The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
Search DAARAC's Archive

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Gordon's War (1973)


























Starring: 

Storyline
When Army Green Beret Gordon (Paul Winfield) returns from Vietnam to Harlem in the early 1970s, he finds a different kind of war has been waged in his absence. Drug dealers and pimps have invaded his once-peaceful neighborhood, and their victims include his wife, now dead of an overdose. Reassembling his Army unit with fellow soldiers Bee (Carl Lee), Otis (David Downing) and Roy (Tony King), Gordon mounts a full-scale guerrilla war against the criminals and the businessmen behind them.

Link to soundtrack review
Badder Than Evil - Gordon's War's (1973)

Miss Melody Jones (1972)


















Starring:



Storyline
The glitter of tinseltown fades quickly for a young Black woman (Philomena Nowlin) when she finds her path to film stardom littered with sleazy dealmakers, broken promises and seedy strip joints. By day, she's an actress hungry for exposure and blind to the advances of those who seek to exploit her. By night, she's Miss Melody Jones, shedding her clothes in the stark, murky cool of a Hollywood strip joint. When she meets Tim (Ronald Warden), a young Black filmmaker from UCLA, she begins to question her sense of purpose. But only until her next audition. A shattering portrait of a Black woman sucked into the cruel vortex of a town that loves you only when it needs you.

El Condor (1970)









Starring:

  • Jim Brown
  • Lee Van Cleef
  • Patrick O'Neal
  • Marianna Hill
  • Iron Eyes Cody
  • Imogen Hassall

IMDB.com
Luke, believing that a fortune in gold is hidden in the Mexican fortress of El Condor, escapes from a chain gang and joins forces with Jaroo, a con man. The two men enlist the aid of a tribe of renegade Apaches led by Santana, leading them to believe that the raid on the fortress is for food and ammunition. Chavez, the officer in charge of the fort, captures Luke and Jaroo during their first attempt, but they escape with the aid of Claudine, Chavez' wife, who has fallen in love with Luke. Later, Claudine creates a diversion by undressing in front of her bedroom window, and the raiders return and overpower the guards. Chavez manages to get away, and the raiders take control of El Condor. Santana soon discovers Jaroo's deception; and after Jaroo shoots him, the rest of the Apaches flee with the supplies and ammunition, leaving the two bandits and Claudine in the defenseless fortress. Chavez returns with his soldiers under a flag of truce and challenges Luke to a duel, which Luke wins. The gold turns out to be only painted lead bars, however, and in a showdown, Luke kills Jaroo and remains with Claudine.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Blue Collar (1978)
















Starring:


Storyline
Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto star in the powerful, critically acclaimed drama, Blue Collar. Three auto assembly line workers, fed up with union brass and tired of scraping by, hatch a plan to rob a safe at union headquarters. Disappointed with their measly bounty, they realize they've made off with something much more valuable than cash. Their unexpected swipe suddenly envelopes the three autoworkers in a desperate fight against corruption and organized crime.