Brothers A.K.A. Hermanos • Brothers (1977)

Brothers (1977) Also Known As: Hermanos. Directed by Arthur Barron, this 1977 American prison drama draws on the lives of activist Angela Davis and Black Panther leader George Jackson. Bernie Casey stars alongside Vonetta McGee, Ron O'Neal, John Lehne, Stu Gilliam, and Renny Roker. Brothers combines political drama with a story of imprisonment, racial injustice, and resistance. This hard-to-find 1970s Black cinema DVD will interest collectors looking for Bernie Casey films and classic American prison dramas.

The Story

Wrongfully imprisoned for armed robbery, David Thomas endures the brutality and racial injustice of the American prison system while serving an open-ended sentence. As his political awareness grows through conversations with fellow inmates and correspondence with college professor Paula Jones, he becomes part of a larger struggle against oppression. The story follows David's personal transformation as he searches for dignity, justice, and hope while exposing the harsh realities faced by incarcerated Black Americans without revealing the film's powerful conclusion.

As David becomes more involved in the fight for prisoners’ rights, his growing connection with Paula brings questions of loyalty, justice, and personal risk into sharper focus. The film follows the consequences of that commitment through its characters and the prison environment, emphasizing the human cost of institutional abuse rather than martial arts action.

The Martial Arts

Brothers is a political prison drama, not a martial arts film. There are no kung fu sequences to highlight. Its strength lies in the performances of Bernie Casey, Vonetta McGee, and Ron O'Neal and in its portrayal of racial injustice, political activism, and life inside the prison system.

Why Collectors Pick It

Brothers stands apart from many Blaxploitation-era releases by focusing on political activism, social justice, and the prison experience instead of urban crime. Inspired by the lives of George Jackson and Angela Davis, it captures the political climate of the 1970s through outstanding performances and intelligent storytelling. Collectors of Black cinema appreciate its historical importance, memorable cast, and its place among the decade's most meaningful dramatic films.

Historical Significance

Released in 1977, Brothers reflects the political and social tensions that followed the Black Power movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Drawing inspiration from the lives of George Jackson and Angela Davis, the film remains an important work of Black American cinema that explores incarceration, racial injustice, and political resistance from a uniquely personal perspective.

International & Alternate Titles

The film is listed as Brothers in the United States and Hermanos in some international catalogs.

Film & DVD Details

DVD Specifications