By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:05 pm:

Well folks, it's that time of year again when during the shortest month of the year we get to see all of our movies and documentaries that pertain to the African American community. During this month I try to tape ever darned thing I can, in particular obscure movies that I wont see again anytime this year, let alone the documentaries that I PRAY they will put on that havent been shown in awhile. The only stations that I have seen cooperate in this effort are: PBS, Black Starz,TCM, Fox Movie Network, AMC and they are selective in their offerings.

There were some controversial movies in the 70's Blaxploitation movie era such as 'Nigger Charlie' and 'Petey Wheatstraw' 'SweetSweetback' that are rarely aired. Maybe this is a censorship issue, but I have not seen some of the more 'risque' movies turn up anyhwere. Also as far as documentaries, I would love to see that interview with Malcolm X and Mike Wallace aired again. Another I am waiting to see is 'I Remember Harlem'. Why are these better documentaries being held back, and we keep getting subjected to the more menial 'B' movies and Hollywood 'their way' view of what Black History month is?

SD, what movies would you like to see and what documentaries that havent been shown in a while?

...and you know what?...hip me to what is available on vhs or dvd! (Stuff that is more obscure, I have MUCH common Blaxplotation movies) Im hunting for great documentaries.

Another question SD - Do you think Melvin Van Peebles was indirectly responsible for the start of the Blaxplotation era with his 'Sweet Sweet Back' offering?

By Tony Russi (65.83.152.88) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:22 pm:

Two of my favorite movies are:"Sounder" Paul Winfield and Cecily Tyson & "Lady Sings The Blues" Diana Ross...I wish those would come out on DVD.

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:30 pm:

Showtime has the Black Filmmakers Festival and shows some of those films on that channel

By Vonnie (151.205.105.217) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:40 pm:

One of my favorite films was "Brother From Another Planet".

Vonnie

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:43 pm:

I know the popular theory is that "Sweet Sweet Back" started the "blaxploitation" thing.....and that has some validity......but I still think "Shaft" is what made it a viable option for major studios. And having seen "Sweet Sweet Back," it didn't inspire much in me except boredom.......great music not withstanding.

You could almost go back to the "In The Heat of the Night" film from 1967 (this is on DVD, BTW)....and the rest of the "Mr. Tibbs" series.... as the true beginning in some ways....

DivaNaye.....they've actually been doing a great job of getting blaxploitation stuff on DVD. Most of the Pam Grier material is available....all three Shaft films were put out by Warner Brothers....."Across 110th Street" is avalable.....the two "Blacula" films were just released.....so was "Superfly"....."Cornbread, Earl and Me" is out there....all three of the Cosby/Portier films are available now...

Many of these carry the label "Soul Cinema" at the top....and I think MGM is the studio putting that series out. I hope there all anamorphic/enhanced for 16x9 discs, too....but I'm not sure.

Tony...."Sounder" is a good one....Eventually it and "Lady Sings The Blues" will make it to DVD, I'm sure.

Some of the stuff they DO have available on DVD....and then some of the stuff they DON'T have on DVD....boggles the mind, though.

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:57 pm:

I just bought as restored version of "The Emperor Jones" starring Paul Robeson on DVD and the quality is quite good for a film made in 1933. Many of the Soul Cinema DVDs are letterboxed.

By Reese (12.15.168.165) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 02:13 pm:

Just recently, the Sidney Poitier/Bill Cosby films UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT, LET'S DO IT AGAIN, and UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT were released on dvd. Also released is a Sidney Potier boxed set containing,among other films, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT and FOR LOVE OF IVY.

By thesoulfulone (63.159.208.48) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

Great thread! The other day while in Walgreen's (can you believe it) I was bored and decided to see what they had on the dvd rack. I found some classic b&w's with Lena Horne ($3.99). The quality is surprisingly excellent. It seems that what's aired, with each passing year is getting dimmer and dimmer. To me, the airwaves should be flooded with "Eyes On The Prize" - "Cabin in the Sky" - documentaries of every African American of significance...

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 03:00 pm:

Thanks SOULFULONE:

Walgreens got the HOOK UP! I found the 'Get Christie Love' series there! Talk about happy?!
:-)

DyvaNaye

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 03:21 pm:

Galactus :-)

Truthfully speaking, the only thing I understood about Sweet Sweetback when I first saw it was that he ran alot through the whole movie and the closing staemetn of the movie...'Dedicated to the Brothers and Sisters who are tired of being controlled by the man...' (or there abouts)...
But when I went to college I had a African American studies professor who analyzed this movie and 'broke down the science' to us...the socio-politcal, economical, gender-role identification, sexual prowness, etc, etc. aspects of the movie...then from that frame point I began to re-view it and say...'ohhhh'...lol...it actually is a masterpiece.

Peace and thanks for your input,
DyvaNaye

By thesoulfulone (63.159.208.48) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 03:22 pm:

Here's a link to the PBS schedule for this month
http://www.thirteen.org/homepage/promos/umoja.html

Dyva...you know I'm heading back over there!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.10) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 03:45 pm:

I saw an excellent documentary on James Brown last month in the UK.

It showed him touring his old haunts in Augusta GA.

Another good one was Isaac Hayes in the Deep South checking out his roots.

Also "Sweet Home Chicago" discussed Black migration to Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes.

Hope you get the chance to see these.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 03:56 pm:

Yeah, Dyva....

I think it's kinda like avant garde jazz......It doesn't make much sense unless you study it and if you have an understanding of what the musicians are trying to accomplish.

Still, that doesn't necessarily make it entertaining and enjoyable. But I do understand the significance of the film......The making of a film like that HAD to happen at that time......

