Description

A successful and popular nightclub owner who believes financial independence is the path to equality and success must act as a go-between for his militant-minded brother and the white gang syndicate his brother has attacked and robbed. Their involvements lead to a breathless race-course chase, the destruction of a dope pusher and a violent waterfront climax. Stars Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau (1995, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Ed Wood) and Jim Brown (Any Given Sunday, Mars Attacks!, The Running Man). ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great sequel to Black Ceasar
Fred Williamson is the man. He was the sexiest african american actor of the 70's..and still sexy today..:-)

It was a great sequel. The James Brown sound tracks were right on! I would suggest buying the 2 DVD special. It's a great deal. I've seen Black Ceasar and Hell up in Harlem sold for a lot more.

I will always love Fred Williamson. If you are Fred Williams fan..you will like him in One down..two to go" the "Kill Reflex".."Bucktown". I can go on and on.

I own every film that Fred Williamson has been in.

Good movie, but..........
But, not as good as Black Caesar. There was a good deal of action in this film, more than the predecessor, and you can definetly tell that a lot more money was spent on this movie, however it lacked the originality and spontanaity of the first film. The action scenes were better, and the story was very well thought out, but the movie just lacked something. Tommy Gibbs is still a super ... though, and I wouldn't wanna mess with him. "Hell Up In Harlem" just strikes me as a sequel with a LOT of potential, and energy that would have made a fine film, but the tale gets caught up too much in trying to out do the first film, instead of building upon it. ... I think this is a must see for fans of the fisrt film, but don't be surprised if you are disappointed.

CLASSIC FRED WILLIAMSON!!!!
THIS is an awesome movie and I would truly recommend this to any Fred Williamson fan who enjoys his movies and I loved this movie it was pretty good Julius W. Harris and Gloria Hendry returns also and she is a very beautiful woman and they are very good legendary actors and actresses and this movie is really good I would really recommend Tommy Gibbs falls in love again with a minister by the name of Jennifer and may I also add that this is a nice soundtrack also this time this soundtrack is done by Edwin Starr and this is the sequel to Black Caesar !!!!h

Excellent Film
I liked it better than Black Caesar. There is more action and Drama in this one, as Tommy takes revenge on those who set him up in the first one.

Smashing! Fred Williamson in a Rough and Touch Action Film
One video guidebook dismissed it as a "turkey"; another called it "bomb." "Hell Up in Harlem" didn't and won't get critical acclaim, that's for sure. But I say, it's terrific!

Don't get me wrong. From purely artistic point of view, the film IS awful. It doesn't know where it goes; it is full of hurriedly shot scenes with shoddy editing; and most of all, didn't Fred Willaimson die at the end of "Black Caesar"?

BUT ... Yes, but "Hell" still entertains us. And much more fun than you expect from lukewarm reception from critics. Okay, so, let me tell you what you see in this movie. Tommy Gibbs (Williamson) is not dead, and he is sent to a hospital under the guard of gangsters who take hostages of other patients and doctors (wow!) while having the operation. And Gibbs comes back, with his father (Julius Harris), and again they fight and rule. But again another corrupt white DA is waiting for the time to divide and destroy them.

Well, forget the story. The point is, you see lots of action one after another, so you never stop and think about it. Just look how Fred Williamson wipes out his enemies. He assassinates one of them with a rifle from the Broadway signboard; he massacares the mobsters in the Florida Keys with a help from ... two middle-aged, Afro-American maids (the kind of housemaids you see in "Gone with the Wind") who hold guns with most wooden posture and grinning faces. Even Coney Island is no longer a peaceful place for amusement. Fred Williamson takes up a beach parasol (among other things on the beach) and, OUCH!! one of the gangsters meets nasty death instead of the cozy sunshine on his stomach.

Looking back from now, "Hell Up in Harlem" seems to have gone a little too far. The chain of its incredible plot twist and intense actions may make some of us tired of watching it, and some wise-cracking lines may make some of us very uncomfortable (for example, listen to a one-liner about "soul food" and watermelon). But it is still fun. Probably it was produced too quickly, but again Larry Cohen's fast-paced direction seldom gets us bored with unique hand-held camera and authentic locations. And the film gives one of the earliest performance of Oscar nominated Margaret Avery (for "The Color Purple", 13 years later).

