Maurie [a.k.a. Big Mo'] (1973)

Starring:

• Bernie Casey 
  
• Bo Svenson 
  
• Janet MacLachlan

Storyline 
When an African-American basketball star, Maurice Stokes (Bernie Casey, Hit Man and Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde) suffers sudden paralysis, his white friend,  Jack Twyman (Bo Svenson) and teammate assists in his rehabilitation. Janet MacLachlan (Uptight and Sounder) also stars. Based on the true story of Maurice Stokes.

This film straddles the line of Blaxploitation vs. Black Cinema. Interpretation or how one defines is subjective to the individual, but the social context is interesting.

"There’s a massive subtext going on here about white guilt. They are certain to clarify several times that Twyman, “Wasn’t all that good of friends with Maurie.” Of course, they never delve any further into it, and I’m probably just making it up in my head because I’m bitter and can’t understand doing something for anyone." 

-The Beta Max Rundown 

I can see how the author of the article would come to that conclusion, however, one could also see it from the "doing a good deed" standpoint, that Twyman was just helping. Of course, a film being made in the 70s that was practically know for exploitative purposes, it wouldn't be difficult to see how one could associated this film as Blaxploitation.

 

Poor Devil (1973)

Starring:

• Sammy Davis Jr.
• Christopher Lee
• Jack Klugman

Storyline
A bumbling assistant to Satan (Sammy Davis Jr.) hasn't gotten a soul for him for 1400 years. He gets one last chance when he's assigned get the soul of a down and out retail department store accountant (Jack Klugman).

It's easy to see why this was not picked up as a series. The best performance is by Adam West, who gleefully plays the villain.

All that's memorable about this pilot is historical. You see outdoor scenes in San Francisco, and the clothing of the time. In this pilot a character is trying to get in touch with the underworld, and starts to phone the Church of Satan downtown. Satan (a youthful-looking Christopher Lee) uses the upside-down pentagram, with horns on it. The 2 fingered sign of Satan with a twist of the wrist, enables a devil to disappear.

Sammy Davis who plays a devil was for a time a member of the Church of Satan. He socialized with the LaVeys and wore his Church of Satan medallion in public.

Brother On The Run (1973)

Starring:

• Terry Carter
• Gwenn Mitchell 
• Kyle Johnson
• James Sikking
• Byron Morrow
• Diana Eden
• Gary Rist
• John Quade

Storyline
Billy (Kyle Johnson) and his friend rob an electronics store and accidentally shoots the shopkeeper. While fleeing the scene, Billy's friend is shot by the police and the two retreat to Billy's sister's (Gwen Mitchell) apartment and runs into Professor Grant (Terry Carter). With the police in hot pursuit, Billy is the "Brother on the Run."