Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

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 onlyplace I know that even carries this film.A great addition! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

Two parts don't make a whole.
"Mean Mother" is actually two films in one.Infamously awful director Al Adamson once again took a foreign film and then shot some new footage to combine with it. A cheap way to make movies.
This movie is a mixture of two different films and neither of them is any good.Klimovsky edited his 1970`s film El Hombre que Vino del Odio and merged it with a new film directed by Al Adamson which is filled with violence and nudity but not enough length to rate it as a feature film.So both directors try to seel us these separate stories as a brand new one but the lack of continuity makes evident this is not an original release. Mean Mother`s only attraction is the presence of Luciana Paluzzi who saves this boring picture in the few scenes she appears. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

Get this and the book
A must have for any Iceberg Slim fan, and also for those that are not.This is well done, definitely not your average "blaxploitation"film.With a bigger budget it would have been truly great.
Classic...don't sleep on Trick Baby
Trick Baby is a film about a man named Blue who has raised a white man that they call "Folks," which is short for White Folks.Folks is supposedly mixed but appears to be portrayed by an all white actor.Blue is a hustler. He raises Folks to be a hustler.The two scam and pull fast ones for a living.On one particular occasion they get in over there head.Folks wants to leave the business behind and head to Chicago, but Blue is dedicated to see things through so that they can get some real hard cash.The chase scenes in this film are classic, I especially enjoyed seeing "Folks" run through the streets of Philadelphia.If you are fan of 70's cinema, you will notice a lot of regular character actors from the 70's in this film.
Iceberg Slim brought to film! ! !
If you thought Philadelphia, The 12 Monkeys and Tradin' Places were the only films other than The Philadelphia Experiment set in Philly, you're dead wrong.Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie   

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (5)

Not to be considered as serious filmaking
I saw this mess when it first came out in 1978 under the title "The $6,000." Yeah, it's junk, but it has a kind of "so bad it's kinda good" quality. "Wild Man Steve" Gallon who was a low-grade ghetto juke joint comic who never hit the big time (for good reason) appears as a drunk bum who is given super powers by soem mad scientist crooks who plans to use his powers to commit robberies. That's the plot folx. But hey, any film where somebody with as little going for him as WMS gets the FINE girl in the end can't be all bad! Oh yeah, the guy who was accurately described as "looking like Chuck Berry after a night of drinking" was "The Boss" Lee Cross, who was a Dj at WPAL-AM in Charleston, SC in the early 70s.

This isn't a movie to watch seriously.
This is one of the silliest movies I've ever seen in my entire life.Wildman Steve isn't funny or even talented, but hilarious in his attempts to be so.The VHS tape I saw this on didn't have an FBI warning or anything.It's one of the lowest budget films you'll see, which makes it funnier.I'm thinking of actually purchasing it for a laugh!...Anyway this movie is one to sit down and laugh at.Not at any jokes told, but at the overall production.

Unwatchable garbage!
I rented Super Soul Brother after reading about Wildman Steve in blaxploitation books and articles, and after enjoying Rudy Ray Moore's films like Dolemite and the Human Tornado.Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

Samuel L. Jackson makes a gleefully updated John Shaft in JohnSingleton's homage to (Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (92)

GOOD MOVIE
This was an entertaining movie, which is more than I can say for some other movies that get rave reviews.I guess everyone sees things differently, therefore, form different opinions.Compared to Shaft of the past, this one doesn't stack up, but I don't think the intent was to compare.
good movie
This movie has a lot of meaning behind it. The actors put on a really good show. Movie is lacking special effects but that does not hurt the quality in any way. Story keeps on unfolding in unexpected ways.
Could have been so much better!
I have to say that I am not familiar with any of the old Shaft episodes, or had had any other contact with the character apart from this movie so I cannot make any comparisons to other sources, nor can I take part in discussing the technicalities and the specifics like other reviewers have.Therefore, coming from someone that did not "know" of Shaft prior to the film I have to say... that I was rather disappointed!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Foreign Film - Spanish/Misc Sa    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

