Donn C. Harper, known for his role in The Monkey Hustle (1976), brings a distinct energy to the film's vibrant portrayal of urban life. Set against the backdrop of Chicago, this cult classic explores the hustle and bustle of the streets, where Harper's performance adds depth to the ensemble. While little is documented about his career, his contribution to this film reflects the gritty charm and character-driven narratives that define the exploitation genre.
The Monkey Hustle
The film includes a loose plot centered on the ensemble cast of characters in which Foxx mentors "Baby D" (Calloway), "Player" (Carter), and "Tiny" (Harper) in the ways of small-time hustling. An example of a hustle is the boys apparently stealing some televisions from a truck for Foxx in sight of a local shop owner. The boys then steal the televisions from Foxx's truck and stash them in some trash. The shop owner offers the boys $55 cash for the televisions which they accept. However, when the shop owner returns with his dolly, he finds that the boys have run off with the cash as well as the televisions (which were actually empty boxes). The overarching plotline is to prevent the construction of an expressway through the neighborhood in which all the characters reside. Using facilities that are not adequately described in the film, Foxx and local numbers man "Glitterin' Goldie" (Moore) use potentially corrupt connections within the city government to prevent the construction.
