Black Caesar (1973)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer:

Larry Cohen (writer)

Release Date:

7 February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Hail Caesar, Godfather of Harlem...The Cat with the .45-Caliber Claws!

Plot:

Tommy Gibbs is a tough kid, raised in the ghetto, who aspires to be a kingpin criminal. As a young boy...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Shoeshine Boy | Irish American | Remake | African American

Cast

Fred Williamson	...	Tommy Gibbs
Gloria Hendry	...	Helen
Art Lund	...	McKinney
D'Urville Martin	...	Rev. Rufus
Julius Harris	...	Mr. Gibbs
Minnie Gentry	...	Mama Gibbs
Philip Roye	...	Joe Washington
William Wellman Jr.	...	Alfred Coleman
James Dixon	...	Bryant
Val Avery	...	Cardoza
Patrick McAllister	...	Grossfield
Don Pedro Colley	...	Crawdaddy
Myrna Hansen	...	Virginia Coleman
Omer Jeffrey	...	Tommy as a boy
Michael Jeffrey	...	Joe as a boy
Allan Bailey	...	Sport
Cecil Alonzo	...	Motor
Francisco De Gracia	...	Cab Driver
Larry Lurin	...	Carlos
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrew Duggan	...	Man at Shoeshine (uncredited)

Directed by
Larry Cohen

Writing credits
Larry Cohen		(writer)

Produced by
Larry Cohen	....	producer
James Dixon	....	associate producer
Peter Sabiston	....	executive producer
Janelle Webb	....	co-producer (as Janelle Cohen)
Benjamin Fisz	....	producer (uncredited)
Kenneth Rive	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
James Brown
Lyn Collins
Fred Wesley

Cinematography by
Fenton Hamilton

Film Editing by
George Folsey Jr.

Casting by
Mike Carey
Michael D. Corey

Production Design by
Larry Lurin

Production Management
Allan Bailey	....	production manager: New York

Sound Department
Marvin Kerner	....	sound effects editor
Alex Vanderkar	....	sound supervisor
Alex Vanderkar	....	sound

Special Effects by
Rick Baker	....	special effects

Stunts
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (uncredited)
Orwin C. Harvey	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Minor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
James Winburn	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Dunn	....	camera operator
Alex Fernbach	....	camera operator
Deke Gibson	....	still photographer (as 'Deek' Gibson)
Mike Horner	....	camera operator (as Don Hart)
Robert Isenberg	....	camera operator (as Bob Isenberg)
James Signorelli	....	director of photography: Harlem sequence
Stu Spahn	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Black Beauty	....	casting: New York

Music Department
Barry De Vorzon	....	music supervisor
Lenny Stack	....	composer: song "Big Daddy"
Janelle Webb	....	composer: song "Big Daddy" (as Janelle Cohen)

Transportation Department
Francisco De Gracia	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Cecil Alonzo	....	production coordinator
Franco Guerri	....	production assistant (as Allen W. Bailey)
Paul Stader	....	technical advisor
Joan Tucker	....	script girl
David Sheldon	....	production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Larco Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Globo Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Orion Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Black Beauty  casting: New York
• MGM Titles  titles

Also Known As:

The Godfather of Harlem (UK)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1988) | West Germany:18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Originally offered to Sammy Davis Jr., who turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: The mob boss's forks, in the Italian restaurant.

Quotes:

Tommy Gibbs: You can sleep until noon, if you want anything, just press a button.
Mama Gibbs: Me? Live in this apartment? Why they'd hang me right off that terrace, Jew folks ain't even allowed here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Happiness Is No Fun. (2005)

Soundtrack:

Mama's Dead

Black Exploitation Classics

Black Caesar (1973) is a star vehicle for former pro football star Fred Willamson. He portrays the aforementioned title character. A no nonsense street thug who rises to the top of his profession and he'll do what ever he can to keep his position of power. Neither his wife, his shady preacher brother nor his partners in crime can keep him from being the king pin of New York. Will he do what he has to do to stay in power or will he become just another flash in the pan?

The writing and direction from Larry Cohen works and the music by James Brown is perfect for this film. Fred Williamson plays his role well, after this film he continued to star in similar roles (but not as dark). He also learned film making from Larry Cohen as well. The two were such a perfect time that they just had to make a sequel, Hell Up In Harlem. But there's one thing missing from the second part. No James Brown. I guess he didn't want to work for free. A shame really because he wrote a whole soundtrack for the moving, including "The Big Payback".

Recommended for fans of this genre, others need not apply.