BTW....I have all three Shaft films.....all are great prints of the films and are in anamorphic widescreen.....and each can be had for under $10....so it's a good deal. I really reccommend them......

By DyvaNaye (205.188.209.141) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 08:46 pm:

David Meikle:

Thank You sir. I saw the JB one...got that on tape. The Issac Hayes one is a must! Thanks for the tip.

GALACTUS: I still have trouble with 'avant garde jazz....lol....haven't gotten to a class about that yet...lol...Before 'the Wiz' went out of business here, I was able to get those SHAFT movies. What I would love to get my hands on is 'Five On the Black Hand Side and 'N' Charlie. The more obscure movies will have me 'globetrotting' unless some one hips me to some internet sites or stores in the Tri-Sate area and NC and FL the staes I frequent the most.

DyvaNaye

By Wonder B (80.15.154.158) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 05:30 am:

Dyvanaye, two of the films you mention have been issued on DVD, Sweet Sweetback and Petey Wheatstraw...
In fact I already own a whopping 69 movies in the genre and I don't have all that has already been released...!
I am not even talking about the great movies from before the 70's of which I already own quite a few, including (as above mentioned) fantastic fims like Cabin In The Sky, Stormy Weather, Hi-De-Hi-De-Ho, The Duke is Tops (with Lena Horne),New Orleans (L.Armstrong & Billie Holiday) and many more...
In fact I am going to post below the blaxploitation movies I already have so you can figure out by yourself the wealth of stuff available... (although some of them are not easy to find in your local store, but if you need info I will gladly try to help you out)

A Piece of the action (Sidney Poitier Bill Cosby James Earl Jones Denise Nicholas)
Abby
Across 110th Street (Anthony Quinn Yaphet Kotto Tony Franciosa)
BaadAsssss cinema (Docu sur les films blax)
Big doll house (Pam Grier)
Black belt Jones 2 Tattoo connection (Jim Kelly Bolo Yeung)
Black Caesar (Fred Williamson Gloria Hendry D'Urville Martin Minnie Gentry)
Black Cobra II
Black Fist (Richard Lawson)
Black Gestapo (Charles Robinson Rod Perry)
Black Gunn (Jim Brown Brenda Sykes Vida Blue)
Black Heat (Tim Brown Russ Tamblyn)
Black Mama White Mama (Pam Grier)
Black Samurai (Jim Kelly Marilyn Joy)
Black Six
Blackenstein John Hart Ivory Stone Roosevelt Jackson Liz Reany)
Blacula (William Marshall Vonetta McGhee Denise Nicholas Thalmus Rasulala)
Box Set What It Is What It Was (Mean Johnny Barrows,Lady Cocoa,Black Fist, Black Six tec)
Bucktown (Fred Williamson Pam Grier Thalmus Rasulala)
Car wash (Richard Pryor Antonio Fargas Pointer Sisters Bill Duke Franklin Ajaye)
Cleopatra Jones (Tamara Dobson Shelley Winters Bernie Casey Brenda Sykes)
Coffy (Pam Grier Booker Bradshaw Robert Doqui William Elliott Alan Arbus)
Cooley High (Glynn Turman Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Garrett Morris Cynthia Davis)
Cornbread, Earl & Me (Moses Gunn Rosalind Cash Bernie Casey Madge Sinclair L.Fishburne)
Cotton comes to Harlem (Godfrey Cambridge Raymond StJacques Redd Foxx)
Death Journey (Fred Williamson)
Detroit 9000 (Alex Rocco Hari Rhodes Vonetta McGee Ella Edwards)
Dolemite (Rudy Ray Moore)
Dolemite Disco Godfather (Rudy Ray Moore Carol Speed)
Dolemite The Human tornado (Rudy Ray Moore Lady Reed)
Dolemite The human tornado (Rudy Ray Moore)
Dynamite Brothers (Alan Tang, Timothy Brown�)
Ebony, Ivory & Jade (Rosanne Keaton Colleen Camp Sylvia Anderson)
Final Comedown (Billy Dee Williams d'Urville Martin)
Five on the black hand side (Clarice Taylor Virginia Capers Glynn Turman D'Urville Martin)
Foxy Brown (Pam Grier Peter Brown Terry Carter)
Friday Foster (Pam Grier Yaphet Kotto Ted Lange Eartha Kitt)
Ganja & Hess (Marlene Clark)
Get Christie Love! (Teresa Graves Harry Guardino Louise Sorel Paul Stevens)
Hammer (Fred Williamson Vonetta McGhee Bernie Hamilton)
Heavy Traffic (Ralph Bakshi)
Hell up in Harlem (Fred Williamson Gloria Hendry D'Urville Martin Margaret Avery)
JD's Revenge (Glynn Turman Lou Gosett Joan Prince)
Lady Cocoa (Lola Falana Gene Washington Mean Joe Greene)
Let's Do It Again (Sidney Poitier Bill Cosby John Amos Calvin Lockhart)
Mean Johnny Barrows (Fred Williamson Stuart Whitman Elliott Gould Roddy McDowall)
Mean Mother (Clifton Brown)
Monkey Hustle (Rudy Ray Moore Rosalind Cash Yaphet Kotto)
Paper : Incriminating Evidence
Petey Wheatstraw The devil's son-in-law (Rudy Ray Moore)
Scream Blacula Scream (William Marshall Pam Grier Michael Conrad)
Shaft (Richard Roundtree Moses Gunn)
Shaft in Africa (Richard Roundtree Vonetta McGee)
Shaft's Big score (Richard Roundtree Moses Gunn)
Sheba Baby (Pam Grier D'Urville Martin)
Slaughter (Jim Brown Stella Stevens Rip Torn Don Gordon Cameron Mitchell)
Slaughter's Big rip-off (Jim Brown Ed McMahon Gloria Hendry Brock Peters)
Sugar Hill (Marki Bey Betty Ann Rees Zara Cully)
Superfly (Ron O'Neal Carl Lee Sheila Frazier)
The Arena (Pam Grier)
The Black Godfather (Rod Perry Demu King Duncan McLeod Diane Sommerfield)
The Education of Sonny Carson (Ronny Clanton Don Gordon Paul Benjamin)
The last dragon (Taimak Vanity Julius Carry)
The thing with two heads (Ray Milland Rosey Grier Kathy Bauman Chelsea Brown)
TNT Jackson (Jeanne Bell Stan Shaw Pat Anderson)
Train ride to Hollywood (Bloodstone Roberta Collins)
Truck Turner (Isaac Hayes Yaphet Kotto Alan Weeks Nichelle Nichols)
Uptown Saturday Night (Sidney Poitier Harry Belafonte Bill Cosby Paula Kelly)
Velvet Smooth
Which way is up? (Richard Pryor Lonette McKee Margaret Avery)