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 onlyplace I know that even carries this film.A great addition! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

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. 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.asfunny as anybody that i've ever heard.his films are great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Documentary    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (5)

Another bad one from Al Adamson
Al Adamson made some truly awful movies (Blood of Ghastly Horror) and some that provides decent entertainment (Brain of Blood, Blood of Dracula's Castle). "Nurse Sherri" falls somewhere in between but closer to the awful section. It starts out about some cult and after that it's about some nurse that gets possessed by a demon and starts killing patients. Like several other Adamson movies, I guess this must be one of those movies that were patched together using pieces of other unfinished movies. It is not worth spending money on nor spending the time to watch.

Adamson's Blaxploitation Whammy
No one watches an Al Adamson movie with high expectations, but the director has been known to turn out some entertaining movies despite modest talents and miniscule budgets. With "Black Voodoo," things get off to a promising start as we join a religious cult out in the Southern California desert (I've only recently started watching Adamson's work, but it seems like ALL his movies start in the SoCal desert). At the guidance of their leader, Reanhaur (toothy Bill Roy), cult members are trying to bring a dead member back to life by chanting "Rise, William, rise!" Then Reanhaur suffers a heart attack. Rather than chant "Rise, Reanhauer, rise," an ambulance is called. But the old kook dies on the operating table. His body may be dead, but Reanhauer's spirit is very much alive. After Sherri (Jill Jacobson)--a nurse at the hospital where the cult leader was taken--is left alone by her doctor/boyfriend, an animated green blob emerges through Sherri's bedroom door and has its way with her. Perhaps the worst special effect ever for its time, this scene in which Sherri gets possessed is the movie's laugh-out-loud high point. dont buy this DVD
i was led astray thinking that the show might be something worth seeing,unfortunately not. I really regret buying this show as the story line sucks and there was only one nude scene. What a joke. Dont buy this and u have been warned. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Horror   

Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (12)

To stop this mutha takes one bad brutha...
Back in the early 1970s someone (producer Samuel Z. Arkoff, I believe) got the bright idea to mix the genres of blaxploitation and horror, the result being the film Blacula (1972), which did well enough commercially to warrant a sequel titled Scream Blacula Scream (1973).Neither film was particularly favored by critics, but audiences enjoyed them, as they soon developed cult followings.This prompted others to try their hand at the newly formed hybrid genre, including producer Frank R. Saletri with his release of Blackenstein (1973), which he also wrote.Directed by William A. Levey (Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman, Skatetown, U.S.A.), the film stars John Hart ("The Lone Ranger", "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans") and Ivory Stone, in her only silver screen appearance.Also appearing is Joe De Sue, Roosevelt Jackson (China Heat), Andrea King (The Lemon Drop Kid), and a list of others really not worth mentioning (after watching the film last night I'm betting those that were mentioned probably wish they weren't).
movies like this one killed the blackexplotion movement
in the 70's black actor and film makers found a voice in the film world. with movies like "shaft","super fly", and "coffy" movies with black stars and directors were big hits. then the blackexplotion films got hit with low grade movies like this one and it helped kill the market.
This Is Just Ridiculous!
O.K., let me start by saying that I love Black Cinema.I try to support Black filmmakers and actors/actresses, but come on.I purchased this movie some time ago (I really just want to forget I spent money on this)and couldn't believe my eyes.I don't want to sound harsh, but this movie was just plain baaadddd!I think someone was trying to take the frankenstein legend in a different direction, but it never reached its destination.Enough said, just don't waste your money or your time.Sorry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Horror    3. Horror / Sci-Fi / Fantasy    4. Movie   

Editorial Review

The second sequel to the hit Read more

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (10)

One of the best in the series
I have to say, this one is my favorite of them all.The action, sex, and violence!!The original black superhero!!

