Amazon.com

Arthur Hiller (Love Story) directed the film adaptation of Neil Simon's curious comedy about a pair of non-New Yorkers (Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis) having a hellish visit to the Big Apple on the eve of a job interview for Lemmon's character. Made in 1970, this hectic film almost seems ahead of its time when compared to more recent misery-piled-on-misery comedies such as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The couple in this film endure everything that can go wrong on a trip, including being forced to spend the night in a mugger-happy Central Park. The strange element in Simon's script, though, is that Lemmon's character is so unpleasant. A middle-class, uptight guy who can't believe that New Yorkers in the service profession don't perform their jobs slavishly, he's kind of a one-note joke that quickly wears thin. Remade with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Warning: Never Visit New York!
I loved this film! I very seldom disagree with one of Leonard Maltin's reviews. But I sure did on this one. He claims this movie is "excruciating". Well...yes, I think so too. Excruciatingly funny, that is! I think that Jack Lemmon is wonderfully "over the top" in this picture. His character (as far as I see it) is obviously written to be played way, way over the top! That's what makes it funny. Realistically, we have to know that all 64 (or so) crises and maladies that befall this poor midwestern couple could not ALL happen at once in a million years! So, therefore, I think the viewer must look upon Lemmon as more of a "caricature" than a "character" in this film. Most of this movie was filmed outdoors, and there's a nice "Big Apple" flavor here. Some of my favorite lines from "The Out-Of-Towners" ..... Lemmon (upon hearing his luggage didn't arrive): "Well you flew ME through the fog! How come you're now worried about two leather valises?!" .... Lemmon (after frisking little boy searching for funds): "...Explain to the police? What I was doing in the woods with a little boy...with my hands in his pockets?!? They'd give me twenty years!"

George and Gwen go to the big bad city of New York
I met Sandy Dennis backstage at a play once and wanting to say something more than the usual remarks of admiration I told her that my father stayed up one night to watch "The Out-of-Towners," which was of some import because my father never stayed up to watch anything. She said her father liked that one too and I got an autograph in which she spelled by first name correctly.

This 1970 film, the original version of "The Out-of-Towners" for those who say the recent version that is part of Steve Martin's attempt to be in more remakes than any other living actor, is my favorite Neil Simon script, which is rather ironic when you consider that he is primarily a comic playwright. However this script takes the hapless couple of George (Jack Lemmon) and Gwen Kellerman (Dennis) from their home in Ohio to New York City, where he has a job interview. However, their plans for a nice dinner at the Four Seasons are dashed when the plan circles the airport for hours before being diverted to Boston. Instead of eating at one of the best restaurants in the world they end up with her eating peanut butter on white bread and him eating crackers and olives with no drinks. This actually ends up being the best thing that happens to George and Gwen the rest of that night, which involves a train ride to New York, no room at the inn, a garbage strike, a mugger, and being kidnapped while in the back of a police car. This is without even mentioning the lost eyelash, the broken heel, and the chipped tooth that resulted from a bad encounter with the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks.

Throughout it all, George and Gwen keep up a running dialogue as he gets angrier and take more names while she tries to be the voice of reason and attests that she can verify everything her husband says in his growing list of complaints against the city is true. Everybody always talks about Lemmon's comic partnership with Walter Matthau, but Dennis comes across as the more perfect foil. Eventually her pessimism is turned into paranoia as the city takes the out of town couple for everything they have and keeps on grinding them into the rain soaked streets where the garbage is piling up to the sky. Eventually the idea of being Vice President in a company that has something to do with plastics does not seem like a step up in the world if this is the world in which they have to live.

I am surprised that this movie is only 98 minutes long, but I suppose it is because of all those commercials with late night television and the way Simon keeps pouring one misery after another on George and Gwen that makes "The Out-of-Towners" seem a lot longer, but not in a bad way. The pacing is pretty brisk for a story about two people who have a hard time getting to where they are going, and there are a lot of patented Neil Simon one liners, most of which are true to character and context, although Dennis gets maximum mileage out of repeating the phrase "Oh my, God!" and getting big laughs.

Simon won the Writers Guild of America award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen for this script, which was originally going to be one segment of "Plaza Suite," which came out the next year. But freeing it from the setting of a hotel room or even a hotel, into the wider expanse of New York City and the surrounding environs was what made this black comedy really work. Keep your eye out for lots of familiar faces who were relatively unknowns when this film came out: Anne Meara, Graham Jarvis, Ron Carey, Robert Walden, Richard Libertini, Paul Dooley, and Billy Dee Williams. Final thought: If you want to see a film that takes the exact opposite approach to New York City then that would have to be Woody Allen's "Manhattan," which would come out at the end of this same decade.

Get Out of Town
Probably in its initial release, THE OUT OF TOWNERS was considered a great comedy. However, today's audiences might find it trite and annoying...especially native New Yorkers or even the New York City travel bureau. It does capture a moment in time just before New York City was on the verge of urban decay in the late 70's, so it has its merits for being a time capsule. Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis are husband and wife George and Gwen Kellerman, mid-westerners who are about to relocate to New York City for a job promotion. Their business trip becomes a "Murphy's Law" film as anything that can go wrong...does go wrong. From lost luggage, missed trains, long waits,a garbage and transportation strike, being rained on, muggings, a kidnapping, an unintentional cancelled hotel reservation, an unintentional mugging of hispanic child, etc., the couple suffer every conceivable mishap Neil Simon (screenwriter) can bestow upon his hapless characters. 'George' is a typical Jack Lemmon character. The performance is not exactly "phoned-in",but it is a familiar Lemmon persona. At first, this viewer sympathizes with George Kellerman. However, with each mishap, he becomes (understandably) mean, irritating, and illogical. The one comic gem about the character is that he writes down every person's name he feels has not given the proper customer service (i.e. airport personnel, hotels clerks) or courtesy after each plan on his itinerary has failed. Then he threatens them that they're going to hear from his lawyer. Sandy Dennis has perfect comic timing as the patient and supportive wife of Lemmon and the location shots of New York City play a major "support character" in the film. Overall, the film should be viewed with caution depending on one's disposition at a given moment meaning it can be hilarious or annoying. Lastly, the film is a showcase of a couple of future stars and well-known character actors. A young Billy Dee Williams (STAR WARS:THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) shows up in an airport sequence. Note: Look for actor Sandy Baron as the "TV-man in church". He played the recurring character Mr. Klompus on TV's SEINFELD and had a very funny role in the comedy film IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM.

Good, but you just want to shoot the both of them.
Having successfully avoided the apparent train wreck of a remake of this starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, I thought I'd rent the original Neil Simon film starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis to see what caused such a fuss as to remake it after such a short period of time.
Jack and Sandy are on their way to New York city from the suburbs, to see about Jack taking a big job there. Suffice it to say, everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and the two are trapped in hell, trying to survive the night before his interview in the morning.
This is considered to be classic dark comedy, that will be annoying to some and funny as heck to others. I think I fell in between the two. Jack Lemmon is such an ass, and his wife such a dunderhead, that it's hard to have much sympathy for either one. As their problems pile up, it's all too obvious that the cause is mainly his own agonizing egotism, being thrown as the small fish into the huge pond. New York chews up and spits out idiots like this daily, and rightly so. Beyond this criticism (coming from a city boy, admittedly), there are some genuinely funny moments here and chuckle worthy constant prattle back and forth between the always talented Lemmon and the creepy huge-gummed Dennis. Still, I felt the "lost in NY hell" story was much better and sympathetically told, as well as more funny in Martin Scorscese's superior "After Hours".