Talk about a loooooong list... there are still some movies which shouldn't be left aside, and which I hope will be on the future release plans of the movie industry... Stuff like Sweet Jesus Preacher Man, Hot Potato, Aaron Loves Angela, Bare Knuckles, Black Shampoo, Brother On The Run, Candy Tangerine Man, Cleopatra Jones and The Casino of Gold, Cool Breeze, Darktown Strutters, Gordon's War, Hit Man, Melinda, Run Nigger Run (with the Checkmates), Savage!, That Man Bolt, Three The Hard Way, Three Tough Guys, Trouble Man, Willie Dynamite...

Wonder B

By Reese (12.15.168.165) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 10:33 am:

If this posts twice, forgive me.

In Harlem, there is a store that sells rare video. I can't remember the name, but it is located on 125th Street, right next to the Apollo Theatre. I go there every time I'm in NY, and pick up some things. Granted, these are copies. But the prices were reasonable and the quality ok. Be forewarned; even though there is a VISA sign in the door, they don't accept it. I had to run up the street to an ATM to get cash.

Some of the video I bought there include:
AARON LOVES ANGELA
ABBY
PORGY AND BESS (Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier)

plus a Phyllis Hyman special from Japan, and some comedy specials.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 10:53 am:

This is one of the most informative threads I've seen in a while. Thanks Dyva Naye for bringing this up.

To answer your question regarding the birth of "Blaxploitation" I do give Melvin props for making "Sweet Sweetback" with his own money, which means he had control of everything from the story to the soundtrack. If it did anything, it proved to the "majors" that there is an audience for movies such as "Sweetback". As Samuel Jackson said in Playboy magazine years ago, the goal of a film is to "put butts in the seats" of theaters. That's what "Sweetback" did in essence.

I would like to bring up the subject of the movie soundtrack - which plays a vital role in the storytelling of a movie. What was great during the early-mid 1970s was to hear several R&B/soul/jazz artists record and even compose music for these films. Besides Quincy Jones, who along with Ben Webster helped kick the door down for Blacks to record soundtracks, there were indeed many -
Curtis Mayfield (Superfly, Claudine, Short Eyes, Sparkle, Let's Do It Again)
Isaac Hayes (Shaft, Three Tough Guys, Truck Turner, The Men)
Impressions (Three The Hard Way)
Earth Wind & Fire (Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song, That's The Way Of The World)
Joe Simon (Cleopatra Jones)
Mirettes - formerly the Ikettes (The Lost Man)
James Brown (way too many to mention...)

As folks mentioned the films are finally available on DVD as well as many of these great soundtracks

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.101) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:14 am:

One 70s genre flick that I can't figure out why it has been unavailable on video for so long is "Three the Hard Way". I'm not saying that it's change your life cinema or anything, but it was directed by Gordon "Superfly" Parks Jr, it starred Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, and Jim Kelly, the homicidal maniac white-supremacist villain was played by the guy who was "Dr. Shrinker" on the old Sid & Marty Krofft Saturday morning kids show, and it had perhaps the ultimate paranoid plot in the blaxploitation genre (white supremacist attempts genocide by dumping a poison deadly only to the black population into the water supply of major cities - Brown, Williamson, & Kelly team up to foil his plan and kick the crap out of him and all of his henchmen)

It has been well over a decade since this film was even available for purchase on VHS.

Regards,
Ken

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:36 am:

Wonder B you are the MAN right now!!!

Dagggggggg!!! Remember 'DYNOMITE BROTHERS?!"
What a flashback!!!

Thank you for the list. I shall use it accordingly!

DyvaNaye

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:39 am:

Kev Go -

Your welcome! I had a need to know :-)
...and thanks for your input and info as well!

DyvaNaye

By Moanman (24.44.218.110) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 12:08 pm:

Here Are 10 Films I�d Watch Again and Again�


Lady Sings The Blues- Diana Ross triumphed in a story that was gripping, beautiful, electric and sad, even if it was thick with inaccurate information.

Cooley High- a fun roller coaster ride with hilarious highs, serious drama and a heartbreaking end. Eric Monty�s story touched many of us because it felt so real.

Nothing But a Man- Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln were astonishing in a gripping slice-of-life drama that dared to tell the truth about racial assumptions, and their bitter aftermath.

