ill Doctrine is a hip-hop video blog hosted by Jay Smooth, creator of the hip hop music blog and founder of New York's longest running hip-hop radio show, WBAI's Underground Railroad.
These are all movies that I own and highly recommend. And not in an ironic way!
The Spook Who Sat By The Door
Great movie and great soundtrack by Herbie Hancock. Directed by Ivan Dixon a.k.a. the Black guy from "Hogan's Heroes."
The Thing With Two Heads
There are no words to describe the transcendent genius of this film.
Black Caesar
Very cool movie that also has a fascinating DVD commentary from the director Larry Cohen (as does its sequel, "Hell Up In Harlem"). Lots of insight into what "blaxpoitation" era filmmaking was really like behind the scenes.
Truck Turner
Surprisingly Isaac Hayes' only starring role from this era, also featuring extremely badass turns from Yaphet Kotto and Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from Star Trek).
Scream Blacula Scream
The sequel to Blacula which steps it up by adding Pam Grier in the mix. Starring Shakespearean stage actor William Marshall, later known as King of Cartoons on "Peewee's Playhouse."
Coffy
Pam Grier's breakthrough starring role in '73.. this DVD also has a nice director's commentary from Jack Hill.
Putney Swope Trailer not embeddable
Umm ok, this trailer makes no damn sense. And the movie also makes no damn sense. But I promise it's worth tracking down. Classic late 60's freakout about a black man who accidentally becomes head of a top white ad agency. Directed by Robert Downey Sr. (the actor's dad, yes), and featuring one of the first screen appearances by the great Antonio Fargas.
Across 110th Street
Grittiest and least campy movie on the list, arguably best film of the genre. Once again Yaphet Kotto and Antonio Fargas, plus Zorba the Greek and Tony Franciosa. Can't get more gangsta than that.
Abby
Loosely speaking a black version of "The Exorcist," which as the story goes got disappeared by that movie's lawyers right after it came out. A good print is hard to find but it's worth the effort.
Trouble Man
Including this mainly to honor the stellar Marvin Gaye soundtrack, but the movie's decent as well. Also directed by Ivan Dixon. (I think this and "Spook" were the only films he ever directed?)
Honorable Mention: Rockers
Doesn't really fit the theme but I'm throwing it in because it's the coolest movie ever made.
Any others you think should have made the list? (Lots of my favorites just don't seem to have trailers online, like "Watermelon Man," The Last Poets Movie "Right On," "The Final Comedown," "Slaughter's Big Rip-Off," etc.)
Posted by jsmooth995 at August 23, 2007 12:11 AM
Comments
Thanks for putting me up on these J! That "Thing With Two Heads" looks absolutely hilarious! And I love how no matter what sort of exploitative theme the movies take, the main black character is still always a "Soul Brother"! Plus...Pam Grier looks fine as hell!
I'll be sure to try and locate these for my collection - this type of film is very underrepresented - even if I was to own them just for the soundtracks!
Cotton Comes to Harlem and Cleopatra Jones are 2 that I think should have made this list. But I am cutting major slack because you have Coffy on the list my my my a young Pam makes the older one look EVEN better.
I have this documentary on my netflix queue, 'BaadAssss Cinema' that I'm am positive will be great.
Posted by: Belve at August 23, 2007 5:40 AM
How about "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song". I would consider that a classic. Considered by some to be the first Blaxploitation film.
Posted by: Big Fonz at August 23, 2007 11:08 AM
One Word, Jay. Sweetback. One of my favorites from the era.
Posted by: Cynthia at August 23, 2007 12:33 PM
Word, I left out Sweetback cuz I didn't want to do the most most obvious ones, but I probably shouldn't assume that people know it as well as Superfly and and Shaft et al, even though it's the grandaddy of them all.
Posted by: Jay Smooth at August 23, 2007 1:36 PM
hey, what about tony brown's classic "the white girl"?
Posted by: DebbyNYC at August 23, 2007 1:47 PM
Thanks Smooth for the "Putney Swope," might as well mention "Pound;" and a really big thanks for "Trouble Man" as you know the soundtrack features my theme. A big one you need to include is "Wattstax," the original trailer is something you really want to put alongside the rerelease trailer of the film. It definely needs to be in everyones collection. "Malinda" is a black remake of "Laura" and also easily the best women centered film ever made on the Black side. Last question: (along Mama Smooth's thread)Are you still showing "The White Girl" yearly?
Anon.......anthony -
T (from thePatterson's takingthetraintoTibet.)