Anyway, my final verdict. Don't think; just enjoy watching this outrageous film. This is what you call fun. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

IN A WORD..........SOLID!
This is classic Blacksploitation! I am such a huge fan of the genre, that when I heard a soundbite from Detroit 9000 on the Jackie Brown soundtrack, I knew that I had to see the movie. And, even better, it had Quentin Tarantino's stamp of approval. More than enough for me!

A gritty, tell it like it is white cop is assigned to find the men who robbed the fundraiser for the first black man to run for Govenor of the state of Michigan. When he realizes that he can't do it alone, he reluctantly agrees to let a young black cop, who happens to be an up-and-comer, help him out. What follows is a mess of gun fights, funky music, and dead pimps. All culminating in probably one of the biggest shootouts/chase scenes in film history! My jaw was dropped and my eyes were open in amazement as Detroit cops and the robbers chased each other all over town whilst expending thousands of rounds of ammo. The ending came as quite a surprise, and nothing that I had seen coming. This film is a very good movie, especially for blacksploitation, and it is a total blast. I watched this on a Friday night with some friends, made some remarks(ala Mystery Science Theater 3000), and totally had a great time. If you like blackploitation, see this. If you like action films, with millions of bullets, and bloody gunfights, see this. And if you like cop movies with great chase scenes, see this! I would love it if Tarantino remade this film, and put Sam Jackson in it. A lot of fun, and worth your time. Hey, if you took the trouble to look it up, do yourself a favor and see it.

BORING!!!!
This movie starts out alright, with some good chase scenes and a few shoot-outs, but then it just becomes incredibly boring. Detroit 9000 becomes so slow paced, that it will put you to sleep.

SNOR-FEST.....ZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

Better than your expectations
This movie is truly more than a standard exploitation flick (not that there's anything wrong with that). Sure, there's some stilted acting and neon orange blood, but beyond that there's a pretty darn good story, and some of the best location shots of Detroit next to "8 Mile". The plot twists will actually surprise you, and the amount of locations will make you wonder how they got enough money to pull this off. "Detroit 9000" is the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" of Blaxploitation, in that it goes beyond the genre but still keeps the mainstays intact. Highly recommended, although I wish the dvd had more (any) special features. Epic.

Good Movie
This was a great movie and I enjoyed it very much! If you like Blaxploitation movies, this is one to see!

A Must-See for Motown
This is the only non-documentary film that I know of to capture anything of the life in Detroit experience. It is a must-see film for anyone who's spent any serious time in Motown. There are classic Detroit scenes such the drive up the Cobo Hall ramp, a dialogue scene in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame inside Cobo, the old Top Hat Coney off Grand Circus Park, a functioning Book-Cadillac Hotel, a skyline before the RenCen, and even a B.C./Marathon sticker and Detroit Tigers "Bill Freehan in action" calendar! This film has early-70s Detroit written all over it. Yet, this film also goes beyond its local setting as well. Its no wonder Tarantino has a special regard for this film. It shows the racial hypocrisy of institutions and the establishment. There is racial opportunism and strife among the politicians and police chiefs. So it is no mistake that the criminals in this film are the only ones racially mixed working in cohesion. The final chase scene is not actually a chase but a slaughter akin to the S.W.A.T./Patty Hearst scene. All the establishment figures are out for themselves, yet they lie continually about racial harmony to hide their ambitions. The thieves are out for themselves yet they're together and have put aside their racial differences. This is a unique film. Too bad the acting wasn't better. Also the editing is a bit staid. Once you get behind these rough spots you'll see a film with a very compelling story line. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

YEEEEEEAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Now this is a movie!!!! I've been watching this movie for as long as i can remember, and for me and my brother, this is like "Friday" where we know every comical line, when the music starts in the movie. I can never get tired of this movie, it has it all. A funky-ass soundtrack from the star himself, a lotta pimps-ho's money, chases, shootouts, drama....everything. Isaac Hayes should have made more like this. This is the bomb!!!!

Black Moses and Lt. Uhura Together!
This is one of the better Blackploitation flicks. Hayes is very believable as a streetwise dispenser of justice. It's funny to see Nichelle Nichols, a picture of intelligence and sophistication in the original "Star Trek" series, play a hard bad woman here. The relationship between Turner and his larcenous girlfriend is a trip as well.

Truck turns em' out - dig it!
Isaac Hayes plays an ex football star turned bounty hunter named Mac "Truck" Turner. After he and his partner kill a violent pimp named "Gator", all the pimps get together and a contract is put out on Truck by none other than Gator's woman (Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols). When all the little fish fail to kill Truck, the biggest pimp of them all, Harvard Blue (Homicide's Yaphet Kotto) makes an offer to have it done but for a big price. Does he succeed? What do you think?