Sparkle- Curtis Mayfield�s soundtrack served to perfectly compliment the story of young Black sisters seeking fame and fortune, only to find all that glitters ain�t gold.

The Color Purple- Spielberg vividly brought Alice Walker�s prose novel to life, with many sensitive performances by the women (Goldberg, Winfrey, Avery), and a gruff unyielding portrait of a particularly warped Black man rendered by Danny Glover.

Aaron Loves Angela- Kevin Hooks and a young nubile Irene Cara in a inner city Romeo and Juliet piece that showed that teenage love is no less intense, passionate, or heart-stirring in its consequences.

A Solider�s Story- excellent production of the Broadway play, about a murder on a Black army base, given extra wattage by the powerful presences of Denzel, Adolph Caesar, Larry Riley, Robert Townsend, and Howard Rollins Jr.

Sounder- touching story about family and honor in the depression-era south, given grit and grace by Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks and Taj Mahal.

Uptown Saturday Night- a good time caper flick infused with ghetto humor and juice provided by Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier and a host of hilarious others.

Melinda: starring Vonetta McGee & Calvin Lockhart, was an intelligent film, sensuous with a mysterious vibe. It was a thinking person's drama, in a time when Black exploitation ran high.


One.

MM

By Eli (68.163.62.8) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 12:52 pm:

Moan,
EXCELLENT picks, my friend. Just superb!

By Moanman (24.44.218.110) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 01:16 pm:

Thanks Mr. E.

I love good films. One correction: Denzel wasn't in the movie. He was in the Broadway production. My bad.

Another noteworthy film: "Glory"

One.
MM

By STUBASS (206.135.204.254) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 01:19 pm:

TIT FOR TAT???...
ONE OF THE CABLE NETWORKS HAD PLANNED TO RUN A "ROOTS" MARATHON!!!...THE HALEY FAMILY NIXED THE DEAL...BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THE ACCLAIMED FILM RUN IN MARATHON FASHION!!!...SINCE THEY COULDN'T GET "ROOTS"...THAT SAME NETWORK IS NOW GOING TO RUN A "GILLIGANS ISLAND" MARATHON IN THAT SAME ALLOTED TIME!!!...STUBASS

By E (68.163.62.8) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 02:06 pm:

In no particular order:

Putney Swope
Mandingo
Raisin in the sun
She's gota have it
Malcolm X
Do the right thing
Mo better blues
Jungle fever
Porgy and Bess
Bravo documentory on Jimmy Scott
Madame CJ Walker Story
Bio of Prof. Thomas A. Dorsey
Glory

By LadyMystique (209.74.29.241) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 02:29 pm:

I LOVE the SHAFT trilogy and I would love to see MAHOGANY & LADY SINGS THE BLUES again. And I am a fan of the Pam Grier movies...she just kicked AZZ in those movies! To me, she played strong characters that took no nonsense!

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 02:31 pm:

hmmmmmmmm STUBASS....that's all we need...a GILLIGAN rerun...:-(

By Moanman (24.44.218.110) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

Mr E.,

Very good call on "A Raisin in the Sun", Pa! Probably Mr. Poitier's most definitive work. Ms. Hansberry words were so eloquent spoken by him, Miss Ruby Dee (a neighbor of sorts), Diana Sands, Claudia MacNeil & dem. Stellar play, & a wonderful timeless film! Bravo!

One.

MM

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 02:46 pm:

Great collection, Wonder B!

Dyva and others......most of these DVDs can be found online if you can't get them in stores. My main resource is DVDEmpire.com.....but there are others.....Best Buy carries a lot of the "Soul Cinema" series, too. In a couple of weeks, I'm going to order both Blacula movies, since I'm a big collector of sci-fi and horror.

By nikki (65.206.46.218) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 03:42 pm:

A Raisin in the Sun and Cabin in the Sky are by far two of my favorites for sure! One that I watch over and over and over is (as mentioned), The Color Purple. An absolutely flawless screenplay with a flawless cast, one that I have seen at least a half dozen times, and never tire of! Another movie, also totally flawless, and not yet mentioned here, is Blind Faith. It came out in 1998 and stars Charles Dutton, Courtney Vance, and Kadeem Hardison. They play 3 brothers (one a NYC cop, one an attorney, one a struggling jazz musician), each with a different lifestyle. The lawyer/brother has to defend his black nephew (son of his police officer brother) who is accused of strangling a white boy to death! The interaction of the three brothers, all coming with their own views of society, is something not to be missed! Probably one of the finest flix I've seen in dozens of years. I found it on VHS (have no clue if it's out on DVD), by accident, in a VHS cut-out bin last year, and was extremely glad I found this. I think many of you here would find this movie well worth viewing.
Nikki

By b.soul (64.12.97.7) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 08:20 pm:

when is Come Back Charleston Blues coming out on DVD?

By Wonder B (81.49.139.167) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 08:52 pm:

Come Back Charleston Blue is not yet scheduled for DVD release... imagine that Superfly only came out last month... when many others were already available...

THe next one to come out is The Spook Who Sat By THe Door... scheduled these days...

If you want to buy some of this stuff I think you should check www.dvdplanet.com (they take 30% off the list price -any DVD-... not a bad deal, and they have the greatest selection) but titles like Abby or Ganja & Hess for example have to be ordered from independent sites as they are not sold in regular stores...

Wonder B

By Larry (69.3.132.130) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:10 pm:

I'll add "A Patch of Blue".

Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Hartman, Shelley Winters (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting), & Ivan Dixon (Hogan's Heroes).

