Black Caesar

Plot synopsis:
Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) is an African-American who grew up in Harlem, New York City. As a kid, he was brutally assaulted by a cop named McKinney. The incident led him to a life of crime. As an adult, he joins New York mafia and becomes the head of a black crime syndicate in Harlem. He wages a gang war with the Italian mobsters of New York City and begins to establish a criminal empire, keeping a ledger book of all his dealings as leverage over his business associates, including McKinney.
He meets and falls in love with a singer named Helen (Gloria Hendry) and marries her. She is unhappy as he is violent and rapes her. Eventually his enemies conspire with her, leading to an attempt on his life that leaves him shot and wounded. Killing his would-be assassins, he returns to his office to retrieve the ledger book. McKinney meets him there, and attempts to humiliate him before killing him. Tommy overpowers McKinney and beats him to death. Retrieving the ledger, a badly wounded Tommy returns to the house where he grew up, but a street gang attacks, robs and, presumably, kills him.

Tags: cruelty, murder, cult, violence, romantic, revenge, blaxploitation

Review:
As I watched this low budget film I came to realize that while it is exploitation, it's still a story of an angry man that deep down wanted respect from those close to him.
The film starts out with a young kid in 1953 Harlem who makes money giving shoe shines and gets involved in a mob hit and is told to take a package to a building to a bad cop named McKinney (Art Lund).
Fast forward to the mid 60's and young Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) is now a grown man and executes a mob hit on his own and tells a mafioso named Cardoza (Val Avery) that he's responsible and wants in with the mob and just wants to run an area in Harlem.
While this is another version of "Little Caesar" there is an aspect of the story that I found very well handled and it was the scenes where Tommy Gibbs is feeling betrayed and alone.
As much fun as it was to watch Williamson smear shoe polish on Lund and make him sing "Mammy" the film has more to offer than that.
The scenes of Williamson's character feeling alone and betrayed along with the good music score are what make this film stand out from the others of its kind.
But his fall begins when he learns that his mistress Helen (Gloria Hendry) is betraying him with his best friend."Black Caesar" is an American action film by Larry Cohen, with the dramatic story of the rise and fall of a black gangster in Harlem.
Larry Cohen plus Fred Williamson equals movie dynamite!.
'Black Caesar' is one of the most underrated movies of the early 70s blaxploitation boom.
Added to that writer/director Larry Cohen ('Q', 'The Stuff', 'Maniac Cop', 'It's Alive!, 'God Told Me To',etc.) and you've got yourself movie dynamite!
Williamson plays Tommy Gibbs, a crippled ghetto kid who grows up with one thing in mind - revenge.
Along the way he uses and discards many people including his girlfriend Helen (Gloria Hendry, 'Black Belt Jones'), and creates many enemies, not least of which is corrupt cop McKinney (Art Lund, Junior Jackson's Dad in 'The Last American Hero'), a man he has a long history with.
Larry Cohen´s "Black Caesar" is next to the amazing "Foxy Brown" one of my absolute favorite Blaxploitation movies!
Credit two people: star Fred Williamson and writer/director,Larry Cohen.
BLACK CAESAR is only the first half in the gangster epic of Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson).
As you'd normally expect for a "blaction" classic, it's pure entertainment, and James Brown's soul music score (absent in the sequel) is the best I've heard.
Not one to miss on an opportunity, Larry Cohen's second feature film utilised the explosion of blaxploitation cinema after the successes of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Shaft (1971), and crafted his own "black" action film, modelled on the 1931 film Little Caesar.
Fred Williamson plays the titular role, a boy from the streets, witnessing and being victim of brutality from the white community, and particularly a local police officer, McKinney (Art Lund).
As an adult, Caesar's goal is to become kingpin of Harlem, and he won't let anything stand in his way.The narrative is a story told over, which focuses on a person who looses everything in the pursuit of power, including childhood friends, wives, and particularly looses sight of the person that they are.