Director Johnathan Kaplan's (Unlawful Entry) "Truck Turner" is a great part of the blaxploitation genre and of action films in general. Isaac Hayes makes a great action hero and I wish he had made more films like this. Isaac and his band also provide for one of the funkiest soundtracks ever, maybe more funky than the one he composed for "Shaft". The film is exciting from beginning to end and Truck finds time to romance his lady and to make some jokes in between. One of the funniest scenes is when Truck and his partner go to pick up a prisoner from a military base and they have to break through the check point. When the security guards start shooting at Truck's car, he hopes they shoot his left tire out because he needs a new one real bad. Guess what, not only do they shoot the left tire out but they have to put the new one on for him! The rest of the time you will be laughing when you hear all the words that Nichelle Nichols has learned since she was Lt. Uhura on Star Trek!

*Also recommended with Isaac Hayes: Escape From New York (1981) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and if you can find it, Three Tough Guys (1974) which also stars Fred "Black Caesar" Williamson

A Top-Notch Blaxploitation Flick!
When I bought this DVD, I was expecting a run-of-the-mill blaxploitation movie. It turned out to be much more! Isaac Hayes is smooth & tough as Truck Turner, a no-nonsense bounty hunter. I'm surprised that Hayes didn't a make many more movies like this. He's more interesting than some of the better-known blaxploitation stars. I'd rank this near the top of the heap (a notch or two below movies like SHAFT and ACROSS 110th STREET). This is a great choice if you're looking for a good shoot-em-up . . . with an attitude!

One of the best of its genre
If you have a sense of humor, and you must if you like Blaxploitation flicks, this is one of the most enjoyable. Invite some friends and have a big laugh...The pimp outfits are to die for.... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Also Bad TandA
If you're looking for sexy scenes, and why else would you watch these movies, don't waste your time.

Pam Grier on River? Standard Blaxploitation Action Film
The film is essentially suffers from a too ordinary story and set-pieces such as car bomb and shoot-out, but "Sheba Baby" will surely entertain Pam Grier fans.

Sheba Shayne, a PI in Chicago, has to fly back to her hometown after hearing that her father was threatened by the local mob. Naturally, before she knows it, Sheba is involved in a fight against the cruel syndicate. The rest is almost the same as her movies prior to "Sheba," only difference being some twists in a rather trite story. The most attractive part is the last chase scene on a river, and there Pam herself operates a motor boat. It is enjoyable, but has no cutting-edge of "Coffy." At least "Sheba Baby" is not awfully banal or impossible like "Drum," in which Pam is to appear the following year. "Sheba"s soundtrack by Barbara Mason. Strictly for fans of genre.

Sheba, Baby
Pam Grier being my favorite actress makes it hard for me to rate this video anything lower than a 4. But, in all sincerity, it's a fun, fast-paced movie of revenge and adventure on the high seas. Pam's sexy presence makes it hard to divert your attention from the video, even if it's to pause the tape to take a bathroom break! Pam Grier in one of her more tame roles is sure to please.

Don't Let the pic fool ya
Man I love any blaxplotation but this movie [is bad]. No action no T&A the plot is asinine the sets look like the movie was shot on someones back yard. Good for a rainy Saturday when you don't care if you fall asleep before the movie ends.

Not bad, but it's not Coffey
Let's face it, nothing much comes close to Coffey, but if you like Pam Grier, chances are you'll enjoy this one. It's a good old funky shoot out flick that we love Pam for. There's NO nudity, but she looks great in that blue wetsuit. She's a private eye out for revenge after gangsters shootup her dad and his business. Pam hits the streets 'Sheba style' getting information from low life street scum, one who runs a travelling pawn shop out of the back of his car.

The 'catfight' on the yacht is too short and frankly uninteresting. The big gun fight at the end on yachts and power boats is cool, but has one case of bad editing. Watch for a white guy with long brown hair and a mustasche wearing white pants and a blue shirt. First he gets shot in the chest and falls overboard. Thirty seconds later the same guy (uninjured and dry) is back on the boat and gets shot in the leg. Pam finishes of 'Shark' with a spear gun to the back. Pam looks great as always, but the big fro and shotgun are missing. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Please Pay Me
Yes, I think anyone who watches this awful movie should be paid to see it.
However, as an actor in the film I believe that I should have been paid for my work. I was never paid for video or cable play, and I filed an action with SAG. The producer appears to have spent a lot of time away from the country, and many of us were never paid. Shame on them. This is not only an artistic failure, it is an ethical failure as well.
Paul Tellstrom

One down two braincells to go for this director.
One of the worst movies I have ever seen. If they wanted to make more money they would be better served selling the DVD as a coaster.

