Blaxploitation

The Spook Who Sat by the Door, is a 1973 action crime–drama film based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Sam Greenlee (which was first published in the United Kingdom by Allison and Busby after being rejected by American publishers).[1][2] It is both a satire of the civil rights struggle in the United States of the late 1960s and a serious attempt to focus on the issue of Black militancy. Dan Freeman, the titular protagonist, is enlisted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in its elitist espionage program, becoming its token Black person. After mastering agency tactics, however, he becomes disillusioned and drops out to train young Black people in Chicago to become "Freedom Fighters". As a story of one man's reaction to white ruling-class hypocrisy, the film is loosely autobiographical and personal. (Synopsis): The Spook Who Sat By The Door is one of the 50 Most Influential Black Films. The Spook Who sat by The Door is a cult classic and named one of the most influential Black films of the 1970"s (by Torriano Berry and Venise Berry in their book The 50 most influential Black films). Dan Freeman, the "spook who sat by the door", is enlisted in the CIA's elitist espionage program as it's first Black agent. Upon mastering agency tactics, he returns home to Chicago with a mission to train street gangs as "Freedom Fighters." Quickly, they become experts in urban guerrilla warfare and plan to launch a war against the white power structure in every major US city.  The spook Who Sat by the Door is the first release in the new Obsidian Gold series which is devoted to restoring forgotten Black movie classics. It was an overnight success when it was released in 1973, but every print of the film mysteriously disappeared. The filmmakers say it was suppressed by the government. Driven underground and available only on bootleg video, this controversial political thriller was nearly lost. Obsidian Home Entertainment was granted full access by the filmmakers to digitally restore the movie from the original camera negative which has been hidden in a Hollywood vault for 30 years. (Starring): Lawrence Cook as Dan Freeman, Janet League as Joy, Paula Kelly as Dahomey Queen, J. A. Preston as Dawson, Paul Butler as Do-Daddy DeanDon Blakely as Stud Davis, David Lemieux as Pretty Willie, Joseph Mascolo as Senator Hennington, Beverly Gill as Willa, Bob Hill as Calhoun, Martin Golar as Perkins, Frank E. Ford as Cobra member.  Directed by: Ivan Dixon, Written by: Melvin Clay, Sam Greenlee, Produced by: Ivan Dixon, Sam Greenlee, Language: English, Running Time: 102 Minutes, Features: 16:9 Widescreen, NTSC All, with lots of special features.  

Melinda, is a 1972 American drama film directed by Hugh A. Robertson and written by Lonne Elder III. The film stars Calvin Lockhart, Rosalind Cash, Vonetta McGee, Paul Stevens, Rockne Tarkington and Ross Hagen. The film was released on August 16, 1972, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1][2] This film marked karate champion Jim Kelly's first appearance in a film. (Synopsis): The directorial debut for the editor of “Midnight Cowboy” and “Shaft”. An entry in the short-lived blaxploitation genre, it features a hip, fast-jiving black DJ (Lockhart) who trains nights on karate at the Panther HQ and gives out ultracool sounds by day. He finds himself picking up lovely Melinda (McGee). They have two days of bliss before she’s carved up. Turns out it’s The Syndicate, an all-white band of nasties, and she has a tape incriminating the big boss which she has passed to our hero  Overview: A hip black DJ cum karate expert cum Black Panther revolutionary’s girlfriend Melinda is murdered by The Syndicate, an all-white band of nasties. It seems she had a tape incriminating their boss, which she has passed to our hero… Starring: Calvin Lockhart, Rosalind Cash, Vonetta McGee, Paul Stevens, Rockne Tarkington, Ross Hagen. Directed by: Hugh A. Robertson, Produced by: Pervis Atkins, Languages: EnglishRunning Time: 90 Minutes.  

Friday Foster, is a 1975 American blaxploitation film written and directed by Arthur Marks and starring Pam Grier in the title role. Yaphet Kotto, Eartha Kitt, Scatman Crothers and Carl Weathers co-starred. It is an adaptation of the 1970-74 eponymous syndicated newspaper comic strip, scripted by Jim Lawrence and illustrated by Jorge Longarón. This was Grier's final film with American International Pictures. The tagline on the film's poster is "Wham! Bam! Here comes Pam!" (Synopsis): Soul Cinema superstar Pam Grier leads an outta-sight, all-star cast, including Yaphet Kotto (Alien), Eartha Kitt (TV’s original Catwoman), Carl Weathers(Rocky", Scatman Crothers (The Shining), Ted Lange (“The Love Boat”), Jim Backus (“Gilligan’s Island”) and Godfrey Cambridge (Cotton Comes to Harlem) in this ultra-slick, pulse-pumping actioner that brings a foxy camerawoman into the focus of danger! When photographer Friday Foster (Grier) unwittingly uncovers a white supremecist plot to knock off all of the country’s top black leaders, she and her free-wheelin’, trouble-dealin’ P.I. friend, Hawkins (Kotto), go on a mission to stomp the killers’ plans! From the backstage murders at a righteous fashion show to a pedal-to-the-metal car chase from a funeral-in a hearse(!) - This shutterbuggin’ babe will go anywhere and do anything toexpose the corruption - only this time, the shooting isn't just with a camera! Starring:  Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, Godfrey Cambridge, Thalmus Rasulala, Ted LangeEartha Kitt. Directed by: Arthur Marks, Produced by: Arthur Marks, Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)Subtitles: Spanish, French, Dubbed: Spanish, Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Features: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, Rated: R (Restricted)