10 Classic American Exploitation Movies

6. Black Caesar (1973)

Black Caesar is an awesome blaxsploitation film made by cult film director favourite Larry Cohen (Q, God Told Me To, it's Alive). Like many blaxploitation films, it features a terrific soundtrack which this time is scored by James Brown. It also stars Fred Williamson who to me IS blaxsploitation. Tommy Gibbs (Williamson) grew up in Harlem where he was harassed and brutally set upon by a white cop when he was a kid. This incident steers him onto a life of crime. He joins the mafia and becomes the head of a black crime syndicate in Harlem. War breaks out with the rival Italian faction who get their asses kicked. Tommy has a crime empire and he later falls in love with a beautiful black woman. Larry Cohen does a good job of capturing the urban decay of Harlem in the film which is gritty, exciting and raw. The film is so cheap, I'm pretty sure Cohen uses his basement for half the scenes but it doesn't detract from the film's power. Williamson is such a fantastic, charismatic presence he gives a commanding, magnetic performance without even trying. His success is no surprise, and neither is his downfall. The supporting cast is very strong - including D'Urville Martin from Dolemite as Tommy's childhood friend who has grown up to be a Minister. There is gun violence and a lot of blood sloshing about the place but this is to be expected in such a film - its what the fans want to see. A masterpiece of low budget film making and one of the best examples of blaxsploitation.