Good to See the gang together again
This was a great action movie.

To see Richard Roundtree, Fred Williamson, Jim Brown..and a big blast from the past..Jim Kelly. I though Jim Kelly was dead.

Anyway, they looked very good together. I enjoyed seeing my heart throbs of 70's in a film together.

All of them..still sexy as ever.

MST3K HERE I COME!!!
This movie had to be the worst thing I ever saw ( Next to Pearl Harbor). How this did not end up on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 I will never know! It is the stupids thing ever. The script was writen by a five year old. The acting is horrible. The editing of the film is discusting. They keep looping footage over and again. The cinematography was pale and down right bad. If u want a good laugh rent One Down Two to Go tonight!! (LOL, this movie ...!) HAHAHAHAHA I can't stop laughing..

Two Words: Blown Away
I can't even begin to describe the quality of the movie. If you could have only one Jim Kelly movie in your movie collection, this movie is definitely one to have. The catch phrases alone are worth the price of this movie. If you're a master of action-fu then this movie is an expert at movie-fu. The lighting, action sequences, and special effects blows "Titanic" out of the water! Can't wait for the DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Much Better Than "Slaughter"
A lot of people feel that the original "Slaughter" is the best one, but "Rip Off" is a much superior sequel. This is still a "revenge flick", but the characters are far more intersting. Jim Brown gets to have alot more fun and alot more sex. The added bonus is Dick Anthony Williams portrayal as a Pimp/Burgular who helps Slaughter bring down the Mob. The only downside to this one is that most of the songs from James Brown's classic soundtrack are missing from the movie.

Not So Exciting: See the First "Slaughter" & Stella Instead
"Slaughter" may not be exactly a first-rate action film, but it still can be proud of its own energy and Stella Stevens. Its quickly-made sequel has none of them; instead, you got Ed McMahon as a villain. Oh no....

This time again some crime syndicate tries to kill Jim Brown aka. Slaughter by shooting from a flying airplane. Instead, his friend got killed, so again Slaughter begins his own vendetta to get the man behind the killing. As usual, FBI got involved, and as usual, he has a girlfriend (Gloria Hendry) to protect.

Though action scenes themselves are not bad, McMahon of "Tonight Show" as baddie is as incredible casting as Demi Moore in "Scarlet Letter." Well, Jim Brown is as cool as ever, but there's nothing exciting about he film. The actions come too few and far between to raise the film's tension too the level of other blaxploitation films. Too ordinary.

Try to spot Valda Hansen (credited as Hanson), remembered by some movie fans as one of the friendly circle surrounding Edward Wood Jr. -- fondly called "the worst movie director" -- and herself star of his unbelievable "Night of the Ghouls."

I bought a VHS tape, but it MAY contain a different soundtrack from CD's or DVD's. As I have not listened to or seen either CD or DVD of "Slaghter's Rip-Off," I'm not quite sure, but the IMDB site shows the existence of the alternate take of the film, which uses a different soundtrack. Some part of the soundtrack of VHS tape, interestingly, clearly uses the same songs you can hear in "Coffy," including the instrumental version of that famous theme song. Very curious.

Not Bad Brainless AIP Jim Brown Vehicle
Though the original is preferred if only for some stunning Stella Stevens nude scenes, this is pretty entertaining on its own terms. Unfortunately, Ed McMahon (!) plays it straight in the bad guy role, when I was really hoping for some of the ol' "John P. Ryan As the Fake Nathan White" scenery chewing. ... Read more

Description

The original "Charlie's Angels"!A beautiful up and coming singerseeks revenge on the mob responsible for murdering her relatives.She and her karate- kicking sidekicks team up to take on The Buddha and his henchmen.In the tradition ofFoxy Brown comes this sexy action-packed blaxploitation film from the '70's presented inexciting Deepvision 3-D and including 2 pairs of special viewing glasses! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON IT
Don't believe the bad reviews folks, this is RUDY RAY MOORE. "Avenging Disco Godfather," is Moore's most serious film, dealing with the harm Angel Dust was delivering to the black community in the late seventies.

