MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > Why so many untruths and why no mention ...

Why so many untruths and why no mention of David, Eddie, and Melvin's...

posted 13 years ago by queencity86
6 replies | jump to latest

Why so many untruths in the movie? They said David was coming off a tour w/ a breif case full of $ and showed him being thrown out the limo dead and said he was John Doe at the Morgue.I thought he died in Detroit, not in PA. David Ruffin's family said he died in the hospital not in a crackhouse or being thrown out the limo of an over dose like shown in the movie. They show Melvin dying in at his mom's house going to get the short ribs out of the oven, when in actuality I read he was playing basketball w/ his son and had a heart attack or something then was in a coma in the hospital before he passed. Why did they never show Melvin, David, or Eddie's wife and kids in the movie and what else is fiction in the movie. They only showed David w/ Tammie Terrell. They never talked about or showed his first wife, Sandra Ruffin in the movie or his common law wife, Genna Saphia Ruffin. In the movie Paul's wife name was Maxine, but in real life it says her name is Mary Agnes Williams.

[–] j_ess 13 years ago

Did you watch UNSUNG which told about David's wife, kids, etc?
I was shocked to know he had children, 2 wives, etc. His family made it very clear that he was brought to the ER. I forget by who. Anyway, I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I think the families stayed out of the movie knowing lies would be told. Really sad and I have no doubt that David had more good in him than what was portrayed. I also feel Otis was very jealous of David and his talent.

[–] queencity86 13 years ago

Yeah, I watched the David Ruffin Unsung ep last week, which led me to ask those questions.

[–] b-touch 13 years ago

It's a fictionalization, like every other biopic, not a documentary. I've never seen a biopic that was actually truthful.

[–] j_ess 13 years ago

We either love them or not. What a shame 'some people' who produce these types of film have to show so much negativity.
From what I have read DR helped out quite a few people. Even if he had a drug problem he was still a great performer and so talented.

Look for the good in people. More than the majority are good.

[–] chihuahuaboydh-724-612855 12 years ago

I'm sure various family members (including David Ruffin's family) contacted de Passe Entertainment (the movie's production company) & asked to be left out of the movie's storyline, yet the producers decided to "go by the book" & tell several untruths about David Ruffin & Paul Williams anyway. I'm sure David had a lot of good in him, as well as Paul. I'm certain Otis Williams had a lot of input in the movie also, although he's denied ever having gotten involved with it. Otis's treatment of Paul was just unforgivable!

Larry Appleton: "I have..."
Balki Bartokomous: "Oh, God!"
Larry Appleton: "...a plan!"

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

After a successful month-long tour of England with Kendricks and Edwards, David Ruffin died on June 1, 1991, in a Philadelphia hospital of "an adverse reaction to drugs" - namely cocaine. Although the cause of death was ruled an accident, Ruffin's family and friends suspected foul play, claiming that a money belt containing the proceeds from the tour ($300,000) was missing from his body. He had just finished recording the single "Hurt the One You Love" for Motorcity Records.

In The Temptations television miniseries, Ruffin's beaten body is depicted as being thrown from a moving car in front of a hospital, where he dies. Also stated in the mini-series was that his body remained unclaimed in a morgue for a week after his death. As a result, Ruffin's estate filed suit against NBC and other major players involved in the making of the series, claiming defamation. According to the plaintiffs in the case, Ruffin was actually taken to the hospital by a limousine and was escorted to the waiting area by his driver, who informed the attendants of his identity. The Ruffin children further state that his body was claimed by one of them within a few days after his death. Ruffin's estate lost the lawsuit; the ruling against them was upheld on appeal.