Another Classic American Comedy.
THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS was written by Neil Simon and remains one of his best works, even though Simon is mainly a playwrite. The movie starts off fairly slow and uneventful as George and Gwen Kellerman, from Twin Oaks, Ohio, are flying to New York where George has an interview (just mere formality) for a vice presidency. They are expecting to eat dinner at 8:30pm at the Four Seasons, but they never see the inside of that famous eating establishment. Instead, the plane circles for hours and ends up going to Boston because of fog. Once in Boston their luggage is lost, they miss the train to New York, and catch the train to New York. Once in the Big Apple, they find that the city is in the middle of transit and garbage collectors strikes. In the pouring rain they walk to their hotel only to find that their room wasn't held and has been given away. Later the couple are mugged, kidnapped, and George is mugged in his sleep. Having not eaten for several hours and with no money they chase a stray dog for a breakfast of a half-eaten box of Cracker Jacks. More chases follow and they are even kicked out of praying in a church because of a televised special. George eventually does make his morning meeting, but by then has learned some very important lessons about family and the simple life back home in Twin Oaks, Ohio.

Jack Lemmon is great in this movie, but I find it's Sandy Dennis who really steals the film. She plays Gwen perfectly, brilliantly foiling Lemmon's performance as the loud and boistorous George. The "O, my God" line, which signals a major worry by Gwen, keeps me laughing every time I hear it.

THE-OUT-OF-TOWNERS is a very witty comedy and one of Neil Simon's finest pieces of writing. It's a great movie to watch alone or with family and friends. It's relatively short (around 90 minutes), too, so even if you don't enjoy it, you won't have wasted much time. ... Read more

Description

Before ' 'Dumb and Dumber' ' there was Mom and Dad! When the Emperor Tod of the planet Spengo kidnaps housewife Marge Nelson to make her his Empress, he threatens to destroy the Earth unless she succumbs. Now only Marge and her husband Dick stand between Tod and his wicked plan. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Turn off your brain and just enjoy!
This is one of those movies that make the end of the week so enjoyable. You've spent your whole week dealing with people at work, a job you're not so enthused about, all the frustrations of bills and daily aggravations, but at least you have a movie like this to pop in where none of that matters for a while.

I give this movie such a high mark because of it's value in that regard. I know that by Friday night I'm not looking for a "Schindler's List" to watch, not even a semi-serious comedy. No no, I want the lowest low-brain humor I can possibly find. The stupid humor, where I can laugh loud and often. So you see, it's not so much how good the plot is, or the production, but what the movie can do for you.

The plot is thus; Dick Nelson (who seems to be a normal guy, but is given all the idiosyncracies of the normal guy by Jeff Jones so that he seems quirky) and his wife Marge are on their way to a vacation in their Station Wagon, when an intergalactic magnet manned by a walking Napoleon charicature named Todd Spengo lifts them off the ground, into space, and onto the miniscule speck of a planet that Spengo rules (prompting the obligatory "It's not the size of your planet, it's how you use it.")

What follows is a casserole of Monty Python-inspired humor with a great cameo by Eric Idle who dubs Jones's character anew as "Earth-Dick." Todd Spengo, played by Jon Lovitz in his last good role, is probably the best source of laughs. You wonder how the heck this guy manages to rule a planet when he can't complete this verse in a song, "Oh Marge, Oh Marge, my love for you is..." Not that it matters. I don't think I've ever laughed harder than at the flash-grenade scene, or when Spengo asks his guards "mutton-chops... or goatee?"

Props to Teri Garr too for getting in the spirit of things. You wonder if this character isn't the antithesis of her trouble-wife character in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," but then you think "Naaaah." I like her better in this than "Young Frankenstein" as well.

So yes, buy it, watch it. Don't look to be enlightened, just uplifted. If silliness like this were more prevalent in the world, I predict we'd have a nicer place to live in.

Brilliantly stupid
"Mom and Dad Save the World" is a thinly disguised parody of the "Flash Gordon" series of films. The Emperor Todd Spengo (a stupid version of Ming the Merciless) plans to destroy the earth, but falls in love with Marge Nelson (a suburban Dale Arden played by Teri Garr) when he sees her through his telescope.

Using a hokey '40s-sci-fi-style magnetic ray, he brings Marge and her husband, Dick (the middle-aged Flash Gordon of our tale) to his planet, which is populated almost entirely by stupid people. The emperor quickly imprisons Dick in order to force Marge to marry him, and then Dick must defeat the emperor, rescue Marge, and save the earth.

The bad special effects and the whole "planet of stupid people" concept are both played to the hilt in this clever, but widely underrated comedy. Jon Lovitz is terrific as emperor Spengo, and Kathy Ireland plays the part she was born for as Semage, princess of the planet of stupid people. All right, maybe that wasn't fair, but she really was well suited to the part.

One of my favorite gags in the film involves a thing called a "flash grenade", which vaporizes anyone who picks it up. Why, then would anyone pick it up, you ask? I'd tell you, but that would spoil the joke. It's amazing how effective a weapon that stupid can be on a planet full of stupid people.

High art, this ain't, but it's cute, funny, and uses its premise very effectively. Hmm... Sounds a bit like I'm just describing Kathy Ireland again...

Why isn't this on DVD ???
There's nothing amazing about this movie, it's just a really stupid/funny movie and that's what is so special about it. I only want to know one thing...WHY ISN'T THIS ON DVD?

I love this!
This is such a fun movie- something that we can all watch. Does anyone know when it comes out on DVD?

Refreshingly Stupid
Too stupid to rate 5 stars, but just hilarious enough to rate 4. I hadn't seen this movie since it came out in the theaters and I had to find it (I could only find it on Amazon of course ... but only on VHS). And it was just as stupid and just as hilarious as I remember. I'm glad I found it. If you are a Jon Lovitz fan, this is his funniest performance in my opinion. If you like stupid humor, and you like to laugh your butt off, buy this movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some pundits called it a flawed, exploitative action film that glamorized drug dealing and the luxury of a lucrative criminal lifestyle, spawning a trend of films that attracted youth gangs and provoked violence in theaters. Others hailed it as a breakthrough movie that depicted drug dealers as ruthless, corrupt, and evil, leading dead-end lives that no rational youth would want to emulate. However you interpret it, New Jack City is still one of the first and best films of the 1990s to crack open the underworld of cocaine and peer inside with its eyes wide open.It's also the film that established Wesley Snipes as an actor to watch, with enough charisma to bring an insidious quality of seduction to his role as coke-lord Nino Brown, and enough intelligence to portray a character deluded by his own sense of indestructible power. Director Mario Van Peebles stretched his otherwise-limited talent to bring vivid authenticity and urgency to this crime story, and subplots involving a pair of tenacious cops (Ice-T, Judd Nelson) and a recovering coke addict (Chris Rock) provide additional dramatic tension. Although some critics may hesitate to admit it, New Jack City deserves mention in any serious discussion about African American filmmakers and influential films. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Violent movie, but worth watching
Great performances by Wesley Snipes as Nino Brown, drug lord, and Chris Rock as Pookie the crackhead...Ice-T wasn't very convincing to me as a cop, but I still liked the film. It had its humorous moments...plus some disturbingly violent ones as well. It put me in the mind of "Good Fellas", another crime-themed movie that is hard not to watch. The ending was somewhat predictable but all around worth checking out.

This move isnt nearly as great as people make it out to be..
I love hood movies and as far as acting, writing, characters and sheer believeability go, this movie ranks way below films such as Boyz n the Hood, Juice, Clockers, ect.

Besides Ice T's (Scotty) and Snipes (Nino), all the other characters seemed so false. Even though those are the two main characters, if all your other characters arent believeable, the whole movie falls apart. The chief of police is like someone out of a cartoon. Chris Rock (Pookie) isnt funny and does his part no justice. Mario Van Peebles is a joke

Apparently a drug syndicate is able to take over and entire apartment building in NYC...for years!! Its amazing isnt it. They can ride up in a drop top jeep and shoot people point blank in the head in broad daylight and not get caught. The story is just so hard to swallow.

Also the cinematography is really sub par. There is no artistry in any of the shots even in the dialogue. It also seems like the entire movie moves too fast for the events that are supposedly taking place. There are no subtle nuances at all in this film. I would say dont waste your time, the movie isnt really exciting at all, the performances are boring as is the plot. Go watch Juice.

Are you your brutha's keepa??
Fool, this film be the bomb, and I don't mean it bombed. Few movies touch me, but in New Jack City, the message was loud and clear, 'Keep it real and don't get caught'. Nino Brown had it all, and I mean he ruled the school. The problem was he got greedy. He makes deals with undercover cops, he wants to take down the mob, and his gang is falling apart. Plus he drops a decent looking ho for a real skanky looking ho.

It funny to see the size of cell phones back then, but the hair styles were pretty ridiculous too. Ice T is no Slash, but he can wear a top hat in the rain just as easily. Judd Nelson has a race problem in this movie, He can't tell the difference between himself, a white cop, and Pookie, a black crackhead. He finally settle the matter buy proclaiming he is 'Poor White Trash Pookie'.

In the end though, the message is clear. "If you've lost everything, you might as well cut loose and run. You never know, the libraian you shot may have a son coming to take you down." Or another moral of the story is "Avoid crazy old men on the stairs when you leave the courtroom."

Good movie
I know some people did not like this movie, but I loved it. The film had me hating some characters and loving others. Ice-T played his role well in this film. The scene that still gets me to this day is when he gets Pookie from that crack house. The other scene is when he is with the drug lord, and finds out HE is the man responsible for his mothers death. That scene was deep. The film has a good cast, Mario Van Peebles, Wesley Snipes, Bill Nunn, Allen Payne, Vanessa Williams, Micheal Michaels and some other folks. The film really hipped you to how bad the drug scene is in the inner city.

this is a good movie.
I like the pace at which the story in this movie was told. It's not blazing fast so you pick up on all the little things. The acting from all is done very well. Ice Tee is a beliable cop, I appericated how he wasn't shown as some perfect cop, but he wasn't bad either. He was human, which added to the realism. Westly Snipes delivers a stunning performance as Nino Brown. I think everyone should watch this movie and Sugar Hill back to back. Westly is great in both, and it's amazing how oppisite the drug king pin character he plays really are in those 2 movies. New Jack City is gritty and real. And much like Scarface, you'll be left with a feeling of just how crazy life can be. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Legacy for Our Youth
As an African American parent and teacher, this movie is a MUST for our children. Each generation is further removed from the real-life experiences of segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and the deceased generation of slavery. The word "nigger" is now used thoughtlessly as a joke. Our children don't realize the significance the word had and still has for some generations. Too many believe they can refuse or fight their way out of an unwanted situation. Theirs is a different reality. ROOTS can bring them in touch with the past of those who have died in a struggle to maintain dignity for our people. This legacy is alive in the movie ROOTS. Share the legacy with our children---see the movie with a young person.

Kunte Kinte
This a really DEEP! movie. It makes you laugh! and it makes you cry!

It takes you to Africa, then brings you back to slavery. It shows the will of Kunte Kinte and how it could not be broken during his enslavement.

This film is one of a kind you you don't know anything about slavery until you've seen ROOTS ... Read more

Amazon.com

William Marshall, a Shakespearean actor with a rich baritone voice,enriches this otherwise bland blaxploitation vampire film with his strong,seductive performance. He's Manuwalde, a European-educated 18th-centuryAfrican prince who appeals to the Count Dracula for help in ending theslave trade. Dracula, never known as a great emancipator, puts the bite onManuwalde's troubles, dubs him "Blacula" (the only time the name is utteredin the film), and imprisons him in a casket. Stirred to life, so to speak,centuries later in Los Angeles by gay antique hunters, he steps into thesoulful '70s and splits his energies between feeding his bloodlust andwooing a young beauty (Vonetta McGee), a dead ringer for his long-deadwife. Thalmus Rasulala (Friday Foster) is a modern medical professor turned urban Van Helsing, and Elisha Cook Jr. has a bit part as a coronerwith a hook for a hand. The potential for a clever urban black twist on the European vampire myth is lost in this dull, thoroughly conventional tale.Marshall is under enough sloppily applied facial hair to make him a wolfman, and his victims walk around with a plastic blue pallor. But despite thelimitations, Marshall creates a magnetic, aristocratic character and infuseshis monster with a sense of loss and sadness in the climax. It was followed by a sequel, Scream, Blacula, Scream, and inspiredBlackenstein. For a more interesting and thoughtful African American take on the vampire legend, look to Ganja and Hess. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (29)

"Wow, man, nice threads. Dig the fangs bro...NOOOOOOO!!!"
The 1972 film "Blacula" is a much better example of the Blaxploitation period, which began with the success of "Shaft" the previous year, than it is as a vampire movie. William Marshall, with his booming voice, plays the title character and gives the film a sense of credibility that probably only James Earl Jones could have matched. Without Marshall's sense of dignity, "Blacula" would have been reduced to slapstick.

The story is that interior decorates buy the coffin of Prince Manuwalde andbring it back to Los Angeles, unaware that the African prince had been bitten by Dracula (Charles Macaulay) centuries before and locked inside. While wandering the nights in his eternal search for human blood, the prince sees Tina (Vonetta McGee), a woman who looks like his dear departed wife, Luva, and he is convinced she is his beloved reincarnated. While Blacula woos Tina, her friend Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala) figures out that this guy is a blood-sucking fiend and tries to hunt the vampire down.

Today the racial humor of this film seems dated, but in 1972 this movie was hip in being self-conscious about its blackness, which was the whole point of the Blaxploitation movement: to black movies made by black casts and crews for black audiences, instead of leaving it to Hollywood to ignore and denigrate blacks in the films that had been produced up to that point. The horror scenes are hokey in the extreme, but since they are basically being done for fun by director William Crain, it is hard to complain. Some critics have bemoaned the miss opportunity to make a telling critique of sexual hypocrisy in society, the way Bram Stoker's original novel did for the Victorian era (if you are inclined to read it that way), but the social agenda here is clearly race and not sex, which is totally appropriate as far as I am concerned.

In addition to the 1973 sequel, "Scream, Blacula, Scream," other Blaxploitation horror films that followed this one included "Blackenstein," "Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde," and "The House on Skull Mountain." However, none of them would enjoy the reputation of "Blacula," which remains the defining film of this particular genre.

"Wow, man, nice threads. Dig the fangs bro...NOOOOOOO!!!"
The 1972 film "Blacula" is a much better example of the Blaxploitation period, which began with the success of "Shaft" the previous year, than it is as a vampire movie. William Marshall, with his booming voice, plays the title character and gives the film a sense of credibility that probably only James Earl Jones could have matched. Without Marshall's sense of dignity, "Blacula" would have been reduced to slapstick. The story is that interior decorates buy the coffin of Prince Manuwalde andbring it back to Los Angeles, unaware that the African prince had been bitten by Dracula (Charles Macaulay) centuries before and locked inside. While wandering the nights in his eternal search for human blood, the prince sees Tina (Vonetta McGee), a woman who looks like his dear departed wife, Luva, and he is convinced she is his beloved reincarnated. While Blacula woos Tina, her friend Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala) figures out that this guy is a blood-sucking fiend and tries to hunt the vampire down.

Today the racial humor of this film seems dated, but in 1972 this movie was hip in being self-conscious about its blackness, which was the whole point of the Blaxploitation movement: to black movies made by black casts and crews for black audiences, instead of leaving it to Hollywood to ignore and denigrate blacks in the films that had been produced up to that point. The horror scenes are hokey in the extreme, but since they are basically being done for fun by director William Crain, it is hard to complain. Some critics have bemoaned the miss opportunity to make a telling critique of sexual hypocrisy in society, the way Bram Stoker's original novel did for the Victorian era (if you are inclined to read it that way), but the social agenda here is clearly race and not sex, which is totally appropriate as far as I am concerned. In addition to the 1973 sequel, "Scream, Blacula, Scream," other Blaxploitation horror films that followed this one included "Blackenstein," "Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde," and "The House on Skull Mountain." However, none of them would enjoy the reputation of "Blacula," which remains the defining film of this particular genre.

Great movie!
i saw this for the first time on Black stars back in october and i been inticipating to see it for years! its a very good movie! i love vampire movies from the 30's 40's 50's 60's and few from the 70's which is the only type ill watch!!! only 5 movies vamp movies from the 70's is what i like which includes this! Yorga! Satanic rites of dracula! love at first bite and Nosferatu The Vampyre's remake!

considering im only 16 years old this movie is a action pack classic 70's african american classic!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hope the KKK dont read this review considering im white! Lol

Alright Then...
This is quite a...bizarre...movie. I thought it would be some sort of a comedy or maybe a black comedy or maybe even a horror black comedy. It's not really any ot these. I think it's supposed to be a horror, but the story's so old and the plot in this movie is so predictible it's not scary. I don't think it was supposed to be a comedy, but I found humor in how fake it looked when Blacula transformed into a bat. I have to admit, they could have made a great whack-ass comedy type parody out of this, but they tried to take it seriously and got...this. I think someone like Marlon or Damon Wayans should remake this and make it intentionally funny. But seriously, this is a baaaad movie. Stay away.

Afrocentrism meets vampirism
"Blacula," directed by William Crain, tells a story that begins in Transylvania in 1780. Prince Momuwalde, a Black African, comes to the legendary Count Dracula to seek his aid in ending the slave trade. Instead of helping the prince, the evil count transforms him into a vampire: Blacula!

"Blacula" is an interesting and entertaining blend of the vampire and "Blaxploitation" genres. After the atmospheric opening sequence (and cool opening credits!) the action shifts to urban America in the 20th century. A lot of elements make this film fun to watch: the fashions, hairstyles, music, and dance moves.

William Marshall brings both an animalistic ferocity and an aristocratic elegance to the title role; I would definitely rate his work among the best of cinematic vampire portrayals. Marshall is superbly complemented by Thalmus Rasulala, who brings gravitas and intelligence to his portrayal of the scientific investigator who is on Blacula's case.

Yes, some aspects of the film might strike some viewers as cheesy or dated. And the script fails to fully develop the fascinating concept of an African vampire; I felt that some of the political and cultural issues raised in the opening sequence could have been better explored. Still, "Blacula" is a real treat for fans of both Black cinema and horror films. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Set the night on fire!
Lambada had potential, but the cheesy production values, PG rating, and dated music all but ruin it. It's a fun movie, but the plot, a rehash of every inspirational teacher movie out there, is not suitable for the dirty dancing movie it strives to be. It should have stuck to one or the other. The Forbidden Dance, another movie about the Lambada dance craze, released the same day in theaters, fared slighlty better because of the more adult story. While this is purely enjoyable fluff, I never once believed that the actors were high school students, which ruined it for me. And the dancing is just not seductive enough. However, I was engrossed in the story and loved the cheesiness to it all. Recommended for an early 90's reminisce.

Fabulous Pick!
Grab It - A chance of Lifetime to Pick up Lambada Dance Pick - My choice 'Golden collection' & 5 Stars! I was gifted this DVD by my sis long ago and since then, it stands best setting fire in my room as I click on to watch it sometimes on special occassions. My hubby is too awe struck to see the swings and we even tried out the steps but ugh oh, its not cup of tea for all to dance 'Lambada'. The movie is simply superb but as far as my collection goes, I gotta Lambada Dance track exclusive too. Another nice movie was Dance with me which had some great dancing on floor apart from other movies like footloose, Dirty Dancing & Saturday Night Fever. Pick up if you really like Dancing, any day-any time, the unique Lambada tip toeing.

THE DVD SETS MY NIGHT ON FIRE!
I was surprised to hear that 'Lambada' was getting released on DVD out of all the many movies that are out there, but I'm soooooooooooooooo glad because this is one of those films I just LOVE. I already have it on video and have watched it many times.This movie isn't just some silly, ... try-hard dancing movie, It's really entertaining, funny, I love the actors, the music just makes me want to jump out of my seat and Set the Night On Fire. J.Eddie Peck, Melora Hardin, Ricky Paull Goldin etc are all fantastic and entertaining. The film has a good message about the importance of education what Blade is trying to teach the kids. The DVD quality is good, it's presented in full frame but I'm not complaining, I'll take 'Lambada' any way I can get it- I'm just happy it's on DVD. YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
By Justine Ryan

A Must See Underrated Dance Movie!!
The movie Lambada is a sexy,sensuous must see Dancing movie that should be watched.It's a must see.The sexy,sensuous Melora Hardin is particularily breathtakingly beautiful in this film!!

Set the Night on Fire!!!
Lambada--The Movie! I LOVE IT!!!

From a Lambada standpoint, the film falls far, far short of Lambada dancing expectations. I surmise that the producers of this film merely attached the "Lambada" title to the film in order to capitalize on the Lambada dance craze.

This film follows the clandestine educational hijinx of a man called "Blade," aka Carlos Gutierrez and Mr. ( ). By day Blade teaches at an upscale Beverly Hills high school (Stonewood High) and by night he teaches ghetto kids at a nightclub (which only serves Pepsi) called "No Man's Land."

Blade teaches the kids who frequent "No Man's Land" a number of subjects; history, grammar, but primarily math. And his teaching methods are cutting edge: he teaches one young man math by using a protractor on the pool table. But his lessons often last a mere two to three minutes because Blade needs to get some dancing in before he goes home to his wife!

Why Blade can't simply teach the educationally deprived ghetto youth in the late afternoon or early evening is anyone's guess, and the charm of the film. Blade's mission in life is to give these poor kids hope. For, as we learn midway through the film, as Blade struggles to gain street credibility, he is "a homie!"

The protractor is a recurring theme and a symbol that is present throughout the film. We see the protractor used in a number of highly creative ways and at interesting times. (Instead of studying at home, Ramon sits in the corner of No Man's Land using his protractor to do his homework).

All in all this is a highly recommended film. Love it for what it is, instead of what it isn't-- I've seen this movie about five or six times now and LOVE IT! The reason is that it was so horribly produced, completely predictable and in it's strange but familiar (to all of the "dance movies" of the 80s) way offers a very condescending view of urban minority youth and the problems they face.

But how can you miss seeing the "Galaxy High" bus? Graffiti spray painted rolling through the rich neighborhoods? Or Blade on his Harley? Or the dancing? (Which isn't even Lambada dancing!!!)

It's a must see movie. If you rent it you'll buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Steven Seagal plays a Chicago cop who takes on CIA types in this action thriller from Andrew Davis(The Fugitive). Davis brings muscle to the project, including some strong set pieces that make Seagal (who also co-wrote and co-produced the film) look awfully good. Costars Pam Grier and Sharon Stone give a big assist in that department, too, yet nothing can really mitigate such ridiculous moments as Seagal's getting profound with a villain in his raspy monotone: "You think you're above the law. But you're not." The DVD release includes full-screen and widescreen presentations, production notes, trailers, optional Spanish soundtrack and optional French and Spanish subtitles.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Thrilling, best in it's genre...
This movie is among the the best and most thrilling of the post Harry Callihan, 1980's genre of cop movies. As Nico Toscani, a naturally macho yet morally upright and skilled cop (who is also ex-CIA and former Aikido instructor), Seagal is impressive and yet so refreshingly believable. The short martial arts action sequences are first rate - no drawn out Hong Kong formula stuff. The cafe jazz music score is memorable and rightly paced for the exciting car tailing sequences through downtown Chicago.

Nico Toscani's Sicilian background adds to the color of the drama. There are even hints of his family background being not too far removed from the wiseguys. I mentioned Nico being macho. I'd like to qualify this by saying that he's not devoid of charm and his role is less one-dimentional than one would expect. The tough-guy persona is just a facade for an individual with strong convictions and a democratic political outlook. Equally competent is Nico's partner, Delores Jackson, played candidly by the veteran Pam Grier. The main villain, the pure evil CIA doctor Zagon, is played by the veteran villain actor Henry Silva.

Don't expect any critics' choice awards for this movie, because the script does have its share of cliches. Seagal plays a cop who is on to something very big, defies higher authority and, as expected, is taken off the case - like in so many other cop movies of the genre. The outcome is predictable. You know that good is going to triumph over evil in this movie. Despite it's predictability, the plot is fresh and to a great extent realistic. Most importantly it's entertaining.

There are surprisingly bold political statements made in this movie about the dubious role played by the CIA in the affairs of many a third world country. These statements are not too far fetched and must never be underplayed when you consider the "blowback" - CIA jargon for repercussions - being felt to this day. There are far too few movies being made these days that hold the government accountable. Unfortunately it's usually the ordinary citizen who becomes the indirect victim to the follies of an agency whose modus operandii includes criminal conduct and whose agents operate "Above the Law".

The impressive and ship-shape Seagal in this movie inspires you to ditch your six-pack of beer for a six-pack of Gatorade. He inspires you to reach into your closet for your old karate uniform or gym gear and to whip yourself back into physical and mental shape. Too bad Seagal has physically floundered since then. He does have the potential to stay there. One would hope that he would take his cues from Eastwood and Bronson, both of whose careers have had them stay in shape and play lead roles well into their sixties and seventies.

First and (easily) Best Seagal Movie
Once upon a time, an ex-CIA martial arts master quit the CIA and wrote a movie with a new plot but a character that seemed a lot like the writer

Steven Seagal is best known for his action movies, in particular the parts where he does his hand to hand thing. In his case, he's an aikido expert, and that's hard to explain. Most martial arts movies talk about Kung Fu and Tae Kwan Do where people punch and kick and you can generally tell what's going on. Aikido, on the other hand, is about redirecting an opponent, making him basically want to fall down. In the movie, it looks a lot like a bad guy rushes as Seagal, he touches them with his little finger and then they decide to throw themselves in the air in ways you thought were impossible. The moves take, oh, about two seconds to perform, with Seagal's part being only about 2 microseconds. If you want to watch Seagal in classic aikido action, be prepared to pause, slow motion and rewind. It's amazing looking and absolutley bizzare (since being marveled by the movie, i have gone out and studied aikido, and it seems even more impressive, although realistic, now)

The movie's about an ex-CIA officer turned Chicago cop (and, in my opinion, an extremely unlikeable one; that macho Italian family man thing to me just looks like a dull-witted bully control freak). He runs into some old CIA friends from 'nam who are doing naughty things

This movie has a plot, and a darn good one at that. It's a very, very interesting movie, much unlike, say, all the big budget movies he did after this one. While his later movies are bad jokes, new age mantras and B-movies, this one is really, really good. There are only a realistic number of fight scenes (gosh, i wish there were more, but that would have changed it from a drama to an action film, which this really isn't), but they are wonderful

Bottom line, this movie is awesome. i don't know if Seagal wrote and directed the later films he did (he was close to a one man production company on this one), but i wish he'd turn down those big budget formula films he's been doing and go back to doing the realistic, semi-autobiographical films like this one. He's mostly considered a joke now, but when this movie came out, when he was Seagal the writer and not Seagal the action hero, he was revered, and for good reason

Seagals explodes into cinema!!!
Great score, great story, great action. This is Seagals best film next to Under Seige. Too bad he fizzeled out after a coupla good ones. Charles Bronson remains King of the genre. Check out The Mechanic and Death Wish 2 and 4....

SEAGAL'S FIRST MOVIE IS NOT TO BE MISSED!
A COP [STEVEN SEAGAL] BATTLES POLICE CORRUPTION AND DRUG DEALING. THIS WAS SEAGAL'S FIRST MOVIE. IT HAS SOME VERY GOOD ACTION SCENES. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL MOVIE FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO COLLECT SEAGAL MOVIES OR ACTION MOVIES IN GENERAL. THIS MOVIE IS ALSO GOOD FOR ANOTHER THING, IT SHOWS US THE OLD STEVEN SEAGAL WHO LOOKED TOUGHER AND WAS IN BETTER SHAPE, UNLIKE TODAY.
I ADVISE ALL ACTION FANS TO ADD THIS TO THEIR COLLECTION NOW!

typical but decent
It's always fun to watch Steven Seagal beat [up] 10 people at once, then start running like a 5 year old girl. Yes this is a cheesey action movie with all the usual formulas, but Seagal seems to be a better actor than people like Chuck Norris, Vann Damme, Arnold, and Sly. His wisecracking remarks are definitely better than all the stupid one-liners in those other guys' movies. This was Seagal's first movie. If you've never seen one of his movies, this would probably be the best one to star with. Also a great supporting cast like Henry Silva (what a suprise, he's the lead villian!) Chelcie Ross (Harris from Major League) Pam Grier, Sharon Stone (she can't act, but she's okay here), and those same 2 cops that are in all the other movies filmed in Chicago. (The Fugitive, Code Of Silence, etc) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Daniel Stern, Insult Comic!
Daniel Stern stars as Joel Keefer, an ambitious stock broker who wants to have a baby with his wife Janet, played by Melanie Mayron. He is a failure in that department, which is an insult to potent men like myself. The miscast Fisher Stevens plays Carlos Delgado, a photographer who is working with Janet Keefer on getting a book of his photos published. His phony, exaggerated accent is an insult to Hispanics. Christopher Plummer plays Mr. Roalvang, a simpleton who somehow became the multimillionaire head of Roalvang Industries. Comparing him to then President Ronald Reagan is an insult to a fine President's legacy. Martin Mull, playing smarmy stock broker Tony Dugdale, is Joel's competition for landing an account with Roalvang Industries. His over-the top performance is an insult to all Corporate brown noses. Last but not least, the beautiful Arielle Dombasle plays Louise Roalvang, the nymphomaniacal boss' wife. Her lack of acting talent is an insult to all accomplished actresses working in movies. The simplistic plot, lame jokes and stereotypical characters are an insult to everyone unfortunate enough to watch this movie.

The only reason to watch this movie is for the bosses wife
The girl is really hot :) the plot and acting are sorta funny but this is a cheezy 80's movie that is all about the sex :) acting does not take main priority obviously :) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

NO Other Film Touches Me More
I Have Mad Respect For Brother Alex Haley this Film Traces History.it Deals With A Man Finding His Idenity.Which is a Very Serious Issue.AS A African-American Man A Film Of This Magnitude Makes Me Wonder About All Of My People.This Film Shapes The Way America Became Today.Being Black&A Human Being it Upsets&Tugs at My Mind.Pain,Suffering,Mistreatment&HardWOrk ALong With every Known LAW Broken&then Some Enforced By SO-Called Masters Divided The World Forever.ONE SIde Struggles&Gains The Other Has Privledge Upon THeir Feet.This Is a Must By All People Too View.IT'S THe One Subject that People Are Afraid Too Talk About.but it's Hauting Impact will Never Go Away.MR.Haley Did A WOnder Job R.I.P.

A Must-See Film
I'm not white nor black but this film has completely captivated me. A very inspiring film about slavery...I have not really understood the subject until I've viewed this film. Wish I could have rated this one more than five stars though.

Roots: by Alex Haley
Although I struggle to journey back in time to find my family roots, I am always sidewined by unpublished or no documentation for exsistance of my family name. I am like a woman lost in the great melting pot of American society with no real since of who I am or where I'm originated. Nevertheless, I had one aunt that lived till she was 114 years old. She told me our family name was Jefferson from Tennessee. My famly moved from this state to Texas with a white slave owning family. After my aunt died in 1992 I could always remember her telling me to go down the road. It took me seven years before I went down the road and the day I did - I found the plantation where my family worked and sharecrop. The plantation is a historical site and the Jefferson name is mentioned in the plaque. However, they have no record of the slaves they brought in from Tennessee. The great-great-grand daughter said she remembered my aunt the year I first set out down the road and inquired. The woman said my aunt use to be her mammy. The next year she could not remember if my family was slaves at her family plantation. Again I say, unpublished or no documentation of my family exsistence. I beleive America has melted the black society into a goop of undocumented mess. If some are like me, I would like to know about my family history, heritage and how they obtain their freedom. Celebrating Black history, the movie Roots, by Alex Haley have a deep meaning to me. I try, and I try to understand why it had to happen. Slavery put an emity between blacks and whites. No good became of it. Most people inherited the hate that rings on both sides. Is their a common ground to bring peace between us? I believe so. It starts with Roots.

A must for everyone to see!
Great movie on the history of a family that was faced with generations of slavery. A very touching movie on a races struggle to freedom.

Excellent Drama
How would I get all volumes of the movie? I have been able to obtain 4 volumes at this time but am having trouble obtaining the remaining volumes; I believe their may be 8 or 12 volumes.Any information would be appreciated! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

BEAUTIOUS!!
Probably the funniest scene in movie history is Willie walking down the courthouse steps in that green outfit, with fur cape and hat. The outfit is so outrageous (even by Seventies standards) that bystanders walking along the street during filming can't beleive their eyes. The actor playing Willie can barely keep a straight face.

Now Willie has reformed his ways, and is now Gordon on Seseme Street. I bet his old ...buddies sometimes drive by and give him a double-take:

"Willie?"

"Uh, no man. I'm Gordan."

Willie oh Willie D
Willie Dynamite is one of the best movies about Pimpin I have ever seen. I don't know if it is meant to be funny, but it is hilarious. The outfits, the hats, the car, and the walk all make Willie D one of the funniest characters I have ever seen. Two scenes in particular stick out. When he gets all seven of his girls out of jail and is leaving the court to his theme song, with the girls walking behind him. His strutt, and suit make it classic. Second when he "Pimp Jogs" down the stairs of the court house in his green suit with big fur, and fur hat to match. This movie is one of the best, when can I get it on dvd?

EUROPEAN VHS FORMAT TO BUY PLEASE,
I live in Europe and saw only saw AMERICAN PIMP, but not other pimp movies since they are in
"VHS Features:NTSC format (US and Canada only. This VHS will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about VHS formats.)"

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY THESE MOVIES IN EUROPEAN VHS FORMAT?

THANKS

MY FAVORITE, NEXT TO THE MACK!
THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE, NEXT TO THE MACK, AND THEN, SUPERFLY,AND HIT MAN, FEATURING PAMALA GRIER!(PAM)
I THINK, THIS MOVIE IS A WONDERFUL,PIMPISH FLICK!!!...
IF YOU EVER SEE THIS MOVIE, ON CABLE CALLED, DRIVE BY, YOU WILL SEE THAT WILLIE D(ROSCOE ORMAN)AND, THE WOMAN CALLED PASSION (JOYCE WALKER) PLAYS IN IT TOGETHER, IN 1997, THEY ARE STILL ALIVE AND WELL!

Willie is Dynamite
The best Blaxploitation and fictional pimp narrative I've ever seen. Of course, that's all terribly relative to the genre and time period. A "good" Blaxploitation film means it has a solid ENOUGH storyline and that the producers spent a little money on it to make it seem like an actual film. This one scores high on both counts, and you find yourself trying to figure out what could possibly happen next. And for a film made in 1973, it's surprisingly fresh.

The story starts off with our anti-hero, Willie Dynamite (who was the bald Black guy on Sesame Street. You'll never look at Oscar the Grouch the same again) under seige from all sides, as he is set upon by an old flame-turned-social worker, the cops, and a wickedly funny pimp named "Bell" (played by Roger Robinson) who wants to take Willie's dynamite hoes because he won't join the newly formed pimp organized front.

And my God, the outfits.
Willie sports some of the most outlandish stuff you've ever seen, and when he walks down a set of courthouse stairs, prepare to be rewinding the tape a few times.

To top it all off, it has a moralty play woven throughout that you both admire and despise: you dig it because it's cool to have a movie from that time with a moral, but without being preachy; you despise it because it can only mean the end of Willie, who, despite his lifestyle, you come to like. Or maybe it's the white fez with triple tassles. I'm not sure.

But while Willie is great, the character to watch for is Bell, who steals every scene he's in. He's the cat that does the speech that's clipped into "American Pimp" about vision, and it's even funnier when you have it in context.

A well-done farce that pushes all the right buttons, and a perfect movie to watch with a bunch of your wacky friends or REALLY cool family. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

"Wow, man, nice threads. Dig the fangs bro...NOOOOOOO!!!"
The 1972 film "Blacula" is a much better example of the Blaxploitation period, which began with the success of "Shaft" the previous year, than it is as a vampire movie. William Marshall, with his booming voice, plays the title character and gives the film a sense of credibility that probably only James Earl Jones could have matched. Without Marshall's sense of dignity, "Blacula" would have been reduced to slapstick.

The story is that interior decorates buy the coffin of Prince Manuwalde andbring it back to Los Angeles, unaware that the African prince had been bitten by Dracula (Charles Macaulay) centuries before and locked inside. While wandering the nights in his eternal search for human blood, the prince sees Tina (Vonetta McGee), a woman who looks like his dear departed wife, Luva, and he is convinced she is his beloved reincarnated. While Blacula woos Tina, her friend Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala) figures out that this guy is a blood-sucking fiend and tries to hunt the vampire down.

Today the racial humor of this film seems dated, but in 1972 this movie was hip in being self-conscious about its blackness, which was the whole point of the Blaxploitation movement: to black movies made by black casts and crews for black audiences, instead of leaving it to Hollywood to ignore and denigrate blacks in the films that had been produced up to that point. The horror scenes are hokey in the extreme, but since they are basically being done for fun by director William Crain, it is hard to complain. Some critics have bemoaned the miss opportunity to make a telling critique of sexual hypocrisy in society, the way Bram Stoker's original novel did for the Victorian era (if you are inclined to read it that way), but the social agenda here is clearly race and not sex, which is totally appropriate as far as I am concerned.

In addition to the 1973 sequel, "Scream, Blacula, Scream," other Blaxploitation horror films that followed this one included "Blackenstein," "Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde," and "The House on Skull Mountain." However, none of them would enjoy the reputation of "Blacula," which remains the defining film of this particular genre.

"Wow, man, nice threads. Dig the fangs bro...NOOOOOOO!!!"
The 1972 film "Blacula" is a much better example of the Blaxploitation period, which began with the success of "Shaft" the previous year, than it is as a vampire movie. William Marshall, with his booming voice, plays the title character and gives the film a sense of credibility that probably only James Earl Jones could have matched. Without Marshall's sense of dignity, "Blacula" would have been reduced to slapstick. The story is that interior decorates buy the coffin of Prince Manuwalde andbring it back to Los Angeles, unaware that the African prince had been bitten by Dracula (Charles Macaulay) centuries before and locked inside. While wandering the nights in his eternal search for human blood, the prince sees Tina (Vonetta McGee), a woman who looks like his dear departed wife, Luva, and he is convinced she is his beloved reincarnated. While Blacula woos Tina, her friend Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala) figures out that this guy is a blood-sucking fiend and tries to hunt the vampire down.

Today the racial humor of this film seems dated, but in 1972 this movie was hip in being self-conscious about its blackness, which was the whole point of the Blaxploitation movement: to black movies made by black casts and crews for black audiences, instead of leaving it to Hollywood to ignore and denigrate blacks in the films that had been produced up to that point. The horror scenes are hokey in the extreme, but since they are basically being done for fun by director William Crain, it is hard to complain. Some critics have bemoaned the miss opportunity to make a telling critique of sexual hypocrisy in society, the way Bram Stoker's original novel did for the Victorian era (if you are inclined to read it that way), but the social agenda here is clearly race and not sex, which is totally appropriate as far as I am concerned. In addition to the 1973 sequel, "Scream, Blacula, Scream," other Blaxploitation horror films that followed this one included "Blackenstein," "Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde," and "The House on Skull Mountain." However, none of them would enjoy the reputation of "Blacula," which remains the defining film of this particular genre.

Great movie!
i saw this for the first time on Black stars back in october and i been inticipating to see it for years! its a very good movie! i love vampire movies from the 30's 40's 50's 60's and few from the 70's which is the only type ill watch!!! only 5 movies vamp movies from the 70's is what i like which includes this! Yorga! Satanic rites of dracula! love at first bite and Nosferatu The Vampyre's remake!

considering im only 16 years old this movie is a action pack classic 70's african american classic!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hope the KKK dont read this review considering im white! Lol

Alright Then...
This is quite a...bizarre...movie. I thought it would be some sort of a comedy or maybe a black comedy or maybe even a horror black comedy. It's not really any ot these. I think it's supposed to be a horror, but the story's so old and the plot in this movie is so predictible it's not scary. I don't think it was supposed to be a comedy, but I found humor in how fake it looked when Blacula transformed into a bat. I have to admit, they could have made a great whack-ass comedy type parody out of this, but they tried to take it seriously and got...this. I think someone like Marlon or Damon Wayans should remake this and make it intentionally funny. But seriously, this is a baaaad movie. Stay away.

Afrocentrism meets vampirism
"Blacula," directed by William Crain, tells a story that begins in Transylvania in 1780. Prince Momuwalde, a Black African, comes to the legendary Count Dracula to seek his aid in ending the slave trade. Instead of helping the prince, the evil count transforms him into a vampire: Blacula!

"Blacula" is an interesting and entertaining blend of the vampire and "Blaxploitation" genres. After the atmospheric opening sequence (and cool opening credits!) the action shifts to urban America in the 20th century. A lot of elements make this film fun to watch: the fashions, hairstyles, music, and dance moves.

William Marshall brings both an animalistic ferocity and an aristocratic elegance to the title role; I would definitely rate his work among the best of cinematic vampire portrayals. Marshall is superbly complemented by Thalmus Rasulala, who brings gravitas and intelligence to his portrayal of the scientific investigator who is on Blacula's case.

Yes, some aspects of the film might strike some viewers as cheesy or dated. And the script fails to fully develop the fascinating concept of an African vampire; I felt that some of the political and cultural issues raised in the opening sequence could have been better explored. Still, "Blacula" is a real treat for fans of both Black cinema and horror films. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great movie!!!
This movie stands the test of time. I remember seeing this movie on the big screen when I was little.I was so moved by young Larry Fishburn performance that I found myself crying right along with him during the big tearjerking scene. So much talent even at that young age of 12. It's hard to believe that the sweet kid in "Cornbread Earl and Me" grew up to be the mean Ike Turner in "What's Love Got To Do With It"! One of my favorite movies as a child, "Cornbread Earl and Me" is now one of my children's favorite. The teenagers love it for the violence( angry mob attacks cops,woman gets 'pimp slap' in the face by crooked cop, ... etc.) but I like it because of the beautiful touching story. Buy it, you wont be disappointed.

I've seen this movie years ago,and i luv it !!
This movie was so touching, to where its not even funny,and whats so sad about it is that,the same things that happened in the movie is happening in real life as i speak..its funny people can change..but not the polices..

Superb !!!!!!
I remember when I had saw this movie when I was a little girl and I had saw it on BET last year this is a great movie it is sad but it is still good I enjoyed this movie and I would recommend anyone who enjoys blaxploitation movies would enjoy this movie this is a great film about a little boy and his friend Cornbread he was a great basketball player and he had just recieved a scholarship to go to a college to play basketball and had dreams of becoming a pro- basketball player and one day a white cop accidentally shoots him and he dies and a big contorversy stirs in this small towm and causes havoc and trouble for everyone and really takes a toll on his friend and
makes it hard for him to cope with his loss but eventually things get better and then he goes on with his life but he never forget about his friend "Cornbread" . This is a touching heartwarming film that would make you just want to cry so therefore when you watch this movie be sure to have some tissue on hand. I would recommend anyone who is fond of dramas to purchse this video!!!!

Good film about the importance of friendship and manhood
Aw later for you, Leonard Maltin! This movie is GREAT! This is an important story about friendship and manhood. Young Larry Fishburne's admiration of "Cornbread" rings true with any child who had an older friend to admire as a role model. But the outstanding part is where Fish's mother (Rosalind Cash) tells Fishburne to go to the courtroom stand and BE A MAN and not to be intimidated into giving false testimony of Cornbread's death at the hands of the police as the other witnesses were! This scene borught tears to my eyes and a "standing-o" from the audience I saw it with. This scene alone, with the message it gives to young people about integrity, is worth the price of admission alone!

Classic Film
you can't ever say enough about a film that captures everything you want&hope in a film.Strong Cast&Acting,Solid Directing&great Music.it's a Feel Good Film.it is a Film that is still strong to this day.Check it out. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

And I was there....
What can I say, I'm bias, why... not because this was another of those "black" films everyone thought should be made but because I actually had a small bit part in it. Yep, stood out there in the cold of Platte City (MO), with about 16 other extras. Saw the open call for extras on the bulletin board at school and answered the call. Hey, no money, no true fame, but at least my segment didn't get tossed to the cutting room floor and it was fun "being in a movie"

Williamson Takes Over the Town, and the Film, Too
As a soul cinema fan, it is hard for me to criticize this film, which unites two Afro-American icons, Pam Grier and Fred Williamson. Still, I must confess my disappointed feelings after watching "Bucktown," a rather mediocre film, considering those two fantastic leads.

"Bucktown" is a corrupt town where the corrupt cops donimate. Now Duke (Williamson), after his brother's suspicious death, comes back to this hometown (in a "Ger Carter" way), only to find himself trapped in between the hostile police and beautiful Aretha (Grier). Reluctantly he decides to stay there because of legal problems, and to manage the local bar. As (expectedly) the love between Aretha and Duke develops, the local police begin (expectedly) to show their true colors.

The film is given a unique twist here; Duke calls in his old buddy Roy (Thalmus Rasulala, regular of blaxploitation genre) to wage a war against the cops, but the result turns out worse than he hoped. The film tries to provide a new point of view on this genre, giving a picture of a conflict between blacks, but it seems the film doesn't know how to end this awkward situation.

Though the film is far from perfect, it keeps on going with a good pace, and Williamson as always shows his charismatic presense effectively though Pam Grier as a result is pushed aside to a minor role despite of her previous successful roles in "Coffy." My verdict is, "Bucktown" is not a terrible film as some critics label it, but it is, I must say, strictly for fans of this genre.

cool film
this film worked really well.Both The "Hammer"&Pam Grier get down to Business here.it's so sad at how they didn't get there Props back in the day because films like this Showcase how tight they were on screen&they always had alot of Great Action in the films.Pam Grier still Blows My Mind She is SuperBaddd!!

Excellent Revenge Movie!
Fred Williamson is cool as ever-- though the character he plays, Duke, is an ex-football player-- okay, not much of a stretch..

Still, you can't front on the action that takes place when Duke takes on the corrupt police force in his old hometown--

The cast includes several blaxploitation regulars: The sheriff, played by Art Lund, also menaced Williamson as a crooked cop in BLACK CAESAR.

Bernie Hamilton went on to play STARSKY & HUTCH's police boss Captain Dobey, and he shows up here as a longtime Bucktown resident who spends too much time at the local bar that Duke's brother owned before his death..

Pam Grier is more subdued in this piece, not the "kick-behind-chick" of most of her roles.. But golly, is she fine as ever..

Thalmus Rasulala (Blacula, What's Happening) is Duke's big-city hustling pal Roy, who recruits a gang of cronies to give some payback to the redneck cops who terrorize the black residents of Bucktown. Among the cronies is "Hambone", played by future ROCKY star Carl Weathers.

After Duke, Roy and the gang send the crooked cops running (and violently so), they unofficially take the place of the cops in running the protection scam-- Duke is reluctant, but Roy revels in his newfound power. For the moment, Roy and Duke come to a compromise, as Roy promises not to "lean" on the townsfolk like the cops did..

But Roy's over-zealous henchmen could care less about being civil, as they roughhouse everyone who crosses their path, including Grier and Hamilton, the latter of whom is brutally beaten-- Next on their hit list is Duke, as he and Grier are assaulted in his home.. That sets the stage for Duke to get some long-coming revenge, assisted by a local boy who becomes his sidekick..

The showdown between Duke and Roy is long and bloody-- and satisfying...

Amidst all the mayhem in this film, some sly social commentaries are made: The kid who befriends Duke is a hustler wannabe, and has a precocious knowledge of all the nightlife vices in Bucktown-- "Girls, gambling, we got it all!"

Also, the audience is introduced to the cold reality that Black political corruption and criminality is just as dastardly as when it is done by Whites-- turning the tables on the traditional source of inner-city social ills in post-civil-rights-era America.

Fantastic Fred Williamson / Pam Grier vehicle
"Bucktown" is certainly less melodramatic and more savvy than most 70's blaxploitation fare. In this film, Fred Williamson stars as Duke, who returns home to Bucktown to bury his brother and resume business at his brother's bar - "Alabama". He soon discovers the corrupt white police force had his brother - alongside everyone else - in their pocket and intend to keep it that way. Urging against any confrontation is the eternally sexy Pam Grier as Aretha, a local at Alabama. Duke calls in some friends from the big city to oust the cops, who are led by Duke's longtime pal Roy. Once the cops are out, the grateful mayor wants to thank Duke's friends with a great parade; but unbeknownst to Duke, Roy and his crew have become aware of the power the police force had, and now they suddenly have other plans...

Pam Grier fans should note that she doesn't appear naked or even scantilly clad in every frame. She surprisingly appears classic and tasteful in fine outfits. The film is loaded with blaxploitation regulars. The final showdown of the film is tremendous, loaded with "I'm gonna beat you down, boy" prologues between Duke and Roy. There is also good use made of a tank in this film, but I don't want to spoil the whole experience for you. Check it out for yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Us, The Living-Dead
First of all, I would have appreciated being warned that this movie was in Extended Play Mode. CD Universe was kind enough to note that the copy it had for sale was in the EP mode and thus I did not buy it from them. I was optimistic that Amazon's copy might be in Standard Play mode because nothing was listed in the "technical details section." I had already opened the package before I noticed that it was in EP Mode. This copy of the movie had artifacts throughout the entire film. I tried it on two seperate VCRs. To to that off, the acting was uniformly horrible and the movie didn't even address the identity/landmark trial of assassin Byron De La Beckwith who was played superbly played by James Woods in "Ghosts of Mississippi" That is the movie you should see if you want to know about Medgar Evers and see outstanding performances at the same time including an uncharacteristically good one from Whoopi Goldberg. She was also great in "A Long Walk Home" which deals with some of the same themes. Lastly, I would have like to have seen someone like Denzel Washington in the title role.

Underrated, Overlooked and So Damn Good
For Us the Living, a movie that recently sneaked onto video after airing on national T.V. The story of Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader from the early to mid sixties who was murdered by the Klu Klux Klan. This movie tells us first hand how Medgar, took on racist politicians and came home to be a loving husband. Played beautifully by Holling Rollins, and the gifted Irene Cara. It is on my shelf right there by Malcolm X. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Daming Evidence
WhAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW COME THERE WERE SO MUCH DAMING EVIDENCE TO CONVICT ROBERT CHAMBERS OF MURDER AND HE STILL GOT THE CHANCE TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A LESSER CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. STRANGULATION IS A RESULT OF CONTINOUS PRESSURE, SO HOW COULD IT BE AN ACCIDENT?. WAS THE JURY STUPID OR WHAT? I REMEMBER A JUROR SAYING THERE WASEN'T A CLEAR CUT PATH TO SHOW MURDER. WHAT MORE DID THEY WANT?