Sure things are not as techinically sound as a large budget Hollywood film, but so what. Since Moore was paying for the whole deal out of his pocket, you're going to have to cut him some slack. And yes, the acting is not the best, but no one here is a real professional. So give Moore a break. Despite its shortcomings,Avenging Godfather was a large step for Moore's underground cast and crew.

Godfather is not RR Moore's best movie - Human Tornado is. But watch this film for what it is - an underground classic. So dig it baby and PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON IT!!!!!!!!

A Shermanizing Experience
SOme people slam this film but I offhand can't think of a funnier movie. How many other anti-drug movies end with a disco nightclub-owning cop battling a whip-weilding homosexual? Man, I don't know who won the Oscar that year but Rudy Ray Moore should have won it (especially when he reacts in pain to an object that hasn't even hit him yet). And that...ending...you've just gotta see it yourself, you're not really sure if it was intentional or they just kinda ran out of money. A bargain at any price.

What has he had?
Ok, it's been years since I have seen this (probably 15) but it made such an impact on me that I'm buying it on DVD damnit!

For all out laugh value, you could do much worse. The scary thing is that they are trying to be serious.

Not to ruin anything, but the ending of this movie tweeked me out so hard that I'm still feeling it. You were thinking "Well maybe the godfather sacrificed himself for the good of the community and so that the next generation will be spared the scourges of PCP."

Or:

Disco godfather wakes up with a "Whew! That was a close one, angel dust almost claimed me, but my strong will and clarity of righteous purpose helped me previal."

BUT NO!!! Godfather goes crappin' his pants crazy seeing the "PCP angel/devil" and whimpering "ma ma" then right out of a Steve Ditko comic: "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

AND THATS IT!

HOLY CRAP!

come on
this movie was so bad there is nothing good to say about it.
Do Not Buy This Film
dnbtf

bad
How do people even think of making such horrible films?
1st of all you lose the plot the second the beginning credits end
2nd of all the acting is terrible
3rd of all these movie is horrible ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The highest flyin', slickest, meanest dude you'll ever face
In case you're unaware, blaxploitation is defined as `a genre of American film of the 1970s featuring African-American actors in lead roles and often having antiestablishment plots, frequently criticized for stereotypical characterization and glorification of violence. While African-American filmmakers were substantially involved in making early movies in this genre, their participation in subsequent productions was minimal.'MGM releases their films of this genre under the guise of `Soul Cinema'.Universal, who released this DVD, did so under the header `Soul Showcase'...both seem a little pretentious, as it's all blaxploitation to me (and everyone else), regardless how much they try to fancy it up.That Man Bolt (1973) features two directors in Henry Levin (Journey to the Center of the Earth) and David Lowell Rich (The Concorde: Airport '79) and stars a relative staple of the genre in former Oakland Raiders / Kansas City Chiefs football star Fred `The Hammer' Williamson (Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem, Three the Hard Way) as the title character, Jefferson Bolt.Also appearing is the portly Byron Webster (The Poseidon Adventure, The Nude Bomb), Miko Mayama (The Hawaiians), and Teresa Graves (Vampira).

As the film begins, we see Bolt in a Macao prison, practicing what appears to be some form of martial arts (in real life Williamson does possess black belts in Kenpo, Shotokan Karate, and Tae-Kwon-Do) sans his shirt so we can all get a good look at his sweaty, naked torso.Turns out he was falsely imprisoned by charges trumped up by a mysterious Englishman, and now said Englishman has afforded his release on the stipulation that Bolt, who makes a living as a highly paid professional courier, take on a job involving the transportation of $1,000,000 to Mexico City, which he does, begrudgingly.Arriving in Los Angeles (I guess there were no direct flights to Mexico City from Hong Kong), he gets attacked in the men's room by three assailants, but given he has a black belt in karate, he makes short work of these guys.A clue leads him to Las Vegas, and there he learns the money is fake, along with getting his love interest, who sings in a lounge, killed as more people try to retrieve the dough.It's personal now as Bolt is determined to get revenge on those responsible, with the trail leading back to where he started, in Hong Kong (watch for the scene in the Hong Kong fireworks factory...is there a film out there that includes a fireworks factory that doesn't have it blowing up at some point?).He does eventually learn the truth, but that may cost him as his dogged determination has lead to someone putting a contract out on his life, a contract to be fulfilled by a deadly assassin named Spider.Survival seems slim, given the power behind the machinations to which Bolt is but a pawn, but they messed with the wrong brother, and Bolt's about to bring their world down around their ears.

