The Slams (1973)

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Writer:

Richard DeLong Adams

Release Date:

26 September 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

JIM BROWN goes over the wall to flash with a million $ stash.

Plot:

After a heist Curtis Hook (Jim Brown) is caught by the police. In jail various people want to know where he stashed the loot...

Plot Keywords:

Jail | Heist | Burned | Blaxploitation | Prison

Cast

Jim Brown	...	Curtis Hook
Judy Pace	...	Iris Daniels
Roland Bob Harris	...	Captain Stambell (as Roland 'Bob' Harris)
Paul Harris	...	Jackson Barney (as Paul E. Harris)
Frank DeKova	...	Capiello
Ted Cassidy	...	Glover
Frenchia Guizon	...	Macey
John Dennis	...	Sergeant Flood
Jac Emel	...	Zack
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Warden (as Quinn Redeker)
Betty Cole	...	Mother
Robert Phillips	...	Cohalt
Dick Miller	...	Taxi Driver
Jan Merlin	...	Saddler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carmen Argenziano
Rudy Challenger
John Lipton
Charles Cyphers	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Luther Fear	...	Fighter with Laundry Paddle (uncredited)
Clement von Franckenstein	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Kaplan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard DeLong Adams		(as Richard L. Adams)

Produced by
Gene Corman	....	producer

Original Music by
Luther Henderson

Cinematography by
Andrew Davis

Film Editing by
Morton Tubor

Art Direction by
Jack Fisk

Production Management
Donald Heitzer	....	production manager (as Don Heitzer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nate Long	....	assistant director
Thalmus Rasulala	....	assistant director

Sound Department
William B. Kaplan	....	sound

Stunts
Nate Long	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Minor	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Morris	....	dolly grip
Bill Williams	....	key grip

Production Companies

• Penelope Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1986) (UK) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 | USA:R

Company:

Penelope Productions Inc.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 8 (2002) (V)

A Few Good Moments Can't Make Up for Weak Script

Slams, The (1973)

** (out of 4)

Forgotten blaxploitation flick has Jim Brown playing Curtis Hooks, a man who ends up in prison on a small charge but once inside he has all sorts of hits on his life because everyone knows that he stole $1.5 million in drug money and has it hidden somewhere. THE SLAMS, to date, has never received a VHS or DVD release so it's one of the rarest films of its genre, which is somewhat surprising since it does feature one of the biggest stars. There's quite a bit of good stuff here but sadly we've seen everything countless times before and you just end up with one cliché after another. The screenplay is certainly prison-drama 101 as everything you'd expect to happen does just that in the exact order that you'd think it would happen. You get the typical gay jokes, the attacks in the laundry room, the sadistic white racist, the mafia boss, the crooked cops and of course every time the cops walk away you're going to witness yet another hit. The film really doesn't offer up any drama and you can't help but wish that you cared more than what you actually do. With that said, there are still some fine performances with Brown leading the way. This certainly isn't Oscar-worthy material but it's not meant to be. Brown simply shows up with that tough attitude and kicks some major butt. The supporting cast includes a nice performance by Ted Cassidy as the racist and Frank DeKova playing the mafia boss running the prison. Dick Miller appears briefly as a taxi driver and Charles Cyphers (HALLOWEEN) can be spotted playing a guard. Director Jonathan Kaplan at least keeps the film moving at a nice pace and makes it look very professional. He also manages to get a pretty good atmosphere out of the film and the prison has a very dirty feel to it as it should. Still, THE SLAMS can't be seen as anything other than a disappointment. There are a few good moments but not enough to recommend this to anyone but those who must see everything the genre offered up.