedicated to music. He goes to a party with music industry people. He wants to promote his group over a lily white singing group from Florida. His relationship with Amanda grows from their first meeting. The film is satisfactory overall. I enjoyed seeing New York City in the 1970s. Other then Keitel and Earth, Wind and Fire, I don't see many familiar names in the cast. If you're a devout Harvey Keitel fan, you will see this film as his breakout as a leading actor.

I was told about this motion picture from my good friend Rick, and he has always told me to look up this movie from the Web Site and view it, after all of the comments that I have read, I am surely excited about getting this motion picture and seeing it, it is about the group Earth, Wind and Fire, they was one of my favorite singers during the 1970's, right after I came back from Viet-Nam, the motion picture depicts about them coming into the spot light, there many songs and encounters with other groups has made this movie something special to see I was told by Rick, I am looking forward to seeing this motion picture, and I hope many of you are also wondering about this movie.

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!

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

While Earth, Wind, & Fire appear in this movie and their music-particularly the instrumental parts of "Shining Star" and the movie title song-are showcased, it's not about them at least not all the way through. They play The Group which is record producer Harvey Keitel's passion project. But his major record company wants him to drop them to concentrate on a supposedly wholesome family act called The Pages. Keitel's character really doesn't want to but he's told he has no choice. So he does what he can to make them sound good while also getting involved with the female lead singer Velour (Cynthia Bostick). She's really into him while he's keeping his cool much of the time. I'll just now say this was quite compelling dramatically and while it threatens to get explosive, it's not blisteringly so. So I say give That's the Way of the World a look.