Googled to TCM who's playing it this month:
12485%2C00.html,http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/ThisMonth/Article/0,,12485,00.html

By Edgar (200.46.13.199) on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 10:36 am:

Most have already been listed...!
Here are a few more:
Four Little Girls
Get On the Bus
Bamboozled
Ganja and Hess
Hoop Dreams
To Sleep With Anger (by genius Charles Burnett)
Killer of Sheep (Burnett)
My Brother's Wedding (Burnett)
Save the Children
Wattstax
Carmen Jones (love Dorothy Dandridge!)
Island in the Sun (Hollywood pastiche, but Harry Belafonte romances Joan Fontaine -who looks like his old aunt- and he even sings as a leader)
Straight Out from Brooklyn
Clarence and Angel
House Party
One False Move
Juice
Poetic Justice
I Like It Like That
Two very good Robert Altman movies with African-American lead characters: Cookie's Fortune, Kansas City.

By Soul Sister (65.43.231.207) on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 10:52 am:

soulful one;
Thanks for the 411.
Iam not pleased with the documentry on Jimmy tho (chuckle). The Bravo Profiles Jazz Masters did a better, truer, fuller documentry on Jimmy.
Thanks,
Soul Sister back in the house! (smile)

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.151) on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

I'm not sure who's up for a discussion, but I would like to propose there are two genres being cited in this thread which are different in my opinion.There are movies that look at race relations or feature at least a few black cast members including the protagonist's role. Then there's so-called Blaxploitation which is more often than not characterized as cheaply and hastily assembled movies with, um, less than the most imaginative storylines. I think "In The Heat Of The Night", for instance, belongs in the first category. I think "Hell Up In Harlem" belongs in the Blaxploitation category. Anyone with me here? Or disagree?
More examples-
The Harder They Come- low budget movie I would not consider Blaxploiation.
That's The Way Of The World- Not Blaxploitation
Blue Collar- low budget movie I would not consider Blaxploitation.
Sweetback- The grand daddy of Blaxploitation.
Avenging Disco Godfather- Blaxploitation.

Movies I'm not sure about-
Detroit 9000- Strikes me as a low budget integrated action flick, after all the leading role cop is a sympathetic white character...

A few more but I'll stop and instead recommend what I think is a non-blaxploitation film that's really good-
"Fresh" with Samuel Jackson and Giancarlo Esposito (sp?!).

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 09:57 pm:

Check out "Imitation of life". A must see.

By TD (67.20.49.159) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 01:13 pm:

I loved Cooley High-great Motown sound track and excellent ending with It's So Hard To Say Goodbye.
Of course Do The Right Thing,Boys in The Hood, Malcome X,Shaft, Hollywood Shuffle,and Glory rank right up there.

TD

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 02:02 pm:

Has anyone every seen the 1971 concert film "Soul To Soul"? It features Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack, Santana and Les McCann performing in Ghana! I've been wanting to see this film for YEARS! I heard sometime last year that it was going to be released on DVD but it's not yet. What's the holdup? And while they're at it they need to go ahead and release "Wattstax" too! That's another concert film I'd like to see. That one has The Staple Singers, Johnny Taylor, Albert King, Isaac Hayes, Richard Pryor, Kim Weston and a lot others in it. WHEN AM I FINALLY GOING TO SEE THESE MOVIES? Have any of you guys seen them?

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 06:45 pm:

Vonnie - I absolutely love "Brother From Another Planet"! It's on my top 5 movies of all time. I always smile whenever I see Joe Morton in another role & I just think to myself "It's the brother". The movie proves that you don't need a huge budget to make a great movie.
-Steve

By The Count (69.14.221.241) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 07:05 pm:

HEY ROD, the "soul to soul" dvd/video has been out awhile now. If it is the one your asking about,mine was directed by DENNIS SANDERS and flimed in 1971? I think EDDIE HARRIS is also featured in this film.Funny how i never orderd it but it kame to me via The Video Beat as a free video when i ordered 3hree dvds late 2002 or early 2003.Anyhow,check with them.I order from them frequently and they are a well stocked and reputable kompany.I have at lease 80 of their vid's and some dvds.
"COUNT"

By Greg C. (165.247.26.77) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 08:44 pm:

I picked up "The Spook Who Sat By The Door" today on DVD which has just been released. It has been restored and it looks great. I cannot recommend a more powerful film to view. It speaks volumes...

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 08:52 pm:

Hey Count! That's the movie I want! I've searched The Video Beat website for almost an hour and came up empty handed. The search engine at that site sucks. Maybe you can point out where it as on the site? Thanks.

Rod

By Juicefree20 (151.205.112.79) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:47 am:

One movie that I would love to see released on DVD is "The Five Heartbeats". I had a problem with some of the accuracy of the movie (The Delfonics',Ready Or Not being played in 1965 as one example). I would like for them to issue a "Deluxe" DVD with the deleted scenes. I know that there were budget problems with the movie. Still, the pacing & events of the movie gives me the impression that something was edited out. Like the affair between J.T. & Tanya Sawyer (Duck's fiancee). That came from way out of left field, there was no set-up to that at all. And, what happened to Bobby? There were a few things in the movie that you had to deduce for yourself. Like Sarge smoking in the hospital & coughing. We deduce that he died, but what was his involvement with the group after Jimmy died? From what I've read, It seems as though the "Big Red" character was modeled after Don Robey of Duke Records. I would love to see this movie before the editing. Robert Townsend, if you're out there reading, perhaps you can do this.
By the way, Kev-G0, or anyone else, has anyone seen a copy of Sig Shore's "That's The Way Of The World" that featured Earth, Wind & Fire? I read that it was retitled "Shining Star" after that record took off. Either way, I've never seen it anywhere, has anyone out here?

