MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > Otis Williams: Level-headed?

Otis Williams: Level-headed?

posted 12 years ago by chihuahuaboydh-724-612855
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More like hard-headed if you ask me. He appears to be hard-hearted as well...& a hypocrite. For instance, not only does he refuse to allow Paul Williams's re-entry into the group...AND considers replacing him on tour with an outside member! There's more: When Melvin Franklin is shot & injured in another scene & is visited in the hospital by Otis, who insists postponing the tour due to his partner being laid-up. So, Otis thought it was okay for The Tempts to tour without Paul, but not tour without Melvin? What a hypocrite! I know Otis & Melvin were best friends (so were Eddie & David), but that was too much!

Furthermore, legend has it that in late 1970, Eddie missed several tour dates, most likely due to protesting Paul no longer being in the group (which is why he either left on his own terms or he was fired). If all of this is the truth, it suggests that Otis had it in for not only Eddie (& vice-versa), but for Paul as well. Otis Williams wasn't exactly an angel, was he - LOL?!

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

[–] bsharporflat 12 years ago

What is the difference between being thrifty and stingy? Your point of view.

Same issue here. This movie was filmed from the perspective of Otis Williams. If it had been from Eddie Kendrick's point of view it would be a much different movie.

[–] b-touch 12 years ago

Otis refused to let Paul back into the group because Paul never became well enough again to retour. He was still being paid, however - Richard was hired on salary, Paul got 1/5 of everything.

As for touring without Paul but not without Melvin - Richard had already been on tour with the group singing from behind the curtain, and having him stand in for Paul was a natural transition. Also, the Temptations in 1970 were in such high demand that they couldn't stop touring. By 1978 or so when Mel got shot, they (at least in a scheduling context) could afford to take some time off.

Eddie missing several Copa dates in late 1970 had nothing to do with Paul not being in the group (Paul was there at that Copa engagement - understand that this TV movie is not a historical account but a fictionalized story about the group), but with long-brewing feuds between himself and Otis that came to a head onstage one night. That is why it was mutually agreed that Eddie was out of the group. His departure had absolutely nothing to do with Paul or Paul's issues - Eddie officially left the group in March 1971 (though he'd spent most of the last five months working on his solo debut when the group was in Detroit), Paul didn't leave until May or June 1971.