Black Caesar

R

Released Feb 7, 1973

1h 36m

Crime

Drama

List

64%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Growing up on the tough streets of Harlem, Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) has his life made even harder by John McKinney (Art Lund), a crooked cop who breaks the boy's leg, crippling him for life. Drawing on his anger at the racism he faces on a daily basis, Tommy grows up to become the crime kingpin of Harlem. Now that he has the power, he aims to take down New York's Mafia bosses -- and also get bloody revenge on his nemesis, McKinney, no matter what the cost.

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Time Out

Unfortunately it all remains too crude to convince one of its better intentions.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Suffused with socio-political resentment and enlivened by James Brown's classic soul-funk soundtrack.

Rated: B+

Jan 19, 2006

Full Review

New York Times

Mr. Williamson, in short, can't be blamed for the plot contrivances that hinge mostly on action and bloodshed.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Gregory Mims

New Pittsburgh Courier

The acting, though spotty, is generally convincing. In fact, this may just be the best performance Fred Williamson has given to date.

Dec 13, 2021

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

By today's standards, it's incredibly problematic rendering of urban certainties has the tendency to repulse, and yet Cohen instills Williamson with a bit of presence and dignity often lacking in other Blaxploitation films from white directors.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 20, 2020

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

not a political movie per se, but it certainly taps into the raging sense of racial injustice that the Civil Rights Era had not managed to fully eradicate.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 1, 2015

Full Review

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Audience Member

One of the earliest blaxploitation flicks starring Fred Williamson by director Larry Cohen In the roughest part of Harlem, Tommy Gibbs has his life made even harder by John McKinney (Art Lund), a crooked cop who breaks the boy's leg, crippling him for life Drawing on his anger at the racism he faces on a daily basis, Tommy grows up to become the crime kingpin of Harlem Now that he has the power, he aims to take down New York's Mafia bosses -- and also get bloody revenge on his nemesis, McKinney, no matter what the cost It's got a cool lead, tons of gun fights, and a clear cut throat attitude The clock ticks as his power is starting to have serious consequences An amazing soundtrack by James Brown adds to its coolness Tommy had a chiseled upbringing with his father being enlisted in the army at 20 and his mother scrubbing floors to make ends meet so it wasn't just the prejudices he was facing Even his girlfriend isn't supportive Good acting from Williamson as a man feeling alone and betrayed and this is a slick blaxploitation film tapping into the raging sense of racial injustice

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Randy L

Good Soundtrack by James Brown, makes for some cool scenes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cut with a manic energy that propels each moment into the next with a sense of disregard and inevitability, much like its titular antecedent, the film is as suffused with a tragic spirit as it is with street violence. It is a despair beyond individual peripeteia, one born of resentment and rage felt by an entire community, which lifts up a strongman to save it only to be stepped on in turn, giving a social depth to the story beyond its gangster film source material. On the contrary, for these souls, when the die is cast, it's never more than a game of craps; at least they have a classic soundtrack from none other than James Brown---a different sort of godfather---to carry them through.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Larry Cohen, a white writer/director, made what's considered the seminal blaxploitation film "Black Ceasar", staring the great Fred Williamson in his breakout role. Williamson plays Tommy Gibbs, a tough kid from the mean streets of harlem. The film opens with Gibbs as a kid being mistreated by racist cops, but most of the film takes place years later with Gibbs, now an adult, slowly building his criminal empire, fighting racist cos and bigoted Italian mafiosos. What Cohen has die with "Black Caesar" is taking an old wine and put it into an new bottle. Cohen crafted a story that is essentially an old 1930s Warner Bros crime picture (i.e. ""Public Enemy," "Little Caesar,j" "Angels With Dirty Faces" etc.) and transplanted it to 1970s New York with a black cast and peppered with social commentary. It's Cohen's social commentary that set his films apart from bring simple genre pictures, whether he was doing blaxploitation, mainstream action or horror films, he consistently presented his films with a point go view and had something (usually liberal) to say. But back to "Black Caesar" credit also needs to be given to Williamson as a huge on screen presence and who's charisma makes Tommy Gibbs utterly compelling. You also get the colorful D'Urville Martin as a childhood fried of Gibbs who's now a priest and also a sneering Art Lund as a racist cop who crippled one of Gibbs' legs as a teen and who's now worked his way up the chain of command. Big props also go to the James Brown songs sprinkled throughout the film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

After Pam Grier, Fred Williamson is my favourite actor from the Blaxploitation era. Art Lund is a right nasty **** as the bent copper McKinney. Throughout the flick there is great evidence of 'Larry Cohen's maverick film making as Joe Public look confused as he shoots without a permit. An enjoyable flick and the James Brown soundtrack is unbelievable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(73%) Without a doubt one of the best blaxploitation movies ever to be spawned from the era. Fred Williamson is perfect in the lead role playing a character that is far from 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 that works well, so too James Brown's super cool soundtrack. Of course the movie isn't perfect (the pace goes AWOL at times, and the small budget is pushed to the limit), but overall this is a fine example of the breed, with a good morality tale at its heart.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Larry Cohen

Director

Fred Williamson

Tommy Gibbs

Art Lund

McKinney

Gloria Hendry

Helen

Julius Harris

Mr. Gibbs

Val Avery

Cardoza

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Synopsis

Growing up on the tough streets of Harlem, Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) has his life made even harder by John McKinney (Art Lund), a crooked cop who breaks the boy's leg, crippling him for life. Drawing on his anger at the racism he faces on a daily basis, Tommy grows up to become the crime kingpin of Harlem. Now that he has the power, he aims to take down New York's Mafia bosses -- and also get bloody revenge on his nemesis, McKinney, no matter what the cost.

Director: Larry Cohen
Producer: Peter Sabiston
Screenwriter: Larry Cohen
Distributor: Orion Pictures, American International Pictures
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 36m

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