By Wonder B (81.50.20.21) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 06:54 am:

Juicefree20 THE FIVE HEARTBEATS have been released on DVD... Check this :
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005RYOQ/qid%3D1076323946/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-2618109-7944135

And Rodmann, Wattstax was scheduled for a release in January but it has been postponed. It will be issued soon as a deluxe edition with the whole concert including some scenes that were not in the original Theatrical release (or so I was told by someone in the knowhow...)

As far as the Soul To Soul concert is concerned I have to admit I am a bit puzzled because I (too) want to see this one released but I have never seen it anywhere and the biggest DVD stores on the net cannot give any info on the subject...
SO I'd really like to know if The Count really has that same concert we're talking about.. I do have the original vinyl LP of the show...
Count, if you can, post the URL to a page where we can see that DVD...

Wonder B

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 10:57 am:

I saw SOUL TO SOUL when it was originally released back in the early 70s. I was only four at the time, but I can still remember how much I was dazzled by Tina Turner. For years, I fondly remembered her and Ike's performance of I SMELL TROUBLE.

Later on, CBS acquired television rights to it, and showed it a couple of times. It was subsequently released on home video in the 80s by Atlantic Home Video. I gather it is out of print now, as I haven't seen it for years.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 12:12 pm:

I'd really like to see another concert movie, too.....called "Save the Children".....looks like it has a great lineup, but I've never seen it and never have been able to track it down. Anyone know about this? I think it came out around 1972 or '73.

I agree with Erik that "The Harder They Come" is NOT blaxploitation. It's not even "African American". That's a JAMAICAN made film, starring Jimmy Cliff, that kick-started reggae music to international fame.

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.110.49) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 12:33 pm:

I saw the movie "The Harder They Come" in Detroit when it first came to this area.At first the Jamaican accent was impossible to understand(thank God for sub-titles)but about halfway through, all of a sudden everyone realized that they were speaking perfectly correct english as we started to read the sub-titles less and less.
The part that everyone loved was when that older guy lit up that HUGE spliff(joint) that looked like a cigar and his cheeks would expand and contract like Dizzy Gilespes cheeks.LOL
It's still one of my favorite films alomg with "Pink Flamingos"my favorite gross out movie.
These films are best seen in a crowded theater for best effect.

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 12:53 pm:

Galactus,

the film SAVE THE CHILDREN was filmed at one of those big concerts that Jesse Jackson's Operation Push used to put on in Chicago.

I saw the film when it was released, and hope that it hits home video soon. The lineup included Jerry Butler, the Staple Singers, Zulema, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Tempts, the O'Jays, Nancy Wilson, and many others. The soundtrack came out on Motown.

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

Black Starz this month is running a really good documentary, "Sisters In Cinema." It documents the trials and tribulations of Black female directors and it's very insightful. Check it out!

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:00 pm:

GREAT NEWS FOLKS! Last night I found a company that sells Wattstax and Soul To Soul on ONE DVD! I can't believe it! Both Soul To Soul and Wattstax have been restored in the last year but I don't think that those prints are on this DVD. I'm just glad that I'm finally going to see these films after all these years of searching for them! Here's the link to the site:

http://5minutesonline.com/index.htm

Search for Wattstax and you'll find it on sale with Soul To Soul on the same DVD for $20.

Hey Galactus, SAVE THE CHILDREN is another film I've been wanting to see! Hopefully they'll clean that up and release that again too along with IT'S YOUR THING. IT'S YOUR THING was produced by The Isley Brothers in 1970 and features them, Ike & Tina Turner, Edwin Hawkins, Moms Mabley and Johnny Maestro. Has anyone seen or heard about this one?

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:18 pm:

DOUBLE GREAT NEWS -

There will be an expo here in NY on 2/14/04 at the Harlem State Building selling most of these 'lost' or still instock movies!
'Oh how happy this has made me!' ;)

DyvaNaye

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:22 pm:

Good news for you DyvaNaye! I'm all the way in Illinois! Haha!

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:31 pm:

Let me check the flyer...you may can mail order...

DyvaNaye

By janebse (68.63.6.8) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:35 pm:

Read an AP movie report on BARBERSHOP 2 being the #1 movie this past weekend. The writer said that when the first BARBERSHOP was released, the audience was all black at the first showing. He then went on to say it was one-third white for the first showing of BARBERSHOP 2. He credited this to BARBERSHOP 2 being made for a crossover audience. I haven't seen it yet and do not know anything about the plot or anything. But I say his reasoning is faulty and that he is wrong, wrong, wrong. The white audience went because they liked the first BARBERSHOP. It was very good and very enjoyable, excellent entertainment. The first time it was word-of-mouth that spread its excellence. I know the critics liked it, but it's always word-of-mouth that really brings the people out. Now the white audience is remembering how much they enjoyed the first BARBERSHOP and they are going, anticipating that BARBERSHOP 2 will be equally enjoyable. Since I haven't seen it yet, I do not know what it's like, but I do know how many times I saw the first one because I liked it.

By janebse (68.63.6.8) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:35 pm:

Read an AP movie report on BARBERSHOP 2 being the #1 movie this past weekend. The writer said that when the first BARBERSHOP was released, the audience was all black at the first showing. He then went on to say it was one-third white for the first showing of BARBERSHOP 2. He credited this to BARBERSHOP 2 being made for a crossover audience. I haven't seen it yet and do not know anything about the plot or anything. But I say his reasoning is faulty and that he is wrong, wrong, wrong. The white audience went because they liked the first BARBERSHOP. It was very good and very enjoyable, excellent entertainment. The first time it was word-of-mouth that spread its excellence. I know the critics liked it, but it's always word-of-mouth that really brings the people out. Now the white audience is remembering how much they enjoyed the first BARBERSHOP and they are going, anticipating that BARBERSHOP 2 will be equally enjoyable. Since I haven't seen it yet, I do not know what it's like, but I do know how many times I saw the first one because I liked it.

