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IMDbPro

Trouble Man

  • 19721972
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Robert Hooks in Trouble Man (1972)
A neighborhood "problem solver" is framed for murder by a couple of local crime bosses trying to get him out of the way.
Play trailer0:55
1 Video
32 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
A neighborhood "problem solver" is framed for murder by a couple of local crime bosses trying to get him out of the way.A neighborhood "problem solver" is framed for murder by a couple of local crime bosses trying to get him out of the way.A neighborhood "problem solver" is framed for murder by a couple of local crime bosses trying to get him out of the way.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ivan Dixon
  • Writer
    • John D.F. Black
  • Stars
    • Robert Hooks
    • Paul Winfield
    • Ralph Waite
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ivan Dixon
  • Writer
    • John D.F. Black
  • Stars
    • Robert Hooks
    • Paul Winfield
    • Ralph Waite
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:55
    Trailer

    Photos32

    Robert Hooks and Paula Kelly in Trouble Man (1972)
    Trouble Man (1972)
    Trouble Man (1972)
    Julius Harris in Trouble Man (1972)
    Felton Perry in Trouble Man (1972)
    Robert Hooks in Trouble Man (1972)
    Robert Hooks in Trouble Man (1972)
    Jeannie Bell in Trouble Man (1972)
    Robert Hooks in Trouble Man (1972)
    Tracy Reed in Trouble Man (1972)
    Bill Henderson in Trouble Man (1972)
    Robert Hooks and William Smithers in Trouble Man (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Hooks
    Robert Hooks
    • Mr. Tas Mr. T
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Chalkyas Chalky
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • Peteas Pete
    William Smithers
    William Smithers
    • Captain Joe Marxas Captain Joe Marx
    • (as Bill Smithers)
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Cleoas Cleo
    Julius Harris
    Julius Harris
    • Bigas Big
    Bill Henderson
    Bill Henderson
    • Jimmyas Jimmy
    Wayne Storm
    • Frankas Frank
    Akili Jones
    • Chias Chi
    Vince Howard
    Vince Howard
    • Prestonas Preston
    Stack Pierce
    Stack Pierce
    • Collieas Collie
    Lawrence Cook
    • Buddyas Buddy
    • (as Larry Cook)
    Virginia Capers
    Virginia Capers
    • Macyas Macy
    Rick Ferrell
    • Pindaras Pindar
    James 'Texas Blood' Brown
    • Wesleyas Wesley
    Tracy Reed
    Tracy Reed
    • Policewomanas Policewoman
    Felton Perry
    Felton Perry
    • Bobbyas Bobby
    Nathaniel Taylor
    Nathaniel Taylor
    • Leroyas Leroy
    • (as Jita Hadi)
    • Director
      • Ivan Dixon
    • Writer
      • John D.F. Black
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The only film score of singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye. Music from this film, including the title song, was used in Four Brothers (2005).
    • Goofs
      When Big is shot in the pool hall sitting in the chair, a small chain on his ankle is attached to the floor.
    • Quotes

      Chalky Price: T has one edge--and that's his cool. But that's enough, baby, because he's thinkin' all the time. And If he wants your ass, he gets it!

    • Crazy credits
      The 20th Century Fox logo does not appear at the beginning; instead there's an opening credit saying "Twentieth Century-Fox Presents".
    • Connections
      Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-in Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 3 (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Trouble Man
      (uncredited)

      Composed and performed by Marvin Gaye

      Arranged by Dale Oehler

    User reviews34

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good, solid blaxploitation feature.
    There's nothing particularly distinguished about the blaxploitation actioner "Trouble Man", but it does entertain. A bad ass Robert Hooks plays a character named Mr. T - around a decade before somebody else made that moniker famous - in the story of a cool, calm, and collected problem solver. He's hired by two criminals, Chalky (Paul Winfield) and Pete (Ralph Waite, a long way from 'The Waltons'), to find out the identities of the thieves who have been holding up their gambling operations.

    Mr. T finds out that things aren't as they seem. We in the audience get tipped off as to where things are heading, early on. Ordinarily this would present a problem as the viewer might get tired of waiting for our hero to play catch up, but T is such a good and smart character that we don't much mind. In the meantime, director Ivan Dixon (also an actor in things like "Car Wash") serves up respectable doses of action and suspense. The screenplay concocted by executive producer John D.F. Black is fairly uncomplicated and consistently enjoyable. The dialogue is often quite amusing. As with so many films in this genre, one of the greatest joys turns out to be the music score. The man responsible for the score in this instance is the soul legend Marvin Gaye.

    The largely black cast is full of terrific actors. Hooks displays a lot of poise in the lead role, and one may wish that he had had more starring vehicles over the years. Paula Kelly is appealing as his loving girlfriend Cleo. William Smithers does fine as the disapproving white cop who is suspicious of T, who doesn't appear to have a steady source of income but has nice things. Winfield is excellent, as is a perfectly slimy Waite. Julius Harris lends his authoritative presence as a crime boss - unimaginatively named Big. Other familiar faces include singer / actor Bill Henderson, Stack Pierce, Lawrence Cook, Virginia Capers, Tracy Reed, Felton Perry, John Crawford, Gordon Jump, Jeannie Bell, and Harrison Page.

    The rousing finale and sense of humour help to make this well worth a viewing.

    Seven out of 10.
    helpful•11
    0
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Apr 18, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 14, 1973 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kara mafya
    • Filming locations
      • Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • JDF/B Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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