The great thing about blaxploitation films that makes them stand the test of time are the issues that they dealt with, not always just black issues but human issues, mainly race relations, and fairly depicting the fact that from a black point of view, not all whites were out to do them harm or keep them in their place. This film deals with such relations between two cynical Detroit cops, the white Alex Rocco and the black Hari Rhodes, investigating the sudden raid and robbery of a black political rally, and citywide corruption that starts on the streets and ends at City Hall, and has organized crime in the middle.
A very sassy screenplay has great conversations between the two leading actors, and in watching the relationship slowly progress is fascinating because it is real life. Great Detroit locations give a great rural feeling. The shootings aren't very realistic, and as the red vials of liquid explode on people's backs, it's obviously not blood color coming out. One woman is shot in the back and continues to speak like he's completely conscious and has no pain. But the overall movie is so good that these ridiculous laws are easy to forgive. Vonette McGee steps into the shoes of Pam Grier and Tamara Dobson, and is quite beautiful. Scatman Crothers as a preacher is an automatic scene-stealer. A lot of good twists along the way makes this one of the best of the classic black films of the 70's, a genre that is an artwork all of its own.
A very sassy screenplay has great conversations between the two leading actors, and in watching the relationship slowly progress is fascinating because it is real life. Great Detroit locations give a great rural feeling. The shootings aren't very realistic, and as the red vials of liquid explode on people's backs, it's obviously not blood color coming out. One woman is shot in the back and continues to speak like he's completely conscious and has no pain. But the overall movie is so good that these ridiculous laws are easy to forgive. Vonette McGee steps into the shoes of Pam Grier and Tamara Dobson, and is quite beautiful. Scatman Crothers as a preacher is an automatic scene-stealer. A lot of good twists along the way makes this one of the best of the classic black films of the 70's, a genre that is an artwork all of its own.