The big-screen adaptation that never was
Former NBC executive Robert Hale has revealed that in the early 1980s, plans were in motion for a Sanford and Son feature film. The plot reportedly would have seen Fred Sanford inheriting a chain of high-end antique stores and trying — unsuccessfully — to fit into the world of wealthy collectors.
Early drafts placed Fred and Lamont in Paris, France, where Fred’s street smarts would clash hilariously with elite European society. Cameos from other NBC stars of the era were discussed, and even Richard Pryor was considered for a special role.
However, creative disagreements between producers and studio executives, combined with Redd Foxx’s busy schedule, ultimately scrapped the idea. “It could have been a box office hit,” Hale laments, “but maybe it’s better that the series stayed in its perfect TV form.”
