BLACK CAESAR (1973) & HELL UP IN HARLEM (1973)

BLACK CAESAR:

Fred Williamson stars as Tommy Gibbs in director Larry Cohen's blaxploitation homage to the gangster films of the 40's.

Young Tommy helps a mobster make a hit and earns his respect and a job in the process. Asked to take a package containing cash to a corrupt policeman, he is visciously assaulted when the officer accuses him of stealing some of the money- leaving him with a gimp leg and a lot of pent-up anger.

Years pass and a now grown Gibbs performs a hit and tells the mobster in charge that he wants to run Harlem. With this ever growing power he gradually alienates himself from friends and family who fail to understand that his lust for power comes from suffering a lifetime of injustice. As he rises in the ranks he comes into posession of notebooks with the names of many corrupt, high-ranking city officials, and when it becomes known he has these books- he becomes a target.



HELL UP IN HARLEM:

HUIH picks up immediately after BC with Big Poppa finding Tommy and taking care of his business as Tommy recuperates. When he returns Tommy begins to kill all those who stand in his way while the officials still want those ledgers from the 1st film and attempt to turn some of his own people against him & Big Poppa.


(MORE TO COME)

Just ordered a copy of Black Caesar... Probably gonna end up getting HUIH too.

I love Larry Cohen, so there's no doubt that I'll dig these.

One question: What time period are these films set in? Based on those pictures/posters, they look like the 1930's-40's... is this the case?

BurtonOblivion wrote:

Just ordered a copy of Black Caesar... Probably gonna end up getting HUIH too.

I love Larry Cohen, so there's no doubt that I'll dig these.

One question: What time period are these films set in? Based on those pictures/posters, they look like the 1930's-40's... is this the case?

They take place in the, then modern-day, early 70's with the exception of the flashback early scenes in BC of Tommy G. as a kid. I think those scenes take place in the 50's.

It's no accident that the films (esp. BC) resemble the 40'S Warner Bros. gangster flicks, as the similarities are a conscious homage by Cohen.

You'll love Cohen's commentaries.

Watched BLACK CAESAR last night. I enjoy it a fair amount (probably like... 3.75/5 ) but didn't really find it to be engaging or exciting for the first... 45 minutes or so. Whether this is my own fault, or the film's I'm not sure. That said everything after a certain major event a little over an hour into the film was awesome! The music is not only great on its own, but is used to wonderful effect, almost in a narrative way. Fred Williamson is also a total badass.

My only real complaint (again, this is probably just me) is that the film thinks too highly of itself or something. The drama is taken too seriously for what we actually get. The film could have been really fun, if it had just allowed itself to be so.

I can't wait, however, to dig into HELL UP IN HARLEM either tonight or tomorrow.

Really need to see these. Unfortunatly Hell Up In Harlem isn't available here.

Colonel Mortimer wrote:

Really need to see these. Unfortunatly Hell Up In Harlem isn't available here.

It's pretty cheap here. May be worth importing.

BurtonOblivion wrote:

Watched BLACK CAESAR last night. I enjoy it a fair amount (probably like... 3.75/5 ) but didn't really find it to be engaging or exciting for the first... 45 minutes or so. Whether this is my own fault, or the film's I'm not sure. That said everything after a certain major event a little over an hour into the film was awesome! The music is not only great on its own, but is used to wonderful effect, almost in a narrative way. Fred Williamson is also a total badass.

My only real complaint (again, this is probably just me) is that the film thinks too highly of itself or something. The drama is taken too seriously for what we actually get. The film could have been really fun, if it had just allowed itself to be so.

I can't wait, however, to dig into HELL UP IN HARLEM either tonight or tomorrow.

3.75 is a fair assessment. I'd give it around an 8.75/10 myself, but I've seen it quite a few times now,and seem to enjoy it more each time.

The early story stuff doesn't bug me, it's just necessary setup for when things kick in.

If you think of it in movie terms, it does take itself seriously, but if you accept it's version of reality, it takes itself just seriously enough. I like it because it has the nuts not to be too tongue-in-cheek or over fill itself with quaint jive-talk. That's fine for some flicks, but I think BC works better without the overabundance of stereotypical genre trappings and makes good use of the ones it does have.

But anyway...Glad you liked it as much as you did on 1st watch - it does hold up to multiple viewings. HUIH is fun too with more action, expansion of the story and some of the loose ends getting tied up.

IFC had some kind blaxploitation marathon and this was part of it.

Missed it though, since the stupid comcast box was messed up.

Did they specifically mention why he was in jail? I know they say something about it shortly after the racist cop beats him down.

Anyhow... i thought it was put together pretty well. Good simplistic story. Good Action. The entire chase scene at the end was very well done and the ending itself is classic. I can't go without mentioning the music, which blended perfectly in the movie. I'd probably give it around an 8/10 but I want to buy this along with the sequel.

I saw my first blaxploitation film Hell Up In Harlem. I thought it was good i can't seem to find that much of blackploitation films around where i live.

Hairy Merkin wrote:

I saw my first blaxploitation film Hell Up In Harlem. I thought it was good i can't seem to find that much of blackploitation films around where i live.

On the bright side, you can usually order most of them for fairly cheap!

Being my first foray into the awesomness that is fred williamson i thought this movie was superb great soundtrack coupled with a good story and some great action scenes. I give it a 8.5/10