J, In the future, can you do some musical perspective takes of international hip hop? I surf youtube and found a good Moroccan group but have no idea what they are saying!! The group is called H-Kayne . I have no idea if that is pronounced H kane or h kahnye or ha-kahyne ... but do a search for their videos.
word, I do own Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde and it is online, actually left it off cuz the trailer would require a nudity warning lol.
Putney Swope def. not blaxploitation per se, nor is Across 110th St. arguably, but note I said "70's black movies" not blaxploitation.. (though Putney is also technically from 1969)
Posted by: Ja y Smooth at August 23, 2007 5:52 PM
Nice post. These are way before my time, but I'll definately keep an eye out. This may be a litte too far into the 80's but the movie Crack House , which is about (you guessed it) an LA crackhouse ran by the great Jim Brown, could be the funniest movie I've ever seen. Y'all should definately check it out.
Posted by: james at August 23, 2007 9:19 PM
If you talkin funny 80's black movie's what about "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka? Now that was hilarious.
Posted by: Big Fonz at August 23, 2007 11:41 PM
how about "the education of sonny carson"
i saw another one recently called "sugar hill"
that was pretty entertaining as well...
Five on the Black Hand Side, another worth mentioning....but Troubleman was my shit...nobody messes wit Mr.T. In Truck Turner, Nichelle Nichols is fine as hell(even tho' she was on that bitchass Gator's tip.) Black Sampson was also cool(seems Gloria Hendry was everybody's girl)..and the Black Six (an attempt to get every other black football player in front of the camera)..I remember seeing Thomasine and Bushrod (Max Julien's other movie) in the theatres, but it didn't make my collection. JD's Revenge was another classic(possesion) movie...
Posted by: Asiatic at August 31, 2007 5:21 AM
...damn I forgot to mention...in Truck Turner, Yaphet Kotto had to win the oscar for the best (and longest) on screen death in the muthaf*#kin world!!!!!!!! I would suggest you see how this cat died...also I would put Troubleman in the top 3 because Mr. T took shit from no one...and I mean nobody and the soundtrack is also in the top 3 along with Superfly(that movie w/Curtis on the sounds...I could talk for hours) and Black Ceasar(I wish they had gotten James Brown for Hell Up In Harlem as well)..
Posted by: Asiatic at August 31, 2007 5:32 AM
I'd add "hell up in Harlem", the Mack and of course Rudy Ray Moore's "DOLEMITE!"
Peace and thanks for dropping your knowledge and opinons on the net with this blog!
Posted by: swoop at September 12, 2007 6:06 PM
Love your list But u forgot Black Shampoo,Candy Tangerine Man & The Rudy Ray Moore Movies Dolemite & The Human Tornado
Posted by: kenny at September 25, 2007 8:24 PM
where is cooley high
Posted by: karima at October 8, 2007 9:14 PM
where is cooley high
Posted by: karima at October 8, 2007 9:14 PM
THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY..I have over150 movies from the 70's..and i have the trailers for most of them...peace.
Posted by: mazi at November 13, 2007 10:57 AM
If it's with pam grier or Richard pryor I'll vote then.
Posted by: Tre at January 2, 2008 3:48 PM
You should have put foxy brown on the list Lord know's i love pam grier or you should have put Hit Man on the list but I guess coffy is good enough it was a good movie.(I can't get enough of pam grier Fine self)
I am looking for a movie called emma may. She moves from mississippi to live with her aunt in california.
Posted by: janet webb at January 25, 2008 3:37 PM
wow............love em all
but how can u leave out sparkle,lady sings the blues, mahogany, johnny tough, trick baby, black mama white mama (the shower seens alone are worth it)i could go on and on but how about white trash exploitation films..... looking for mr goodbar, the little girl who lives down the lane...
frickn awesome
Posted by: layzdayz at January 30, 2008 1:48 PM
Somebody tell me if I was dreaming. My mom would take us to the Drive In as kids. Usually by the time the 3rd movie came on we were asleep. I was still up when the last movie came on. The movie was about this brother that was killed by cops or something. But through his vengence he would choke every body with his dick. I know it sounds fucked up but I could swear that I saw this. My gal is gassing me about this it had to be in 1972 0r 1973. Somebody help a brother out.
Posted by: Corliss Banks at February 11, 2008 10:27 PM
Can someone help a Guy out with a film from the 70's, Black film that is.....
All i remember about this film is a Black Man who was raping women, and i remember a court case in this film ( maybe lengthy Court case )
Can't remember the title or shall i say....was too young to know the title...
I need a real film GENIUS to help me on this one ...PLEASES HELP WWW..