A CHANGE OF PACE FOR SHAFT
THIS TIME, JOHN SHAFT [RICHARD ROUNDTREE] IS FORCED TO GO TO AFRICA TO INFILTRATE A 20TH CENTURY SLAVE CARTEL. I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THEY TRYED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE SERIES. THOUGH IT STILL PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL, IT'S STILL A DECENT ACTION FILM.

Bravo for Shaft!
Shaft does it again!He brings his street sense to Africa and woos an African princess in the process...and right under the watchful eye of her bodyguard!Too smooth!I was actually craving for more after this one...who knows, he might have done the same in Europe had more had been produced!Richard Roundtree was truly one of the hottest names in the business at that time as John Shaft.Get the other two as well to complete the collection ("Shaft" and "Shaft's Big Score"). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie   

Features

• Box set
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Great Urban Action Flick!!
This is a great urban action flick starring Fred Williamson.Check it out!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action    2. Action / Adventure    3. Adventure    4. Movie   

Editorial Review

Gordon Parks (Read more

Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (50)

Another Private Eye Adventure
This 1971 film opens with traffic in wintry Manhattan. Detective John Shaft crosses the street and dodges cars. [Note how the prices mentioned are far out of date since Nixon's 1971 devaluation of the dollar!] Two "friends" are looking for Shaft, but they do not get what they want. One quickly leaves out of a window. Now the police interview Shaft to find out what happened. Shaft telephones "Bumpy" to arrange a meeting. Bumpy's daughter has been kidnapped, and he wants Shaft to get her back. Shaft searches for his friend Ben; the landlord (Gordon Parks) doesn't know. Shaft finds his old friend and asks about Marcy (Bumpy's daughter); Ben doesn't know. Shots ring out, and dying man falls into the room. The group scatters, but most are mowed down in an ambush. Shaft suspects a conspiracy theory is operating. Lt. Vic Andozzi tells Shaft what Bumpy tried to do. "Money always matters" says Bumpy as he makes a deal with Shaft.
Showcase performance for Rich Roundtree! Moses Gunn equally good as villian
Great early 1970's Det. movie starring Rich
"The Man"
Handsome, strong, intelligent and able to get the job done. Shaft was the man and he was black. What a good combination and one that was long overdue.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie   

Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Martial Arts    3. Movie   

Features

• Box set
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

A Great Over View!
Fred Williamson is Showcased Really well here.three of His Best Films.Fred Williamson is Long Over due For His Props as a Actor&Director.Aside From Skin Color What Has Burt Reynolds Done that Fred Williamson Couldn'tor Didn't? He was a 70's Action Hero Who Is Still GOing Strong.

Some additional information
The three movies in this collection are "Black Caesar", "Hell Up in Harlem", and "Bucktown".See the detail pages for the individual movies for further information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

Samuel L. Jackson makes a gleefully updated John Shaft in JohnSingleton's homage to (Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Special Edition
• Subtitled
• NTSC

Reviews (92)

GOOD MOVIE
This was an entertaining movie, which is more than I can say for some other movies that get rave reviews.I guess everyone sees things differently, therefore, form different opinions.Compared to Shaft of the past, this one doesn't stack up, but I don't think the intent was to compare.
good movie
This movie has a lot of meaning behind it. The actors put on a really good show. Movie is lacking special effects but that does not hurt the quality in any way. Story keeps on unfolding in unexpected ways.
Could have been so much better!
I have to say that I am not familiar with any of the old Shaft episodes, or had had any other contact with the character apart from this movie so I cannot make any comparisons to other sources, nor can I take part in discussing the technicalities and the specifics like other reviewers have.Therefore, coming from someone that did not "know" of Shaft prior to the film I have to say... that I was rather disappointed!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Foreign Film - Spanish/Misc Sa    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Who's the baddest motherf****r to blow onto blaxploitation screens?Forget Read more

Features

• PAL

Reviews (61)