While watching this film, I couldn't help feel the filmmakers were trying to emulate the popular Bond films with the character of Bolt (Heck, they even have the same initials Jefferson Bolt - James Bond).Bolt is passed off as a former captain of U.S. Special forces, graduate of Cal Tech and M.I.T. with a master's degree in physics (?), and a black belt in martial arts.He's a worldly traveler, and you know all the women want him (mainly because it's written that way).The main difference is the character of Bolt works outside the system, rather than for some government agency.While you're watching this film, think about all the Bond films you've seen, and pick out the similarities, especially in terms of the main villain and his remote island base.I don't know, maybe the hope was to create a franchise similar to the Bond series (or just cash in on it with a one shot), and they might have been successful if not for one thing (okay, maybe a few things), Williamson can't act.Oh, he can say his lines, but don't expect much else.The man's performance is about as wooden as they come, and he's not helped by the lame script.And what is up with the plot?Here we've got a relatively simple story, and they've gone and jumbled it up to the point the audience has little idea what's going on in terms of specifics until nearly the end, when a huge steaming load of exposition is required to straighten everything out, causing the film to run way too long.The film has a few positives, though.There's plenty of hand-to-hand combat, gunplay, car chases (is it possible to have a car chase in LA without it going into the LA aqueduct system?I guess not), explosions, sexy women (no nudity, though, which is strange as that's usually a given in these types of films, but then the Bond film also didn't have nudity, either), and a few really good bloodless kill sequences (hence the R rating) featuring various people getting their necks punctured various accoutrements including a jagged piece of mirror, an ice pick, and an acupuncture needle.Another missing element that's common in many films of the genre are the hyper bigoted Caucasian characters slinging all kinds of racial slurs aimed at the African American characters, so that when The Man bites it at the end, there's definite justification for his demise, usually in particularly brutal fashion.I didn't mind the lack of this, and it seems to go in line with my initial theory of creating a Bond-like franchise in that they probably wanted wider appeal, so they eased up on a number of aspects blaxploitation films are generally know for...one thing I really enjoyed was the scenes shot on location.There's a great deal of footage featuring Hong Kong, its' countryside, and its' harbors.

The anamorphic widescreen (1:85.1) picture is clear and crisp, with decent Dolby Digital 2.0 mono with no extras.

Cookieman108

what the deal is
I thought this movie was preety good. Fred did a great job with his charater Jefferson Bolt,and the story board was as good as his former 70's movies' like hell up in harlem, and black Ceaser. If your a Fred Willaimson fan, then this is difinitely one of his movie's you should add to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Blaxploitation Cheese from Al Adamson!
Here's a slice of '70s Blaxpoitation cheese that manages to pack a sizeable wallop for its miniscule budget. Tough African-American detective Kicks Carter (Timothy Brown) is out to break up a pair of bottom-feeder crooks and stop a guns-for-drugs trade organized by a black mobster improbably named Guido. Along the way there's plenty of clumsily choreographed (and often poorly-lit) fight scenes and shoot-outs, a smattering of sex and nudity (like when Kicks makes sweet love to his TV reporter girlfriend Tanya Boyd), a fair amount of sleaze (like when a woman with a gambling problem is gang-raped by four sweaty redneck card sharps; the fact that this woman resembles a young version of "That '70s Show"'s Debra Jo Rupp only adds to the scene's nastiness) and stilted dialog so awkwardly peppered with jive talk it's obvious the script was written by white people. Still, schlock director Al Adamson is in peak form with this one, keeping the action moving and making sure to hit all the right buttons to please his audience--even including a little bit of lesbian action, again involving our hapless gambling addict. The cast also includes Adamson regulars Russ Tamblyn (who plays a bug-eyed, low-rent mobster named Ziggy) and aging blond bombshell (and Adamson's wife) Regina Carrol. The movie runs out of steam by the final ten minutes, but all in all, "Black Heat" is pretty hot. Just don't be fooled by the updated cover art on the DVD: "Black Heat" is a '70s movie through and through, from Timothy Brown's huge afro down to his crotch-molding, (...) tight jeans.

"KICKIN'!"
Black Heat is not as hard to find as one might think. I was in Hollywood video browsing the action section and it jumped off the bottom shelf and kicked me in the shin. It hurt like a muther!

