Soul music legend Sam Moore and his wife, Joyce, aren’t giving up a bitter legal fight against the movie studios they say stole Moore’s story for a film starring Samuel L. Jackson. And Page Six can reveal they’re weighing legal options against a new TV series, too.
The Moores filed notice this week that they’ll appeal a federal judge’s dismissal of a claim that a 2008 movie, “Soul Men,” starring Jackson and Bernie Mac, was ripped off from Moore’s time in the Memphis Soul duo Sam & Dave.
“The fat lady hasn’t started to sing yet,” Joyce told us the day the notice of appeal was filed. “And I may be the one to squeeze her toe.”
“We believe there were many errors made,” Joyce said of the dismissal. “We absolutely believe there were issues, and facts, that are still undiscovered. Sam feels his identity has been ripped away from him.”
She added that she and Moore, 76, are considering a separate case against a TV Land series called “The Soul Man,” which debuted Wednesday starring Cedric the Entertainer.
In the suit against the Weinstein Co. and MGM over “Soul Men,” Moore contended he’s known as “Sam Moore ‘The Legendary Soul Man’ ” and that the film infringed on his trademark. The plot follows two soul legends who agree to reunite for a show 20 years on.
But Tennessee District Court Judge Aleta Trauger found that, “notwithstanding [broad] similarities,” the “Soul Men” film “contains no direct references to ‘Sam & Dave’ or ‘Sam Moore.’ ”
But Joyce says Moore, famous for classic tune “Soul Man,” isn’t done fighting. “He’s furious,” she says, “He’s mad as all get-out. [This is] his life, his legacy, his brand and his cultural identity.”
She adds Moore’s legal team wrote to TV Land asking the channel to change the title of “The Soul Man.” “We said, ‘Don’t call it ‘Soul Man,’ the timing couldn’t be any worse,” Joyce says.
Weinstein Co. lawyer Andrew Kramer said of the appeal, “We are confident that the district court’s order will be affirmed.” A rep for TV Land declined to comment.