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 04:49 pm:

Thanks DyvaNaye. Will these be DVD's or VCR tapes? Or is this the actual films that's for sale? Please explain. Thanks.

Rod

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 05:11 pm:

Both Rodmann - DVD and VCR...and it is the ACTUAL FILMS.....yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!
I would try to scan the flyer but I might mess around and send it to the Soulful Detriot airport or some thing...
LOL

By The Count (69.14.221.162) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 07:57 pm:

HEY wonder and rod, wish i kould help you,but i see you did some intesive searching and found even more then you bargained for,Great Job.But as i stated above,Soul To Soul kame to me as a free-bee from the video beat as i ordered three videos from them,never even knew there was such a video or dvd of the sort.It kould have been they had a few and were not big sellers and were giving to regular kustomers(as I ) when 3hree or more are ordered and they send you a free-bee of their choice.This is probably why it's not in their katalog.Sorry for the inkonvience,maybe i should scan the one i dont have here in front of me.I would never waste my time or yours by stating i have something that i dont.Bring over a kase of MICHOLOB LIGHT,Some JALAPENO's and we kan enjoy it together here.
"COUNT"

By Juicefree20 (151.205.179.42) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 12:42 am:

Thanks for the info Wonder B. Peace!

By GT (65.42.142.179) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 05:22 pm:

For the person that was asking about the Isley Brothers film "It's Your Thing", I happen to see it about 2 years ago. Unfortunately,I don't believe it will be release on video. I happen to know the guy that purchase the original film. The movie was considered "lost",but somehow this gentleman was able to locate the only available film,before it was going to be destoryed. He sold the film to a person in Japan. If they decide to release it,fine but I doubt it. Nonetheless, it's a great film. A very young Patti Austin appear in the film,as well as the Edwin Hawkin Singers,Moms Mabley and the 5 Stairsteps. Ike and Tina Turner was not in the film. They appeared in the film "Soul to Soul".

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 06:14 pm:

Rodmann:

Took me a minute to get back to the forum but here goes:

The Black History Month 2004 Rare Video/DVD Fair
Art Gallery -2nd Floor
Adam Clayton Powell , Jr State Office Building
163 West 125th Street @7th Ave.
New York, NY 10027
www.aboutharlemmarts.org.
212-749-5298
2/14/04

Now I now you said you are in CHI -TOWN but try the email or calling to see if there is any further contacting these folk about the movies.

I will still try to scan this docuent to this forum (Ye Gads!)

Hope this helps,
DyvaNaye :-)

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 07:55 pm:

Thanks Dyva! I went to the website and saw the list of different films they have. Whew! They got everything. I can't wait! I had to tinker with the address you gave a little bit though. It's really www.aboutharlemarts.org Thanks for letting me know about it. They even have SOUL TO SOUL listed as one of the films!

Hey GT! Why was IT'S YOUR THING going to be destroyed? And everything I've seen about this film has had Ike & Tina Turner in the credits. If I'm not mistaken I think I remember seeing the movie poster with Tina Turner on it.

I can't wait until my DVD with WATTSTAX and SOUL TO SOUL arrives from the company I posted above. I'll let you guys know how I like it after I get them.

Rod

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.147) on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 03:30 pm:

Hi GT, that Isleys movie sounds like a double lp of theirs (with 5 Stairsteps & others)- "Live At Yankee Stadium"... which reminded me of one concert movie I'd sure like to see, the Fania records produced concert at Yankee Stadium with Ray Barretto & others. Now, speaking of Fania, does anyone know if the movie "Our Latin Thing" has ever been released on video? It's one of several movie soundtracks I have which makes me curious about the movie... like The Lost Man, Uptight, the Together Brothers. To the person waayy back up this thread wandering about Isaac Hayes' 2 movies "Tough Guys" and "Truck Turner", they are out on video. How about Three The Hard Way with its soundtrack by the Impressions- is that on video?

By Rasputin (68.42.95.82) on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 09:45 pm:

Has anybody checked out (or purchased) Moms Mabley's last movie .... "Amazin' Grace"? Mewonders why it has NEVER been shown on network or cable TV??? Mayhaps it's too political ....

From the days .... "Dirty Gertie from Harlem."

me 2 cents worth ....

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 12:40 pm:

Rasputin-
This is one of the dvd's I plan to pick up tomorrow at the fair in NYC. I hae never seen ANYTHING by MOMS on TV except one time when she came on MIKE DOUGLAS or one of those shows way back when...

By Reese (204.152.13.133) on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 01:34 pm:

Moms Mabley's film AMAZING GRACE is shown quite often on cable, usually on the Black Starz cable channel. However, be aware that there is another film with the same title. And sometimes the cable guides mix them up.

By LadyMystique (216.37.227.28) on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 08:59 pm:

Reese-you are talking about AMAZING GRACE AND CHUCK. BTW, AMAZING GRACE is a nice movie...Moms Mabley performance was priceless!

By Rodmann (12.221.220.148) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:04 pm:

Hey folks. I finally got my copy of Wattstax/Soul To Soul in the mail! Both films are great. Do yourself a favor, go to the link I posted up above and get yourself copy!