So bad it's good!
Yet another pick from classic 1970s blaxploitation. It's definitely not Dolemite, but it had enough action to keep me occupied for all 96 minutes. This one's hard to find in regular video stores. Amazon is about the only place I know that even carries this film. A great addition! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Don't Buy It For Rudy Ray Moore!!!!!
If you're buying this film because you're a fan of Rudy Ray Moore, or you're expecting to watch another Dolemite film, skip it! This film can only be appreciated by kung fu film fans.

Shaolin Dolemite is comprised of footage that wasn't in the film released on DVD as 'Ninja The Final Duel'. Apparently the full length of 'Ninja The Final Duel' is supposed to run for over 10 hours!!! But only the edited version was released. 'Shaolin Dolemite' at least gets you an hour and a half closer (minus the Rudy Ray Moore footage) to having the full version.

So, like I said, DON'T BUY IT FOR RUDY RAY MOORE!!! Buy it if you are a fan of Robert Tai's films and you want to get more footage from 'Ninja The Final Duel' that isn't on the Crash Cinema DVD version of the film.

Horrible, horrible movie
This movie is one of the worst I've ever seen. That's part of the fun. I'd seriously recommend watching it with a group of friends, shouting out snarky comments to the screen. Trust me, it's the only way to get through it, but it can be fun.

I'd rather drink antifreeze
This movie was really painful to watch. Rudy Ray Moore was only in it for about four minutes alltogether. There was a "Davy Crocket" ninja, some gold robot dudes, and a topless ninja that actually attacked someone with her boobs. Incredibly stupid and a waste of time.

Avoid like your life depended on it
I don't actually own this film (Thank GOD!!) I did rent it however, and it stinks! Rudy Ray Moore is past his Dolemite prime in this one. The action part of it is slow and there is no recapturing the glory days. My suggestion is to stick to the orginal and not this cheap imitation to reap money from the Dolemite name.

dolemite worst
this is agreat movie put does not live up to the rest of the dolmite classics.its good if you love dolmite bad if your a kung fu fan if you like kung fu movies buy anything Jim Kelly. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Blessing for Rudy Ray Fans
Personally, I don't think there's anything quite as compelling as a good documentary, and this is a really good documentary. I've been a Dolemite fan for ages, but I knew nothing about Rudy Ray's career before the '70s, like when he first introduced the Dolemite character, or that fifty years ago he was known as R&B singer Prince Dumar.
On the surface this video would seem to appeal mostly to hardcore Rudy Ray fans, but I think it has something to offer any fan of Blaxploitation or early R&B, or for that matter anybody who's into hip-hop culture or contemporary Black comedians.
This is a great video that deserves repeated viewings.

Rudy! You got my money!
Don't let him get yours. Keep your money. This was awful!

a must have
Rudy Ray Moore is a Genius.this video tape is a must who respect true Legends.he is the only Rapping Comedian that i've ever heard.he is very Underrated&deserves more attention.he is a true Underground Legend.as funny as anybody that i've ever heard.his films are great. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Those Who Like Trash
One of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Having said that, "The Black Six" (a joke gift from a goofy friend), is fully enjoyable.

It looks like it was shot in a couple of days using bits and pieces of discarded scripts that had been haphazardly glued together.

The best part is watching these football legends (and they are legends, 4 of them are in the Hall of Fame) act.

Of particular interest is the hilarious method that Lem Barney uses to quell his opponents.Lem (who I don't think had one line in the movie) practices a type of martial arts that can be described as "Statue Fu").

He leans forward and places his foot on the chest of an opponent.That's it, and that seems to be enough to immobilize the opponent.

Other great awful scenes abound.

Of particular interest for Football fans is watching Carl eller in scenes where he is shirtless.Eller was considered a big man at the time and at 6' 4" and about 250, he is an impressive specimen.But 30 years later, there are wide receivers with those measurements.He would be about 80 pounds too light to make it in today's NFL.

Maybe the "Black 6" should have been chasing steroid dealers instead of southern racists.

Wonder if it's too late for a sequel?

