(About this film):
Black Belt Jones is a 1974 American blaxploitation martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse and starring Jim Kelly and Gloria Hendry. The film is a spiritual successor to Clouse's prior film Enter the Dragon, in which Kelly had a supporting role. Here, Kelly features in his first starring role as the eponymous character, a local hero who fights the Mafia and a local drug dealer threatening his friend's dojo.
(Synopsis):
Jim Kelly plays Jones, a secret agent who has gone into semi-retirement, concentrating instead on teaching the martial arts to inner city youths. The karate school is run by a kindly old coot named Pops (Scatman Crothers). His gambling debts, however, bring the local thug, Pinky, down on him. To make matters worse, Pinky is then hired by some white thugs who want to get ahold of the property Pops’ school occupies so they can build a shopping mall. When things get heavy, Black Belt Jones leaps into action. Only he’s not alone. Pops’ daughter, Sidney, shows up to lend a hand, proving herself every bit as agile and powerful a martial artist as Jones.
Starring: Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry, Scatman Crothers
Directed by: Robert Clouse
Screenplay by: Oscar Williams
Story by: Fred Weintraub, Alexandra Rose
Produced by: Paul Heller, Fred Weintraub
Cinematography: Kent L. Wakeford
Edited by: Michael Kahn
Music by: Luchi DeJesus
Production company: Sequoia Films
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Release date: 29 March 1974
Running time: 87 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Running Time: 85 mins. (approx.)
Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 – Stereo)
Subtitles: None
Distributor: Blax [A USA-Based Distributor]