Not only do we have the easy-cool of Fred Williamson, the film also has the ubiquitous Gloria Hendry , although not in her usual kung-fu-influenced fighting mode.
Even though this film is less well known than Shaft or Superfly (1972), who's soundtracks were composed by soul giants Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield respectively, Black Caesar's soundtrack is provided by the godfather of soul himself, James Brown: Break it down!
Movie starts out in 1953 where we see young black Tommy Gibbs doing jobs for the mob.
As he gets older (and becomes Fred Williamson) he works his way into the white mob--even though they don't want "ni**ers" (as they say throughout the film).
But the white guys in the mob aren't about to give up...Perhaps I'm not the best person to review a Larry Cohen movie--he's the producer, writer and director of this.
I've never liked any of his movies and he makes really bad low budget films (unlike Roger Corman who makes good ones).
This is the type of gangster film Hollywood was making in the 1930s--it's just done with black characters now.
****SPOILERS**** Stylish and brutal "Black Caesar" is also a bit over-the-top in it's depiction of a Harlem hood working himself up to the top of the New York City mob syndicate and then losing it all in what seems like a matter of weeks if not days.Fred Williamson is at his all time baddest best as the super cool cat Tommy Gibbs the Harlem gangster with the heart of gold and fists of steel who takes on the Mafia with his brawn's and the crooked police and politicians with his brains and just when he's got it all blows it down the drain.
Still badly wounded Tommy goes to his old neighborhood in Harlem and is attacked by a gang of young toughs, Tommy Gibbs wannabes, but survives the ordeal to make a sequel to the movie "Black Caesar": "Hell up in Harlem".
The most unusual aspect about the film "Black Caesar" is that it was so successful that it spawned a sequel the same year, 1973, that it was released.
Even though "Black Caesar" was to take place at the time that it was made and we see at the end of the movie a date, as if it had great historic and momentous significance, which flashed on the screen against the New York City skyline as being August 20, 1972?
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).
Still, Fred Williamson was buff and cool the entire movie.
Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) is a tough kid, raised in the ghetto, who aspires to be a kingpin criminal.
This is beyond a reasonable doubt the best Afro-American Gangster movie.A rags to riches tale of Tommy franks rising from the abyss of the ghetto battling bigoted foes only to triumph as the leader of the most powerful crime syndicate in the region.
The performances are good, with Fred Williamson taking command in all of his scenes.
Interestingly, whether you are white or black (or some other race), more likely than not you'll be surprised that Cohen doesn't make Williamson's character terribly likable or sympathetic.
Basically it's just Fred Williamson looking mean and shooting white mobsters in the chest so that he can take their place in the New York gangster hierarchy.
Larry Cohen writes and directs Fred Williamson in this exciting and well-paced gangster drama, a blaxploitation remake of the Edward G.
Black Caesar (1973) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Classic blaxploitation film has Fred Williamson taking on all the crime bosses trying to make it to the top.
I've heard a lot about this blaxploitation film over the years so I was happy to finally get to see it but in the end there's nothing too original here to keep it highly entertaining throughout.
I think the biggest problem is that we've seen this type of gangster story countless times before and this one even borrows from some classic gangster films like Scarface and Angels with Dirty Faces.
He spends time in prison and in 1965, Tommy (Fred Williamson) takes on a contract from mob boss Cardoza without authority.
As mentioned, I'm not well versed in this genre; but I imagine it's more about style than anything else and Larry Cohen does at least give the film a cool vibe that is well done.
James Brown features heavily on the soundtrack and it works with the film, although the scenes involving "The Boss" only served in reminding me of how Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels used the song much better.
The lead role is taken by Fred Williamson and it does have to be said that he's one of the best things about the film.
The central role in this film does require someone 'cool' to play it, and Williamson certainly is that person.
Fred Williamson is pretty perfect in the lead role playing a character that is far away from being the good guy, or hero of the movie, as he ruthlessly takes whatever he can get, and with force if needs be.
