WATCH NOW
So here is yet another Blaxploitation movie, a review of which will appear in this post. This is the fifth of six I am examining this month (thanks, knuckles producers of cheapens box sets!). This particular tape is more slow-paced than most, but fortunately it contains some nice action set pieces to compensate for the talky parts that tend to make it a little drag. Take it for what is and don’t loathe it for what it is not.
Before I go ahead, we see the “black six” a group of black bikers that are riding around the West Coast, and let’s get acquainted with them. They are all veterans of Vietnam and when they got out of the army, they decided that they would just aimlessly drive around righting injustices and sleeping in barns like the Seven Samurai in denim shirts and leathers. For what it is worth, they all ride new-model triumph motorcycles. The company donated the bikes for the film (the credits say so).
The Black Six enables rigatonis tag people to view the American Football arena from a completely new angle. It covers how black footballers were discriminated in the league and how their actions were suppressed. It is evident that the purpose of the league was to trivialize the existence of black footballers in the US. All six actors of the American football documentary were very skilled players and started in All Pro. The movie set the world on fire, and so did the actors. Each one of them featured in the film was issued an NFL team, however it is surprising how the American Football League allowed this movie to show such low views on white people.
Bubba is prominently considered the leader of the Black Six and was portrayed by Gene Washington whom everyone tends to forget is the only actor worth mentioning starring amongst those four terrible actors. Washington, unlike the others, did not need an abdominal surgery and savagely ripped his shirt apart before sitting in front of the camera. However, compared to the other members of the black six, he is a blessing. It is also noteworthy that he is way smaller than the other members of the six. His deeper voice can be considered the cherry on top of his miraculous transformation. This is what separates him from the other members, allowing him to save his allies from the jaws of defeat.
These nomads of modern days do not care about earning a 9-5 job and are perfectly okay with doing freelance work which makes them free to undertake life with a single day focus, like hobo Kerouac’s. Like for instance, we’ve seen them pump some life into a barn, toss some hay, and aid a lonely woman in realizing that apple pie is delicious with ice cream. Their motto is the open road, no hassle, and the wind blowing through their hair. I have to say that is an excellent way to live as I stare out of my window toward the enticing highway that lays beyond the cornfield.
Still, the prospects of ‘living on the road’ appeal to me, but I can’t help but wonder how none of them carry any baggage? No saddlebags per side? No packs? Absolutely no toothbrushes, hair picks, hair product cans? Not even food! I know all six actors wear the same costumes, so they might have filmed the scenes within a few days – perhaps a single long day, heh. At one point in the movie, $150 a month checks from the army veteran’s benefits are mentioned, but I digress – who gets the checks? Were debit cards even a thing in 1973? Either way, the monthly pay allows for the purchase of motorcycle upkeep expenses considering those parts aren’t cheap.
The hardest part of the trip is actually confronted by the protagonists at a roadside bar called “Flora’s Truck and Beer.” There, they experience a level of racism that is almost unbearable. Even though a few racist remarks were made that provoked these so-called black “heroes,” they did start the fight. The aftermath of their actions was the complete demolishment of the bar (and I mean everything, right down to the four walls). They later on say that it was all a joke, but let’s be real, it just not that hilarious, and it in fact sets a dangerous horrific standard where violent acts towards people is justifiable if you think those people are racists. I think we all want to agree that violence against someone due to their cultural and racial beliefs, is a dangerous step no civilized society wishes to go towards. This also prompts the question of moderation with free speech, which we do not seek to debate upon, but we can agree that it opens up a whole new can of worms.
Regardless, at some stage Bubba receives a letter from home. To obtain it, Bubba enters an arbitrary post office and inquires with the clerk if they have any mail for him marked General Delivery (Starter: General Delivery? How does that work?)[Editor Pam: I’m not sure, but I think you must determine an office where your mail must be sent, and then go there to collect it. You cannot just walk into any random post office and get it]. It appears that the instance we are in, his younger brother Eddie was killed under somewhat unclear circumstances back in their hometown. During a sequence that precedes the credits, which I didn’t mention (my reviews aren’t particularly linear) show that this young man was murdered by white bikers for having a white girlfriend (gasp!). Oh no, and he had a full scholarship to “State”! The remainder of the Six began discussing the possibilities of splitting up, but eventually, they all chose to accompany Bubba to his hometown.
Seeing all these bits of the six conversing is very cringe. Washington could at least meet him half-way, but the rest of them are terrible, I mean awful actors, just good for a few lines off the cue cards and the occasional, but very much over-coached rection shots. That is all. It isn’t very easy to find decent quality actors among NFL players. Maybe Fred Williamson, and possibly Ed Marinara, Bubba Smith, and Fred Dryer. But again, all of them turned out to be actors after their playing days were over, even our Black Six were all still stars in the primes of their careers. Example of NFL players who were good actors during their active playing careers are scarce (only Favre in There’s Something About Mary jumps to my mind right now).
This time we are going to Bubba’s childhood place, where I guess we will meet her mom first. Considering her son’s physique, she may lean on the heavier side which is impressive as well. She fits the narrative that is constantly given about movie moms, which is that of a nurturer who has a whole lot of wisdom to share. I must say, she deftly handles everything cooking wise though. On a more unhinged note, I wish that genre movie would showcase a mom who is slightly more relatable.
Also in the video was Bubba’s younger sister, Sissy, and her hairstyle easily makes her the most memorable figure for me. With that giant, spray embellished corsage of curls sitting on her head, she is simply unforgettable. Unfortunately, the majority of the frames do not capture her in them since the hair is shot sensitive. She claims that she will be going to college somewhere, but in her Rosie Perez earrings, birth control glasses and that massive hairdo, one can only hope she is attending William and Mary. On a side note, feel free to send all beef to my editor Pam. She berates them for not aiding black civilians in these harsh times. For those of you looking for a more politically correct slur, she calls them new Uncle Toms. Despite this tough ‘love’ she offers them, the six still believe in love and peace.
Instead of hanging with his mama, Bubba goes snooping. He starts with Eddie’s football coach and, unfortunately, is unable to extract anything useful from him. Coach is the usual hardcore, single-minded, has a chip on high school sports nerd, wanting to relive as much of his life as possible through his players. Strangely, he tells me Eddie was the best field goal kicker of all time, yet in that first cut scene we saw Eddie trying to kick field goals with his girlfriend (on a date!) and he kicked like a 13 year old girl. A straight one. Like in the 40s.
To wit, Bubba goes to the only police station, which seems to be populated by a single sniveling, desk-sergeant with delusions of grandeur, as well as a solitary detective. Even so, from what is evident, there does not seem to be too much that the cop was able to get because the reality is, he did what he could. There is a possibility that you could have serious explanations or witnesses that would corroborate the facts but when you don’t, well, you don’t. As is clear with standard movie heroes, Bubba however, expects the officer to detain people simply because he requested. How would he feel should the police detain him without sufficient corroborating proof?
But first, for a minute, Bubba pauses his crusade and aims to find his former lover, Cael (such a stirrer of battles), whom he has not seen since returning from Vietnam four years prior. So, he ventures to the billiards match room to locate her present partner Copperhead, a drug-dealing dovetail that exploits Cael while he aims for nines. He’s got a cue stick, but I am pretty sure that he broke it over his knee since Copperhead is a seven hundred forty five percent superior thespian than him. (He’s actually more animated and blinking when he’s talking).
To watch more movies like (The Black 6 (1973)) visit 123Movies.
Also Watch for more movies like:
