I happened to catch this movie right at the beginning by sheer accident. I had never heard of it. I decided to watch it and found it entertaining. It basically a poor man's Shaft a year later moved from NYC to LA with a little revised plot and a not as capable director. It has good entertainment value and documents nicely the fashions of the time.
The film also shows the hypocrisy of the term "Blaxploitation." There should be a disclaimer that says "no blacks were exploited in the making of this movie." If you take out race you have the story of a private detective squeezed by the cops and 2 rival gangs.....just like John Shaft. It's just not as slick as Shaft.
Shakespeare it is not but the main cast all had bigger roles on either the big screen or TV. It's a straightforward "who's playing who" detective story. Not more, nothing less.
The film also shows the hypocrisy of the term "Blaxploitation." There should be a disclaimer that says "no blacks were exploited in the making of this movie." If you take out race you have the story of a private detective squeezed by the cops and 2 rival gangs.....just like John Shaft. It's just not as slick as Shaft.
Shakespeare it is not but the main cast all had bigger roles on either the big screen or TV. It's a straightforward "who's playing who" detective story. Not more, nothing less.