I liked Wattstax a little bit better than Soul To Soul. Wattstax is more of a political film while Soul To Soul only focuses on the music. Just a warning though: If you take offense to the words nigga and niggaz you don't want to watch Wattstax! LOL. Every other word out of everyone's mouth was nigga! Whew! It's a great film though. Kim Weston sings the hell out of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing' at the beginning of the concert. My other favorites were Luther Ingram, Albert King, The Emotions and Little Milton but Rufus Thomas walks away with the whole picture! The live versions of 'The Breakdown' and 'Funky Chicken' are even better than the studio versions. Some of the other performers were Carla Thomas, Mel and Tim, The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes. You'll also be able to spot a young Jesse Jackson as MC and Richard Pryor who narrates the film. This movie is a great slice of Black history!

Soul To Soul is about a concert in Ghana. Some of the performers are Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Les McCann, Roberta Flack, Santana and The Staple Singers. My favorites were Ike & Tina with The Ikettes doing the opening theme song 'Soul To Soul' and Wilson Pickett tearing it up during his spot. Les McCann did some pretty good Jazz too.

Both films are highly recommended folks! The video quality could have been a little better but I was just glad to finally see these movies after all of these years of searching for them.

By Eli (68.236.24.249) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:17 am:

Putney Swope with a young Ronnie Dyson doing a small contribution.

Watermelon Man with Godfrey Cambridge

Carbon Copy-Denzel Washington's first movie role

She's Gotta Have It-The first Spike Lee Joint

By jwlboxbaby (205.188.209.9) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 04:15 pm:

movies to check out- five on the black hand side, thomasina & bushrod and black girl

By Dave Alan (170.20.11.59) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 04:30 pm:

Let me add a few web sites that may be able to fill your void of movies of color.
http://badassmovieimages.com has no videos for sale, but has the largest assortment of stills from just about every classic and hard to find film featuring Blacks.
http://www.pimpadelicwonderland.com has many hard to find Black movies and will transfer them for a fee to DVD's.
Now the documentary series that needs to be shown again is Eyes On The Prize from PBS.

By Juicefree20 (141.149.43.28) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 06:30 pm:

Oh man, Five On The Black Hand Side! I remember seeing that in the movies as a kid. Crazy storyline, but, I loved it. It took me years to find it on video. I remember the rooftop fight between D'Urville Martin (from Nigger Charley) & Glynn Turman...D'Urville: "You gonna drop the stick?" Glynn: "Can a Buffalo skate"? And Janet DuBois, aaah, Janet! MRS BROOKS!!

By dove-7 (24.7.93.239) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 03:35 am:

DyvaNyae,

SweetBack actually was the begining of the 'Blackxplotation'. The Pimp/sex/blackman/The man,Supermachine/brown sugah soul sistah that no man could get enough of, etc. origins started with this movie.

The other movies that the poster posted above that started during the Sidney Portiet days, weren't "Blackxplotation" flicks, because they didn't have that rebellious type style that you/we were so accustom to seein in those Cleopatra Jones, Shaft, Superfly, The Mack etc..Movies. Those movies were about getting even or revenge on the 'white man' or The man. The cops/government.

Overall the movies were suppose to give African Americans and indentity. Although many probably wouldn't indentify this with Ron O'neal's Superfly. But it still was a very powerful movie that for many years was ahead of itself and very controversy.

Sweetback to me was like watching a porn movie. When I saw that movie for the first time some months back, I was like, damn, this is like a xxx movie.


But when I think about it, the 70's in many ways were more raw and candid about what was being displayed and discussed in those movies. Very political times coming off of the heels of the 60's of Vietnam unto the souls of the Nixon era. Alot was going on during those days. And as a kid during those days, I remember some of them.

By ErikT.O. wandering why nobody took up the blaxploitation Vs Black-related cinema notion... (64.228.108.125) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 05:37 pm:

I talked to a friend of mine after Dylan the other night who is working on a dvd re-issue of 'Soul To Soul'!! Sadly, it seems almost all the footage has been lost, I think only 1 extra Ike & Tina track not used in the movie was located, nothing else, which we agreed was most unfortunate. There should be a few interviews to help round out the dvd version, when it comes out.

By Wonder B (217.128.68.124) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 07:15 pm:

Just found out that BAMBOO GODS & IRON MEN was available on DVD...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3394795791&category=617

And the same for THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3395467129&category=617

Wonder B

By Juicefree20 (68.161.48.203) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 09:54 pm:

I wouldn't exactly call them Blaxploitation film, but does anyone remember these: One Potato, Two Potato, starring Bernie Hamilton (SGT in Starsky & Hutch)? I think that Barbara Barrie played the mother. I saw this when I was about 4, so I guess that would've been 1964. It was about a mixed race couple, who had to fight the Ex-husband for custody of their daughter. It was deep for the early 60s. I always remembered the ending, when the court gave custody to the father. The little girl crying through the back window as the car drove away & the mother chasing the car. I didn't fully understand this movie, but I never forgot it. A cable channel replayed it about 5 years ago & I finally got to see it as an adult & tape it.

My Sweet Charlie starring Al Freeman Jr & Patty Duke. I was about 9 when this was televised. I remember being very angry about this one, very angry. I haven't seen it televised in over 25 years. They don't seem to want to remember this one.

J.T. starring Kevin Hooks. I haven't seen this one in awhile either.

Anyone remember these, or, have an idea wqhere I can find the last two? Thanks!

Juice

By DyvaNaye (205.188.209.13) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:40 pm:

Juice: Guess what? Email me...and I'll tell ya.:-)

Better than that,Check your email. :-)