And like a lot of these movies they tried to please the audience with a mix of drama and action which works well, so too James Brown's super cool soundtrack.
This is one of those films that not just made Fred Williamson a star but also a iconic figure in the early 1970s.
The thing I loved the most about this particular film was its use of violence and how ugly and horrible it really is but in my personal opinion this a flawed but powerful gangster film that I consider a classic of the genre and a very memorable piece of film making by Larry Cohen..
Black Caesar provides some low budget excitement courtesy of writer/director Larry Cohen.
After years of being curious about this film, especially when I first heard James Brown's "Down and Out in New York City" as a kid, I finally just watched Black Caesar on Hulu.
Fred Williamson plays a gangster who really seems to resent white people especially a cop (Art Lund) who brutally beat him as a child when that cop found his mob payment was a little short and blamed the kid for taking the rest.
Despite that, I was pretty entertained most of the time and was riveted to see supporting turns by Gloria Hendry, Philip Roye, D'Urville Martin, Minnie Gentry, Julius Harris, and William Wellman Jr. whose father, director William Wellman Sr., had made one of the most famous classic gangster pictures of all: The Public Enemy with James Cagney.
Subtle, writer/director Larry Cohen is not but he sure knows how make a low budget movie entertaining.
Director and writer Larry Cohen who also wrote other classic flicks, Cellular 2004, Phone Booth 2002, The Ex 1997 and Maniac Cop 2 1990 as well as writing and directing another classic flick, God Told Me To 1976 has created another gem in Black Caesar.Starring Fred Williamson who has also been in other classic flicks, From Dusk Till Dawn 1996, Vigilante 1983 and Inglorious Bastards 1978.Also starring Gloria Hendry who was also in another classic flick, Across 110th Street 1972.Also starring Art Lund.I enjoyed the shootouts.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic gangster in the hood flicks, Boyz n the Hood 1991, Menace II Society 1993 and Trespass 1992..
Black Caesar was a really brilliant movie, well paced with texture and a good balance of action and transitions.
Finally, I guess I have a thing for Fred Williamson, gotta give it to him, no one could have played Tommy Gibbs like that man!
Having grown up in extreme poverty in New York City and seeing firsthand the corruption, racism and criminal activity of those in law enforcement, "Tommy Gibbs" (Fred Williamson) decides that he wants to rise to the top and doesn't care what it takes.
All in all then it wasn't a bad film and those who enjoy movies in this genre might like this one too.
Although he has been slotted in the grindhouse and cult categories, Cohen doesn't really belong in either, mixing classic Hollywood b-unit gangster formula and 1970s blaxploitation, with a healthy measure of social comment bludgeoned in.BC is a well-known tale of the rise and fall of a crime boss that follows the conventions of it's namesake, Little Caesar.
It's protagonist, played by a convincing and charismatic Fred Williamson, wants power, revenge and some social and economic justice for the people of Harlem.
The acting is sometimes sub-par or over-the-top (this fits though) but often good, especially by Gloria Hendry, girlfriend (who we don't see enough of), Julius Harris, estranged Dad, Minnie Gentry, Mama Gibbs and Williamson best of all.
The soundtrack, by the Godfather himself, James Brown, is perfect, and probably the best of any film of this genre..
BLACK CAESAR is one of the better so-called blaxploitation films I have seen.
Compared to most films in this genre, the production values are much better--with a decent performance by Fred Williamson and a very good, but violent, script to assist him.The film begins with a kid taking a bribe to a corrupt cop.
Years pass and this kid turns out to be Fred Williamson--a tough ex-con who has visions of being a mob boss.
Additionally, the ending of the film doesn't really fit in with the fact that there was a sequel to BLACK CAESAR--a rather unnecessary and contradictory idea indeed..
The infamous Fred Williamson plays the part of Tommy Gibbs, a hardened youth who grew up with an intense desire to firmly establish himself as a force to be reckoned with on the streets.