Cinematic Masterpiece
Eschewing conventional acting methodology, Rudy Ray Moore inhabits Dolemite with an unparalleled ferocity.His signature line, "I'm Dolemite, Mutha(expletive)" is delivered time and time again in a drunken slur: a brutal, but anguished, plea for sanity.To the untrained eye, it might seem like Dolemite's karate kicks are not even connecting with his foes, but this is a metaphor for the never ending conundrum of the pimp/poet/warrior.Watch for the symbolism inherent in the furry hat and pay close attention to the pants that come up to his armpits as both are integral to understanding the magnificence that is Dolemite.
Only two reasons:
This movie is worth buying just for these two reasons:
Cinematic Masterpiece!!
I recently had the pleasure of watching a film starring the Hunkiest specimen of Man-meat ever to grace the silver screen. It was Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite. Let me start off by saying this is quite possibly the finest film ever made. Dolemite himself is a man so baaad that he doesn't even feel the need to be in good shape to impress us, he let's his martial arts do the talkin'. If Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Tony Jaa were all combined into one glorious person they would still aspire to be Dolemite. To the untrained eye it would appear that Dolemite is not actually hitting people in the fight scenes. In reality he is just so fast that he can snap his hands and feet there and back so quickly that it gives the viewer the illusion that his foot is six inches away from the targets head.
Read more

Editorial Review

Fred Williamson returns as Tommy Gibbs, the self-styled Godfather of Harlem in Larry Cohen's quickly made sequel to the low-budget Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (13)

Freddie Gibbs is Back ! ! !
This was the infinitely more popular sequal to BLACK CAESAR (American International Films and Blaxploitation's answer to THE GODFATHER.)In truth, BLACK CAESAR is really where the story is at... but HELL UP IN HARLEM is a lot more visually exciting in terms of costumes and action.Basically it takes up where CAESAR ended finding every loose string it could, and using them for HK style movie cut fast paced action and chase scenes.As for the soundtrack... you can get it on CD now(!) CEASAR's soundtrack was by JB - - but I think Edwin Starr actually gave him a good run for his money capturing all that Starsky and Hutch meets SPEED type action...
Pathetic piece of trash...I'd rather see Amos and Andy or Beulah.
I mean this stuff was horrible. The minute the man put the gun up to the little boy's temple, I was out of this picture and I mean way out. That kind of stuff should have been edited out of this pic. And speaking of the editing, this picture was edited to not make sense by having certain scenes that have nothing to do with the premise of the film to sadly become a part of this abysmal movie.On the dvd's special feature as to how the film was made, the director, Mr. Cohen stated that the editor doesn't include this picture on his resume and rightfully so. This picture was a disgrace to filmmaking in general and ought to be shown to NYU film students as to how you should not make a movie.
Have A Cigar
Hell Up In Harlem w/Fred "The Hammer" Williamson and directed by the one and only, Larry Cohen!If that alone doesn't make you hit the purchase button, then the hell with ya.Harlem continues pretty much immediately after Black Caesar left off.The very last scene in Caesar is changed a bit-he's no longer beaten by a mob-in order to continue the story.Tommy still has the list of corrupt officials, and naturally the corrupt officials still want the thing.Tommy's dad, a minor character in the first film, is now a major player as he goes through a big change from humble old guy to big city crime boss.Tommy's ex is still hanging around, but she's pretty much treated like a doormat the entire time, and Tommy only seems to care once she's already dead.He finds a new spouse though, a religious chick who seems to jump in the sack with Tommy a little too easily(not that much different from real life I suppose).Tommy tries to leave his crime life behind, but do you think that actually works?Once a traitorous schmuck takes over Tommy's old territory, kills his dad and attempts to kill Tommy, well there's hell to pay.Hell Up In Harlem, that is!Tommy goes into Rambo mode in the last half hour of the film.This sequel is more action oriented than Black Caesar.Caesar, like Scarface, was more of a crime drama about how a small time crook makes it big.Harlem is more focused on the butt kickin', and The Hammer has no problem dishing it out.Good times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Movie