Blaxploitation Fumble
Football players don't always make great thespians, but sometimes players will try their hand at the big screen. In 1974, six of the biggest stars of the NFL appeared in "The Black 6." San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Gene Washington stars as Bubba Daniels, a Vietnam veteran home from his tour of duty, making up for lost time with his five closest friends from the Army. They are Jr. Bro Williams (Carl Eller), Bookie Garrett (Mercury Morris), Frenchy LaBoise (Lem Barney), Tommy Bunka (Willie Lanier), and Kevin Washington (Joe Greene). One day, after completing some work on a farm with his buddies, Bubba checks his general delivery box, and learns that his brother Eddie (Robert Howard) has been killed. Moose King (John Isenberger), the leader of a motorcycle gang in Bubba's home town, killed Eddie because Eddie became involved with Moose's sister, Jenny (Cynthia Daly).

Bubba comes home to get answers and justice. The police and most of the locals know that the motorcycle gang had some involvement, but nobody's willing to challenge the gang's alibi that they were out of town when Eddie died. The only people who are willing to help are an old barfly and Ceal (Rosalind Miles), Bubba's old girlfriend who started turning tricks when Bubba didn't come straight home from the service. With their help, Bubba goes to the biker bar where Moose and his gang frequent, and Jenny works as a waitress. Bubba and Moose nearly settle the score in the bar, but the police break up the confrontation and advise everyone to leave unless they want to get arrested. That gives Moose time to meet with Thor (Ben Davidson), the leader of another local motorcycle gang, for help in dealing with Bubba on a permanent basis. Bubba's friends, concerned for their friend's safety, come to town to provide muscle for Bubba. Thus, the stage is set for the predictable showdown between the gangs and the Black 6, with equally predictable results.

First, let me give you the bad news about "The Black 6." There isn't a single credible performance in this movie. In addition to The Black 6, Moose, and Thor, several other pro football players and baseball great Maury Wills make equally thankless appearances. Neither writer George Theakos nor director Matt Cimber try to give any dimension to any character besides Bubba. The music by David Moskoe is a poor imitation of Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" score. The title song says the guys don't look for trouble, yet it also says they love "ladies, bikes, and fighting." That confusion never ends. The climactic fight scene is horribly lit, making it impossible to distinguish the good guys from the bad. When Moose's gang is killed by The Black 6, Thor's gang decides to burn them to death with road flares. The Black 6 throw them back with hits that cause bikers to burn, and their bikes to explode. The rest of the bikers get wiped out when their attempt to play kamikaze fails.

Now here's even worse news about the film. It's as dismissive of black people as it is of whites. Most blacks are dismissed as drunks, gamblers, and hustlers, and most whites are dismissed as hateful of non-whites. The more "The Black 6" dwelled on these traits, the more vile I found the film. Thankfully, I only had to endure this filth for only about 85 minutes. The only thing that trumps the ineptitude of the film in general is its misguided, misanthropic view of human beings. I had low expectations for this DVD, but I don't want my $4 curiosity investment to make me feel as repulsed as this movie did. The movie ends with this ominous warning: "Hassle a brother...and the Black 6 will return."

"The Black 6" makes Fred Williamson films look like high art in comparison - and both cost the same price. "The Black 6" is one of the worst movie experiences I've ever had. Avoid this film, even at its cost. Nothing good will come of viewing it. This isn't just blaxploitation. This is total exploitation. Shame on the filmmakers.


Originally published on Epinions.com.

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Reviews (2)

5 Stars For Film - I Don't Know The Quality Of This DVD
I've got the World Video DVD version of this film. It's pan and scan, English dubbed, but the image is nice and clear. The only beef I have is the authoring was poorly done because the image freezes for a couple of seconds as the DVD switches chapters. Also, at about the half way mark, the chapter count resets to 1, which is strange.
If you've seen Hell'z Windstaff, which features both Meng Hoi and Hwang Jang Lee, than you'll get a good idea of the pacing of the fight coreography. It's nice and fast (not Jackie Chan 80's fast, but fast enough), and doesn't rely on undercranking. The story is pretty the usual Shaolin against Manchu fare. I didn't like the weapons fighting scene towards the end which had Lung Fei and some other guy up against the protagonist Meng Hoi - I thought it was too slow. But the finale is awesome. Also, there aren't as many fight scenes as Hell'z Windstaff, but there are enough to keep the viewer interested.
A great old school flick with great fight coreography that is real time rather than sped up or using frame cutting to speed up the fights. Meng Hoi is a very agile, acrobatic martial artist. Too bad he took a back seat in the 80's by doing coreography planning rather than acting and fighting.

Buddha Assassinator
Hwang Jang Lee again plays the villian in this martial arts classic. Unreal Fights, and Some Very impressive styles showcased in this great flik. In one word, Intense!! A must have. ... Read more