While the African American community certainly had, and still has, in many ways, a lot to lash out and to be resentful about, it was really sad to see such a smart and well made film resort to contriving situations between Gibbs and white people who were so outwardly racist and brutal toward him just for the sake of setting themselves up for his revenge.
(possible spoiler) On a more subtle note, it is also noteworthy that a great length of time is spent showing Gibbs staggering through the streets of New York at the end of the movie because of a gunshot wound.
I really enjoyed Black Caesar and I think it's one of the better blaxploitation films that came out of the 1970s.
As Larry Cohen says in his DVD commentary, it's more of a Black version of the old 1940s gangster films than it is a straight up exploitation piece like Slaughter or Black Gunn.
Despite finding the chapter dedicated to him in Kim Newman's Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s to be very interesting,I have somehow never got round to seeing a title from auteur film maker Larry Cohen.Talking to a fellow IMDber about the Blaxploitation genre,I found out that Cohen's second movie was in the genre,which led to me getting ready to hail Larry Cohen's Caesar.The plot-1953:After getting paid for helping out in a mob hit, Tommy Gibbs is sent to give corrupt cop McKinney his share.
Pushing the gang to give him a reward for the killing,Gibbs is given 2 run-down streets to run.As he turns the broken streets around into money makers,Gibbs sets his sights on finally getting his revenge on McKinney.View on the film:Filmed on the streets of New York,writer/director Larry Cohen & cinematographer Fenton Hamilton give the title a grubby Film Noir appearance,as clipped whip-pans give the on-street violence a gripping,frantic mood,as Cohen's dashing camera moves catch the startled expressions of real New Yorkers finding themselves walking down Gibb's blood-ridden streets.Backed by a hip 'n funky James Brown score,Cohen blends Gibbs extravagant suits with a blunt force violent delivery,which go from leg breaking police beatings,to rival gangster being covered in burnt up gun wounds.Spanning a period of more than 20 years,the screenplay by Cohen gives the first half a light-footed quickness,thanks to Gibbs taking on his battle to control the streets with a slick mix of harsh violence and alluring charisma.Whilst the change in atmosphere is pretty jarring,Cohen shows an impressive bravely in making his "hero" look as ugly as possible,with the haunting memory of Gibbs police beating leading to him rotting away in a Film Noir wasteland.Smirking every time he sets his sights on Gibbs, Art Lund gives a great,gruff performance as McKinney,whose urge to kick Gibbs back down is always bubbling underneath.Taking on a role originally offered to Sammy Davis Jr, Fred Williamson gives a fantastic performance as Gibbs,thanks to Williamson giving Gibbs a firm swagger as he builds his empire,which starts to crumble as Williamson lights up Gibbs short-fuse,as rival gangs start setting their sights on seeing this "Little Caesar" fall..
Writer & director Larry Cohen chronicles the rise of an urban, African-American youth to the position of a New York City crime boss.
This is a prime example of a Blaxploitation crime thriller with our hero Fred Williamson comes up the ranks from being a lowly shoeshine boy to a top metropolitan mobster.
Larry Cohen plus James Brown with Fred Williamson equals 7 stars.
I've only seen a few vintage "blaxploitation" films, so tonight I'm watching Black Caesar (1973), of interest to me because it was written, directed and produced by ol' Larry Cohen, just a couple years before his inexplicable masterpiece God Told Me To, with the outer space Jesus and the vagina on his chest...that Larry, madman with a camera...Right from the start, the music is top notch!
Mainly James Brown, but there's also a cool female-fronted song a girl performs while Fred Williamson shoots up a room fulla white folks.
Williamson is probably the only good actor in the whole film, but who can read Larry Cohen's dialogue, in any movie, and come off sounding real.
Robinson filed "Little Caesar" in 1933, he could never have imagined that fifty-two years later it would be reconfigured as Blaxploitation and become a cult classic in its own right.
The saga of Fred Williamson as he rises from a kid running errands for the Mob to a gang leader in Harlem.